Tourism Promotion Grant Program
The Tourism Promotion Grant program has been established by Indiana Dunes Tourism to promote tourism in Porter County. This includes festivals, marketing projects, special and sporting events, and product development that bring visitors to the region and increase economic impact for local businesses.
The Indiana Dunes Tourism Promotion Program is administered by:
Organizational Development Solutions, Inc.
PO Box 214
Westville IN 46391
Sharon McGuire: Email - sharon@successwithods.com or Phone - (219) 898-3465
Desila Rosetti: Email - drosetti@successwithods.com or Phone - (219) 508-0976

Indiana Dunes Tourism Logos
As a recipient, you are required to use the Indiana Dunes Tourism logo on all marketing materials. You can find the appropriate file type in the resolution you require in the links below. Copying and pasting directly from our website below will result in poor reproduction quality, so we ask that you please download the file that works best for you. If you require a vector graphic for large scale printing, feel free to contact us.
What Types of Programs and Events are Eligible?
Sporting Event
Supports state, regional (Midwest states), national, and international sporting events or tournaments that:
- Take place within Porter County
- Attracts a sizable number of participants and spectators from outside Lake, Porter or La Porte counties.
- Last longer than one day
- Encourages overnight stays in local lodging
Sporting Event Maximum Funding Request: $3,000
Product Development
Supports development of new products or the enhancement of existing products that:
- Take place within Porter County or sites located on Beaches and Beyond Outdoor Adventure Trail
- Attracts visitors from outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties
- Complements our destination
- Are supported by Local Residents
- Product developed must be completed within the program year
Product Development Maximum Funding Request: $5,000
Marketing
Supports marketing projects that use promotional tools to attract visitors from outside of Lake, Porter, or La Porte counties and promote the experience or special aspect of a Porter County community. Tools covered include:
- Website development
- Digital advertising campaigns
- Traditional Marketing tools zoned outside of Northwest Indiana
- Print or digital brochures
Marketing Maximum Funding Request: $2,500 (Year 1) | $1,500 (Year 2) | $1,000 (Year 3)
Festivals & Special Events
Supports festivals or special events hosted within Porter County that:
- Attract a sizable number of attendees
- Longer than one day
- Encourage overnight stays at Porter County lodging establishments
Festival & Special Event Maximum Funding Request: $2,500 (Year 1) | $1,500 (Year 2) | $1,000 (Year 3)
Convention, Meetings & Seminars
Supports conventions, meetings, or seminars that are hosted within Porter County and:
- Have a large number of attendees
- Are longer than one day
- Have participants from outside of Lake, Porter, and La Porte Counties
- Encourage overnight stays in Porter County lodging establishments.
Convention, Meetings & Seminar Maximum Funding Request: $2,500 (Year 1) | $1,500 (Year 2) | $1,000 (Year 3)
Important Information You Need to Know
- If you would like Indiana Dunes Tourism to advertise your event for free on our Indiana Dunes Tourism website, please provide a written request. Also, you will need to place a link to the Indiana Dunes Tourism website (indianadunes.com) on your website to promote Porter County activities.
- Businesses and organizations can only apply for grant funding for the same event for three years. After the third year, the event is no longer eligible for funding. The purpose of our program is to get events established so they can successfully sustain themselves in the future.
- All recipients of funding will receive an event-specific QR code which must be prominently displayed at your event. Visitors should be strongly encouraged to scan the QR code to access local Dunes Deals at indianadunes.com.
- All approved requests for funding will be required to sign a grant agreement acknowledging grant terms, requirements, and deadlines.
- When describing Indiana Dunes Tourism in marketing materials, the full name must be used and not shortened to “Indiana Dunes.”
- Indiana Dunes Tourism does not award funding for seasonal or holiday events celebrated by most communities (4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) or one-day athletic events (running races, biking events, etc.)
- Awards do not carry over from year to year. A new application must be submitted each year by the specified deadline in order to be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Porter County for-profit, non-profit organizations including cities, and towns. Private sector applications will be considered if the marketing efforts target visitors from outside Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.
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Expenses may include event advertising, printing, and promotion, the development of promotional tools such as brochures, websites, billboards, etc. May include fees for nationally recognized entertainment.
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- Marketing efforts within Porter County, unless the promotional campaign is directed to residents to encourage visitation from friends and relatives living outside of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.
- Annual operating expenditures
- Newsletters, Permit, and Reservation Fees
- Alcohol
- Banners or yard signs distributed locally
- Salaries, Wages, or Employee Benefits
- Prize money and Scholarships
- Program Brochures, Awards, Plaques, Certificates, Buttons, or T-Shirts
- Events restricted to private or exclusive participation
- An effort to rebrand would not be eligible, however, a billboard would be considered
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The applications for the 2023 program are due Monday, March 6, 2023.
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You will be contacted within 30 days of the application deadline.
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- Attend General Program Orientation
- Include the use of official IDT logo. (Must provide sample of marketing materials used)
- Income and Expense Reports
- Copies of invoices and receipts submitted with the post-event form.
- Post-Event Evaluation Form
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An application is required for each event. Multiple applications for various aspects of an event may not be eligible. If your organization puts on more than one event during the year, each event may be eligible if not related to a previous or future event during the program year. Keep in mind there is a limited amount of funding available for this program, and not all requests will be funded.
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- Expense reports and supporting documentation as previously outlined are due within 60 days following the event or completion of the project or by December 1st of the year the event occurred, whichever date comes first.
- Expense and reporting items should be submitted electronically to the Program Coordinator, Sharon McGuire at sharon@successwithods.com
- Post-event evaluation forms are due within 60 days of your event or project completion or by December 15th of the same year.
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Once all requirements are met, reimbursement will be completed within 60 days.