Accommodations Tax Grant

The 2025–2026 Accommodations Tax Grant is administered by Anderson County, South Carolina and is funded through a 2% lodging tax collected at the state level. The grant is part of a statewide program that allocates a portion of collected accommodations tax revenues back to counties, where designated advisory committees are charged with reviewing applications and making funding recommendations. In Anderson County, this responsibility falls to the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee, a seven-member group representing the hospitality industry. The committee evaluates each grant application and submits recommendations to County Council for final approval. The core objective of the Accommodations Tax Grant is to support nonprofit and public organizations that contribute to tourism and travel-related economic activity within Anderson County. According to South Carolina state law and guidance from the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee (TERC), funds must be used for tourism-related expenditures that attract or serve tourists. Examples of eligible uses include destination advertising and promotion, tourism-related events, public services, and facilities, as well as waterfront improvements, visitor centers, and public transportation that serve tourists. These funds cannot be used for general operational expenses or for activities that fall under typical municipal responsibilities unrelated to tourism. Eligible applicants for the grant include nonprofit organizations and government-affiliated bodies such as public agencies, boards, and commissions that are not specifically designated as state agencies. All applicants must provide a valid federal identification number, and the proposed expenditures must align with the clearly defined allowable uses under state law. A complete project or event operating budget must be submitted along with the application. Incomplete applications may be deemed ineligible. The application for the 2025–2026 cycle is due by August 29, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Submissions can be made via email or mail, with a strong preference for email submissions. Completed applications must provide quantitative data to support claims of tourism impact, such as the number of hotel room nights generated, out-of-town visitors expected, and visitor length of stay. The Advisory Committee emphasizes that applications with detailed metrics and justification will be prioritized, especially as funding becomes more competitive. Review of submitted applications will be conducted by the County Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee. Once reviewed, the committee will recommend a proposed funding allocation to the Anderson County Council, which makes the final funding decisions. Notification of awards will follow County Council approval. Although applicants are allowed to begin projects before funding decisions are finalized, they do so at their own risk and with no guarantee of funding. Additionally, any organization that received funding during the 2024–2025 cycle must submit a final report from that fiscal year; failure to do so will delay any disbursement from the 2025–2026 grant cycle. Questions about the application or submission process can be directed to Steve Newton, Governmental Affairs Director for Anderson County. Applicants may email their materials to snewton@andersoncountysc.org or mail physical documents to his office at 101 S. Main St., P.O. Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622-8002. He can also be reached by phone at 864-260-1010.

Provide data on hotel nights, visitor info. Track attendance this year to support next year's request.