Accommodations Fee Funding

The Accommodations Fee Application administered by Berkeley County, South Carolina, is a local grant program that distributes funding generated by the local accommodations fee to eligible tourism-related projects. The purpose of this grant is to reinvest lodging tax revenue into community-based efforts that support or enhance tourism infrastructure, cultural programming, or visitor services. Funding decisions are made in accordance with Ordinance 21-05-27 and South Carolina Code Section 6-1-530, which limits eligible uses of funds to specific tourism-supporting capital projects, facilities, infrastructure, and promotional activities. Applications for the FY2026–2027 cycle must be submitted online no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Applicants are required to provide specific information in a prescribed order, although they are allowed to attach additional materials beyond the mandatory requirements. All application materials must be submitted through the online platform provided by the Berkeley County Tourism Department. Only organizations located within Berkeley County that meet the eligibility criteria defined in Ordinance 21-05-27 may apply. While the ordinance itself contains the detailed requirements, qualifying applicants are generally understood to include local governmental entities, nonprofits, and tourism-serving organizations operating projects aligned with the fund’s authorized uses. These include construction or maintenance of tourism-related buildings such as civic centers, museums, and aquariums; cultural or recreational facilities; public access to beaches or water resources; transportation infrastructure leading to tourist sites; tourism marketing and promotions; and water or sewer infrastructure required to meet tourism demand. All applications are reviewed by Berkeley County Council members, who evaluate submissions based on alignment with the county’s tourism goals and ordinance requirements. The evaluation process adheres to county procedures and is not guided by a public scoring rubric. Final decisions regarding awards and allocations are made by the Council following their internal deliberation process. Awards for successful applicants will be disbursed beginning after July 1, 2026. No specific details are provided regarding award size, number of awards, or performance period. Additionally, there is no indication of cost share or matching fund requirements. The county has not stated whether this program recurs annually, but its fiscal framing (“FY2026–2027”) suggests it may follow an annual or biennial cycle. Questions regarding the application or eligibility may be directed to Rachel Knight, Tourism Director, at [email protected] or 843-719-4995. More information and access to the application portal is available on the Berkeley County government website.