Frederick County Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion & Product (TRIPP) Program

Visit Frederick, officially known as the Tourism Council of Frederick County, Maryland, administers the Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion & Product (TRIPP) Program, designed to stimulate tourism through strategic funding allocations. Established in 2006, the TRIPP initiative has distributed over $4.5 million and is entering its FY27 cycle with a total program budget of $500,000. For the fiscal year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the program will provide $288,000 in Tourism Advertising Awards and $192,000 in Tourism Development Grants. This initiative reinvests a portion of local hotel tax revenues to expand tourism marketing and infrastructure development in Frederick County, Maryland. The TRIPP program supports nonprofit organizations and government agencies that promote tourism within Frederick County. Eligible applicants include nonprofit attractions, government entities, and nonprofits organizing large-scale events that attract out-of-county visitors. Main Street organizations are eligible for advertising awards only, due to a separate funding program available to them. The initiative emphasizes attracting visitors who are likely to stay overnight and contribute to the local economy. There are two primary funding streams: Advertising Awards and Development Grants. Advertising Awards are reserved for media campaigns targeting non-local audiences, defined as those with at least 50% of their viewership residing outside Frederick County. These awards range from $2,000 to $40,000 and require a 30% cash match by the applicant. Advertising funds are paid directly to vendors, and recipients must submit vendor W-9s and media invoices. Awarded advertisements must meet specific branding and size requirements and include a graphic/link to Visit Frederick’s website to encourage extended visitor stays. Development Grants, capped at $25,000 with a required 25% match (cash or in-kind), focus on building or enhancing tourism-related offerings. Qualifying projects include new attractions, enhancements to existing sites, website development, and large-scale events expecting 500+ attendees. These funds may cover costs such as advertising, printing, direct mail, and registration for trade shows. Professional services and donated materials can count as in-kind contributions, though staff time and volunteer hours are ineligible. Recipients must ensure Visit Frederick receives usage rights to any media developed with grant funds. To apply, organizations must complete the electronic application via the Submittable portal by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The application includes sections covering project narrative, budget, nonprofit status confirmation, a non-local media schedule (for advertising), and a plan for evaluating tourism impact. Prior recipients must report on outcomes from previous awards. Required supporting documents include IRS nonprofit determination letters and letters of intent for any in-kind or financial partnerships. Workshops to assist applicants are scheduled for February 12 and February 25. Attendance is strongly encouraged; if an awarded applicant did not attend, they must complete a mandatory training session before launching their project. Award announcements are anticipated by mid-May 2026. Development projects and advertising efforts must occur within the fiscal year, and all participants must comply with branding and reporting requirements set forth by Visit Frederick. Additional funding of $20,000 is also set aside for unanticipated opportunities and a signage program that supports tourism corridors within the county.

Attend workshops to avoid extra training; follow document rules exactly; match calculations must be accurate