The Chautauqua County Tourism Product Development Grant Program, funded by a 3% Occupancy Tax, aims to significantly enhance Chautauqua County's regional visibility and increase demand for its tourism and recreation opportunities. This program is strategically aligned with the county's mission to boost overall visitation, particularly overnight stays, and to foster new or substantially improved niche experiences that elevate visitor interest. The grant seeks to support projects demonstrating strong potential for cooperative and collaborative efforts among communities, attractions, or events, emphasizing the importance of public/private investment leverage and long-term sustainability.
Target beneficiaries for this grant include a diverse range of entities within Chautauqua County, such as not-for-profit organizations, public or private schools, governmental agencies, businesses and corporations, and all landowners. The impact goals are centered around creating interest in, demand for, and awareness of the county's tourism and recreation assets, ultimately leading to increased visitation and economic benefit for the region. The program specifically encourages projects that show the potential for increasing overall visitation, especially overnight stays, within Chautauqua County.
The program's priorities and focuses are primarily divided into two categories: Event Development & Marketing and Attraction Enhancement & Placemaking. Under Event Development & Marketing, the focus is on creating new events that attract visitors from outside the county, with the potential to increase overnight and repeat visits, and to highlight outreach or marketing for specific events. For Attraction Enhancement & Placemaking, the emphasis is on the development or enhancement of attractions and destinations, planning/feasibility studies, increasing visibility and placemaking, and creating awareness of specific attractions. Key themes that receive awarded points include advertising for new services, events, or destinations, development of new agritourism products, guided tours, public art, and beautification efforts.
Expected outcomes and measurable results include an expansion of Chautauqua County’s visibility on a regional scale, an increase in overall visitation and overnight stays, and the successful development of niche experiences that enhance visitor interest. Projects are expected to demonstrate cooperative or collaborative efforts and the capability for long-term sustainability. The funding information specifies awards up to $20,000, with a project grant period limited to a maximum of three years, encouraging focused and impactful initiatives within this timeframe.
