Tourist Development Council Grants Program

The FY 2025–2026 Tourist Development Council (TDC) Grants Program, administered by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, provides financial support to organizations producing tourism-driving events in Miami-Dade County. The TDC was established under Florida Statute 125.0140 and serves as an advisory board composed of county and municipal officials and private-sector tourism leaders. Its purpose is to enhance the appeal of Miami-Dade County as a premier tourist destination through strategic investment in cultural and special events, sports events, and media productions that generate overnight hotel stays and support the local tourism industry. This program supports cultural and special events, including theater, music, visual arts, festivals, and sports events, as well as tourism-oriented television programming. The focus is on drawing tourists from outside the county and increasing hotel occupancy. Projects should demonstrate a substantial cultural component and align with tourism objectives, including media outreach and hotel room bookings. Applications are reviewed quarterly, with grant funding capped based on the total project budget. For example, projects with budgets under $50,000 can request up to $5,000, while those exceeding $250,000 may request up to $35,000. All awards require a 1:1 match in cash or a combination of cash and in-kind support, with cash making up at least 50% of the requested amount. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, government or municipal units, and for-profit corporations under strict conditions. For-profits must have fewer than three years of activity in Miami-Dade County and present high-value tourism projects. Fiscal sponsorships are limited and only permitted under specific guidelines. Organizations must also be in good standing with the Florida Division of Corporations and be fully compliant with prior grant obligations. Projects must take place in Miami-Dade County, be accessible to the public, and demonstrate a clear tourism benefit. Educational institutions and religious organizations may be excluded if their programming is primarily academic or sectarian. Applications must be submitted via SurveyMonkey Apply through the Department’s website. All applicants are required to attend a TDC-specific pre-grant submission workshop. First-time and lapsed applicants must attend a new workshop, while returning applicants may be required to attend if more than two years have passed. Applicants must also submit a Grant Eligibility and Request Form and receive administrative approval before accessing the main application. The online application closes at 11:59 PM on the published deadline date. Quarterly application deadlines align with the start dates of proposed activities: July 14, 2025 (Q1), October 14, 2025 (Q2), January 14, 2026 (Q3), and April 13, 2026 (Q4). Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale, with emphasis on tourism impact (50 points), hotel accommodations (30 points), organizational track record and ADA compliance (10 points), and fiscal feasibility (10 points). Awards are made on a reimbursement basis. Grantees must submit final reports, including detailed expense documentation, within 45 days of project completion. Payments may take up to six months from submission to disbursement. Applicants must use the appropriate credit language and logos in promotional materials. Non-compliance may affect current or future funding. For questions, applicants may contact Nikenna Smart at Nikenna.Smart@miamidade.gov or call 305-375-5092.

Attend pre-submission workshops and submit early for a courtesy review.