KCCVB CTAP Grants

KANKAKEE COUNTY, IL — July 31, 2023

The Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board of Directors is proud to continue investing in Kankakee County tourism efforts by expanding on the good work that has been done to drive visitation. Since the Bureau’s inception, Kankakee County and its municipalities have benefited economically from growth in tourism visitation. As the county emerges from the pandemic, the organization desires to stimulate more progress and growth.

To achieve this, the next round of the Community Tourism Action Plan (CTAP) grant program is available for government agencies, private and public businesses and community organizations to aid in the completion of both small and large projects that positively impact the visitor economy. While there are many purposes for these CTAP grants, the primary purpose is to add vibrancy to the communities in Kankakee County and to generate new economic impact through visitation by non-residents. Other purposes include:

• expand the tourism product in Kankakee County.
• expand existing or create new visitor experiences in Kankakee County to attract new visitors and extend the length of stay of current visitors.
• provide co-op marketing assistance to support new signature events that will generate overnight visitation to Kankakee County.\
• generate overnight visitors and measurable hotel room nights in Kankakee County.

CTAP grants are investments in tourism-related projects that will foster and stimulate increased visitation and visitor spending within Kankakee County. Examples of desired projects include, but are not limited to, the development or expansion of visitor attractions and venues, hands-on
experiences and activities, high-impact traveling exhibitions, public shows that are uniquely qualified to extend a visitor’s stay and multi-day new signature events that are likely to generate overnight hotel stays.

Through this grant program that will assist the public, private and nonprofit sectors, two different levels of grants will be offered through a competitive application process. The first offers grants in the amount of $5,000 - $24,999 that require a 25% applicant match. The

In the first cycle of the CTAP grant in Spring 2023, 23 organizations submitted applications and ten projects were approved for funding. Many of these projects are well underway.

The second cycle will begin August 1, 2023 with an application deadline of September 15, 2023 and anticipated applicant notification by September 29, 2023.

The application and FAQs are attached to this release.

Further questions should be directed to
Nicole Gavin, Executive Director at nicole@kccvb.com.