Tourism Grant Programs

About the Tourism Development Grant Program

The Delaware County Occupancy Tax was enacted into law by the Board of Supervisors for the purposes of creating a dedicated funding stream to promote and develop the tourism industry within Delaware County and stimulating economic growth.  Funds raised through the occupancy tax are utilized to support the implementation of programs designed to promote and increase tourism in Delaware County, as well as projects relating to capital and infrastructure investments supporting the further development of this industry.

Tourism Development Goals

This program will provide funding assistance to initiatives proposed by the Tourism Promotion Agency for Delaware County that are in the furtherance of their mission to grow the economy and create jobs by increasing overnight stays, visitors, visitor frequency, and visitor spending in Delaware County, New York. Applications for funding assistance will be accepted for specific program activities that are separate and distinct from the agency’s operating budget.

Grant awards are made by the Delaware County Board of Supervisors on recommendation of the Tourism Advisory Board.  Only those proposals that are both recommended by the Tourism Advisory Board and approved by the Delaware County Board of Supervisors will receive funding, regardless of the availability of funds.

2026 Tourism Grant Forms Below

Note: A complete application will include: an application form (either for profit or nonprofit), a project schedule form and a budget form. Additional documentation is welcome to illustrate the project and need.

For Profit Tourism Grant Application – Fillable

Nonprofit Tourism Grant Application – Fillable

Project Schedule Form

2026 Budget Form

 

Timeline for Application Submission, Review Process and Award Notification

January 5, 2026 – Applications available.

February 27, 2026 – Complete applications are due.

March 26, 2026 – Grant applications reviewed with recommendations made to Economic Development Committee.

Early April 2026 – Economic Development Committee recommends list of applicants to Board of Supervisors

Early April 2026 – List of Awardees is announced.

Early-Mid April 2026 – Contracting begins.

Mid-April to May 2026 – Upon receipt of completed contract, funding will be released to awardee.

November 27, 2026 – Final Reporting due to department.

2026 Tourism Grant Guidelines

2026 Delaware County Tourism Grant Program Guidelines – For-Profit Entities

Summary:

The Tourism Grant Program is intended to promote and increase tourism within Delaware County, thereby stimulating economic growth. This program is funded through occupancy tax revenues.

Funding Categories:

Code Compliance Assistance

Maximum funding – up to $2,500

Purpose: Projects that support full-time lodging facilities to meet all necessary code requirements, i.e. building safety, fire codes, water supply, sewage collection and treatment, etc.

Lodging Predevelopment Grant

Maximum funding – up to $20,000

Purpose: To support predevelopment activities necessary to advance future hotel, inn, motel, and traditional lodging projects that serve the traveling public. Eligible projects must include new construction, rehabilitation of existing lodging facilities, or adaptive reuse of historic or underutilized buildings for lodging resulting in the creation of a minimum of 5 new lodging units.

Eligible Uses of Funds:

  • Market feasibility and demand studies
  • Site analysis and environmental assessments
  • Architectural and engineering concept plans
  • Historic structure assessments (for adaptive reuse)

Applicant Eligibility:

  • Private developers, property owners, and/or businesses planning commercial lodging (e.g., hotel, inn, motel, lodge, resort) within Delaware County.
  • Must be able to demonstrate site control.
  • Projects must demonstrate intent to operate as licensed commercial lodging with front-desk service or equivalent management.
  • This category does not apply to short-term rental conversions or platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or other peer-to-peer accommodation models.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applications must clearly demonstrate how the project will result in an increase of out-of-county visitors and visitor spending in Delaware County.   Applicants shall clearly define how their project meet program goals.  Applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum of 1:1 match. As well as the applicant’s organizational and financial capacity for completing the project.  Personal labor or staff time is not an eligible project cost and may not be used as a match to the grant.

Applications Deadline – February 27, 2026:

Required Reporting:

Grant recipients will be required to complete the project and submit a closeout report by November 27, 2026.  If your project will not be completed by this date, you must clearly state that with an explanation in your application.

Note: Questions relating to this funding opportunity, or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Kelly Blakeslee, Delaware County Department of Economic Development at 607-832-5123.

2026 Tourism Grant Guidelines

2026 Delaware County Tourism Grant Program Guidelines – Nonprofit Entities

Summary:

The Tourism Grant Program is intended to promote and increase tourism within Delaware County, thereby stimulating economic growth. This program is funded through occupancy tax revenues.

Eligibility:

Municipalities, nonprofit corporations and not-for-profit entities are eligible for funding. Non-municipal applicants will be required to submit proof of nonprofit status.

Applicants, that are otherwise ineligible, may apply under the fiscal sponsorship of a municipality or non-profit organization.

Funding Categories:

Events: 

  • Maximum funding – up to $2,500
  • Projects that support events, programs, or a series of events that seek to attract out-of-county visitors by building upon historical, musical, culinary, agricultural, recreational and/or cultural traditions of the area.
  • Local events that do not attract out-of-county visitors are ineligible.
  • Events must be open to the general public.

Note: Events limited to serving the local community without a strategy for growth or not seeking to attract non-county visitors will not be funded.

Promotion/Marketing:

  • Maximum funding – up to $5,000
  • Projects should be designed to promote specific locales, activities or tourism areas within Delaware County that will target out-of-county visitors. Collaboration with tourism related businesses is highly encouraged.
  • Funds requested under this category should be used to cover costs related to marketing campaigns targeting out-of-county visitors.

Capital Improvements:

  • Maximum funding – up to $25,000
  • Projects eligible for funding under this category include; the renovation/construction of tourism properties owned by a municipality or non-profit, infrastructure improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, other physical/structural items with a greater than 5 years lifespan, and the creation and/or enhancement of outdoor recreation assets.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applications must clearly demonstrate how the project will result in an increase of out-of-county visitors and visitor spending in Delaware County. Applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum of 1:1 match. As well as the applicant’s organizational and financial capacity for completing the project.  Personal labor or staff time is not an eligible project cost and may not be used as a match to the grant.

Required Reporting:

Grant recipients will be required to complete the project and submit a closeout report by November 27, 2026. If your project will not be completed by this date, you must clearly state that with an explanation in your application.

Note: Any grant recipients that do not complete their project or submit final report will be ineligible for future grant funding.

Applications Deadline – Friday, February 27, 2026:

Mailed to: Delaware County Department of Economic Development

One Courthouse Square, Suite 4

Delhi, NY 13753  (Must be postmarked by 5:00 p.m. on 2/27/26 for consideration).

[OR]

Email to: ECD@co.delaware.ny.us.

Subject Line: 2026 Tourism Grants

File Format: PDF only

Time stamped by 5:00 p.m. on February 27, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Questions relating to this funding opportunity, or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Kelly Blakeslee, Delaware County Department of Economic Development at 607-832-5123.