Meetings Mean Business! (MMB) Grants

The purpose of the fund is to assist destinations as they bid for national or Midwest regional meetings and conventions that generate hotel overnights and a significant economic impact for the area where they’ll be held. Such meetings may be held by a variety of different kinds of businesses, trade shows organizations, groups, etc. The purpose is to bring meetings or conventions into the state, but not to fund existing in-state events that are regularly scheduled or which routinely rotate to destinations within the state. Reviewed: 3 times/year (April, September, January) Applications are due by 11:59 PM on the first day of the review month. Max Award: up to $30,000 per fiscal year per DMO (may be for multiple applications) Guidelines: The fund has $110,000 per year available for matching grants. Applicant must be the recognized DMO in the area. Destinations may apply for 50% of the costs for convention facility rental, in-community convention transportation and/ or host costs. Applicant DMO must match the granted dollar amount. If event is secured, application must be received 180 days prior to event. If event is not secured, application must be received 90 days prior to event. Organizations receiving funding from the Meetings Mean Business fund may not also request funding from the Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant fund for the same event, during the same fiscal year. Organizations or events funded through statutorily required expenditures (earmarks) are not eligible for funding. This grant does NOT fund in-state events that are regularly scheduled or which routinely rotate to destinations within the state. Meetings or conventions that have been previously hosted in Wisconsin will be considered for grant funding based on the competitive nature of the bid, as well as prior event evaluation and documented economic impact. Grant funds may not be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages or other items deemed inappropriate for the use of state funds. To be funded, the application must be received at least 90 days before the event. 70% of the award amount will be paid to the applicant directly from the Department of Tourism following receipt of a signed contract, and when the Department receives documentation that the meeting or convention has been awarded to the destination. The remaining 30% will be paid to the applicant upon submission of an approved post-convention evaluation no later than 90 days after the convention has concluded. If meeting or convention for which the grant is approved fails to materialize, a full reimbursement of paid-out grant funds must be made within 30 days of officially canceling the event.

Eligibility

Applicants must be the recoginized Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the area.

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