Emerging Destination Marketing Grant Program
Forecasted
The Emerging Destination Marketing Grant Program supports organizations marketing highly developed South Carolina destinations, funding tourism advertising to reach potential visitors and generate new visitation.
Funder: South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $100,000–$200,000 grants; 2:1 reimbursable cash match
Summary: Supports advertising that helps highly developed, emerging South Carolina tourism destinations attract new visitors.
Key Information: Applicants must be 501(c) organizations charged with marketing a qualifying destination.
Description
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism runs this program for highly developed destinations that are still emerging as visitor markets. It funds select tourism advertising activities intended to generate new visitation, rather than tourism projects broadly.
The program pairs state support with locally collected private funds designated for destination marketing. Its aim is to give qualifying destinations resources to reach potential visitors beyond what those private funds could support alone.
