Downtown Creative Collaborators Grant Program 2025-2026

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) has launched the Downtown Creative Collaborators Grant (DCCG) Program for fiscal year 2025–2026. The Miami DDA, a local development agency, aims to transform the heart of the city into a vibrant cultural hub by supporting innovative, community-focused creative projects. The DCCG is designed for visionary creatives who can develop events or installations that energize Downtown Miami through dynamic community activation, cultural engagement, and artistic expression. The grant supports projects ranging from small-scale community pop-ups to large-scale festivals and performances, targeting a variety of public spaces such as rooftops, courtyards, plazas, and historic sites. Applicants may propose events such as interactive art installations, live performances, festivals, or other creative activations. Projects should emphasize community participation, family-friendliness, cultural diversity, public transit accessibility, and the promotion of Downtown Miami’s culinary and artistic scenes. Applicants must demonstrate a strong marketing plan, administrative capability, and fiscal responsibility. Notably, a minimum of 10% of awarded funds must be allocated to marketing and promotional efforts. Grant funding ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 and is divided into three tiers. Tier 1 provides $5,000 to $7,500 for small-scale, hyperlocal events with fewer than 499 attendees. Tier 2 supports mid-sized projects with awards between $10,000 and $15,000 and expected attendance between 500 and 2,500. Tier 3 offers funding up to $50,000 for large-scale events with over 2,500 attendees that require major city coordination and deliver regional draw. The funding period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The grant is reimbursable, meaning that funds are disbursed after the successful completion of the project and submission of the final report and invoice. Eligibility is limited to for-profit and nonprofit entities in good standing registered via Sunbiz. All events must occur within the Miami DDA boundaries during the specified funding period. Applicants must demonstrate experience with similar activations and provide documentation such as images, budgets, marketing plans, and timelines. First-time applicants must submit a comprehensive business plan. Applications must also include a letter of intent or venue confirmation, proof of permits (if applicable), evidence of funding from other sources besides personal contributions and the DDA, and disclosure of any legal infractions. Applications opened on July 1, 2025, and must be submitted through the Submittable platform no later than August 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM. A participant webinar is scheduled for July 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, with registration required via Zoom. The selection committee will review applications by September 22, 2025, and grant recipients will be announced following board approval on October 18, 2025. A grant award reception is tentatively scheduled thereafter. Applicants are evaluated based on administrative capability, fiscal responsibility, marketing strategy, and community impact. Awardees must comply with reporting obligations, including submission of a final report within 45 days of the event that documents marketing expenditures, analytics, and Miami DDA sponsorship visibility. Additional administrative requirements include submission of a W-9, certificate of insurance listing the City of Miami and the DDA as additional insureds, and timely notification of any event changes. Contact for the program is exclusively handled via Submittable with point contacts Yami Roa (roa@miamidda.com) and Kim Hills (hills@miamidda.com). Technical issues should be directed to organizationsupport@submittable.com.

Ensure that at least 10% of the total grant is reserved for marketing and that all supporting documentation is submitted via Submittable. Attend the optional participant meeting to strengthen application clarity.