Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant

Why You Should Apply Organizations can receive up to $39,550 in reimbursement. A JEM grant is often a catalyst for communities, giving them the means to make an impact on their economy and create jobs for its residents. It could be just the thing to bring an idea to life. Guidelines The Department can reimburse up to 75 percent of a project’s first year eligible promotional costs. For some categories, we offer grant support during subsequent years (50 percent for the second year, 25 percent for the third year). JEM Applications are available for the following projects: New Event: An event that has not previously been held in the area. It’s an event the applicant intends to repeat regularly and is a project beyond the scope of daily operations. The maximum award is $39,550 and three years of funding are available. Existing Event: This project may be awarded funding for advertising in a new geographic market, targeting a new demographic audience or advertising placed in a new medium. New markets, media and audiences should be chosen based on their potential to increase event attendance. The maximum award is $39,550 and two consecutive years of funding are available. Sales Promotion: These must offer significant incentives for a limited period of time (usually 6-8 weeks) to persuade a targeted market to visit the area. Applications should include a list of participating businesses and the proposed incentives. The maximum award is $39,550 and two consecutive years of funding are available. One-Time/One-of-a-Kind: These projects publicize an event of major significance that has the potential to generate media coverage at least throughout the Midwest. Anniversaries and birthdays are excluded. The maximum award is $28,250 and funding is limited to one year. Destination Marketing: Projects must include a partnership of at least three municipalities or communities who all benefit from increasing visitor expenditures. There are two facets within this grant: a development option and marketing option. The development option provides financial resources to commission or purchase research. Qualifying research includes: Discovering a region’s differentiation qualities in order to define a brand and focus a marketing strategy. Securing data to measure the impact of the visitor on the local economy. The Marketing Option funds efforts that apply previous research. The campaign time frame should occur during the off-season or when the region needs tourism business. The maximum eligible award is up to $10,000 per municipality, or $39,550 for the project total. Destination Marketing applications are reviewed twice each year.

Eligibility

Wisconsin public or private organizations not organized or incorporated for profit

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