Accommodations Tax and Grant Program
The City of Travelers Rest is accepting applications for the Accommodations Tax Grant for fiscal year 2024-2025. Accommodations Tax Grants are provided to eligible projects through revenue received by the City for its share of the 2% lodging tax levied by the State of South Carolina. $20,000 has been earmarked for this initiative. These monies can only be used for activities related to tourism in the following categories:
- Advertising and promotion of tourism to develop and increase tourist attendance through the generation of publicity
- Promotion of the arts and cultural events
- Construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities for civic and cultural activities including construction and maintenance of access and the nearby roads and utilities for the facilities
- The criminal justice system, law enforcement, fire protection, solid waste collection, and health facilities when required to serve tourists and tourist facilities. This is based on the estimated percentage of cost directly attributed to tourist
- Public facilities such as restrooms, dressing rooms, parks, and parking lots
- Tourist shuttle transportation
- Control and repair of waterfront erosion, including beach re-nourishment
- The operation of visitor information centers
The Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to City Council for the award of these grant funds.
1. Submit the Accommodations Tax Grant Application no later than C.O.B. through May 1, 2024
2. Applicants must provide a 25% match in funds. In-kind labor and contributions can be used as a match
3. Applicants must provide a budget showing revenues and expenditures when submitting their applications and a closing report with actual revenues and expenditures before July 1, 2025
4. Any violation of the guidelines by the applicant shall result in the following:
a) All funds received by the applicant shall be immediately returned to the city
b) The applicant shall be prohibited from applying for future fundingPlease refer to the City of Travelers Rest’s Accommodations Tax Grant Guidelines for all requirements and procedures for the administration of these funds. For detailed information regarding how State Accommodations Tax Funds may be spent, please refer to Section 6-4-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws and the Department of Revenue’s official advisory opinion contained in SC REVENUE RULING #98-22.Grant funding is subject to the discretion of the City Council. Applicants must meet certain criteria. Please read the full program guidelines prior to applying.Contact Shannon Herman with questions at shannon@travelersrestsc.com or (864) 834-8740.