Thursday, March 28, 2013

City of Santa Fe Issues Request for Proposals $70,000 Available for Selected Projects to Bring in Younger Tourists


The City of Santa Fe’s Convention and Visitors’ Bureau is accepting proposals for Occupancy Tax Advisory Board (OTAB) funding. The deadline for proposal submission is close of business on April 23, 2013. The purpose of the funding is to provide marketing money to support sustainable annual events that bring overnight visitors to Santa Fe and increase tourism.

Local nonprofits are encouraged to apply. The new application form is now available online at www.santafe.org, under the link for OTAB Form at the bottom of the homepage.

Some highlights of the program include:
  • A single annual grant program
  • $70,000 dollars will be granted
  • Funds will seed marketing outside of Santa Fe to encourage visits to the community
  • Multi-year funding is available with a tiered match requirement in years 2 or 3
  • The application is in keeping with formats and criteria already in place for New Mexico State grants, which should make proposals among multiple agencies easier for applicants.
  • The application must be submitted by a nonprofit organization
  • For the sake of this application, off-season is defined as periods where historically, the occupancy has fallen below 50%. A 2012 analysis of occupancy is included in the application packet.

In July of 2012, the Santa Fe City Council approved Resolution 2012-70, a resolution directing staff to energize Santa Fe tourism by preparing a process for funding and other assets to establish event attractions that will bring a new generation of traveler to Santa Fe. The resolution required redefining OTAB grant funds to attract a younger tourist to Santa Fe while filling periods of low occupancy in area hotels and motels. Over the period since then, a comprehensive redesign of the program, application and process have been honed culminating in a new application and timeline for proposal consideration. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to apply has been extended to April 23, 2013.

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