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Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

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EDA Awards 185 Grants to Rebuild and Restrengthen American Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Fact Sheet  (PDF)

American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet  (PDF)

Click here to view the American Rescue Plan Map

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program invested $750 million in  American Rescue Plan  funding to support communities across the country whose economies were hard hit by damage to these sectors from the COVID-19 pandemic. With funding going to every state and territory across 185 awards, EDA’s investments are rebuilding the travel and tourism sector and creating a more equitable, competitive, and resilient industry.

Learn more about the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation grantees by exploring the  American Rescue Plan Impact Map .

The Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program is divided into two components:

• State Tourism Grants:  $510 million in direct awards to help states quickly invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.
• Competitive Grants:  $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce, or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future.

Each state or territory is utilizing its directly allocated funds to engage in activities that best support their travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors. These activities include but are not limited to workforce training, new construction or upgrades to existing tourism infrastructure, tourism marketing and promotion, and tourism-related economic planning. The competitive grant program is distributed across 126 awards to support communities across the country as they rebuild and strengthen their travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors. The competitive funding is expected to generate $1.1 billion in private investment and to create or save 10,291 jobs , according to grantee estimates. This program was designed to prioritize equity, and as a result, more than 50% of competitive awards are expected to directly benefit historically underserved communities and populations. In addition, $29.3 million across 12 awards is supporting coal communities and $21.2 million across 9 awards is supporting Indigenous communities.

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Funding and Assistance Requests

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides a number of grants, loans, loan guarantees and other non-financial, business assistance programs to foster the growth of businesses in the travel and tourism industry.

An overview and links to the various programs can be found on this site. Please click on the links for Pennsylvania's financial assistance programs for tourism or technical assistance programs, or go to dced.pa.gov for information on the business assistance programs offered by the commonwealth.

Local Financial Assistance Programs

Journeying Toward Freedom | Juneteenth Grant Opportunity

Voices Underground , a Chester County-based organization with extensive experience in promoting African American cultural history through scholarly research, transformative experiences, and historical memorialization, in partnership with The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, is committed to seeing Pennsylvania become the nation’s leader in African American Cultural Heritage Tourism. We believe the holiday of Juneteenth, often hailed as “African American Independence Day”—especially as it is now a national holiday – offers a critically important opportunity for pursuing this commitment.

Journeying Toward Freedom is an initiative created by Voices Underground and Pennsylvania’s Office of Marketing, Tourism, and Film to promote the celebration of Juneteenth across the state of Pennsylvania. The goals of this initiative are to:

• Promote African American Cultural Heritage in Pennsylvania,
• Nurture Community Collaboration
• Expand the Community’s Narrative about itself
• Leaven national conversations about African American Cultural History.

As part of this initiative, we are pleased to offer grant assistance to communities across the state of Pennsylvania with a history of Juneteenth celebrations. This assistance will be in the form of a matching grant in the amount of $15,000. Grants submissions are due by Friday, March 18, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.

To learn more and apply for this grant opportunity, visit the Voices Underground website .

State Financial Assistance Programs

Pennsylvania provides planning grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to tourism-related businesses in the commonwealth. The commonwealth also provides the Regional Marketing Partnership Grant program, which is open to officially designated regional marketing organizations and to consortia of businesses or other entities that come together to market a specific experience to tourists and offered statewide or across multiple regions. The regional marketing partnership grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The Tourism Promotion Assistance Grant program is restricted to the state's designated tourism promotion agencies. Please click on the links below for each of the state's financial assistance programs available to entities involved in the tourism industry.

First Industries Fund

Small Business

First Local Development District Loans

Technical Assistance

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers a variety of programs to help Pennsylvania businesses grow and prosper. The programs are generally targeted to small- and medium-sized businesses and cover a wide range of topics ranging from financing and regulatory compliance to energy efficiency and product development, among many others. Please click on the following links to learn more about Pennsylvania's technical assistance programs.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Pennsylvania’s Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, provide technical assistance and consulting services to current and prospective entrepreneurs and existing small businesses through a network of 18 university-based centers and more than 100 outreach centers located throughout the state. The mission of Pennsylvania’s SBDCs is to grow the economy of Pennsylvania by providing entrepreneurs and small-business owners with the education, information and tools necessary to build successful businesses. SBDC staff provide confidential, no-cost consulting services to entrepreneurs and small-business owners in one-on-one sessions to develop practical solutions for a wide range of business issues including financing, testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, personnel/human resource issues and considerations, investigating funding opportunities or new markets, regulatory compliance, and many others. Learn more about the services and assistance available from Pennsylvania's network of SBDCs .

Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, or PennTAP, provides confidential, no-cost technical assistance to Pennsylvania’s small and entrepreneurial businesses to resolve specific technical questions or needs. A program of Penn State University, PennTAP is a federal-state-university partnership for economic development that uses a network of technical specialists located throughout the state with expertise in a variety of focus areas including energy efficiency, environmental compliance, occupational health and safety, advanced information technology, and product development, among others. Focusing on small and entrepreneurial businesses that typically lack the expertise and/or resources to address these types of issues in-house, PennTAP’s technical specialists provide objective, unbiased advice and experience-based solutions and connections to other partners, expertise, resources, and programs. Learn more about the services and assistance available from PennTAP .

Local Development Districts (LDDs)

echnical assistance is available for businesses seeking to expand their markets through Pennsylvania’s Local Development Districts, which are designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission and serve 52 of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties.

Learn more about the services and assistance available from the Local Development Districts .

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The New Mexico Tourism Department administers several cooperative grant programs to assist partners with marketing destinations, attractions and events and grow tourism throughout New Mexico. For more information regarding NM Tourism Department grant programs, please select from the options below for more details, application forms, deadlines and criteria.

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This program will help preserve, grow, and sustain New Mexico's cherished tourism events.

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Texas Travel Industry Recovery Program Details

by  Garrett Coppedge | Updated January 24, 2023 | News

August 2023 Update:

The Texas Travel Industry Recovery Program (TTIRP) is reopening applications tomorrow in order to distribute approximately $70 million in unawarded funds from the original $180 million in COVID-19 relief funding for the hospitality industry. The TTIRP originally limited grants to $20,000 maximum per applicant. However, earlier this year the Texas Legislature authorized the reopening of applications for the TTIRP in order to distribute the unexpended grant funding remaining in the program. Approved applicants may now receive up to  $250,000 per applicant/taxpayer ID  (less any grant funding the applicant received in any earlier round of funding).  The application window for this new round of TTIRP funding opens tomorrow,  September 1 st  at 9 a.m . Grants will be awarded on a first come/first served basis, and the Governor’s Office anticipates that this money will be quickly distributed. Applications are open to hotels, but also to all other applicants in the previous categories under the TTIRP (restaurants, bars, cinemas, arts, entertainment etc.). Therefore, we strongly recommend that you gather the necessary information and be prepared to file your application file your application at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. 

The application process requires that an applicant show a loss in revenue in the years 2019-2020 or 2020-2021. The greatest annual year-over-year loss will determine the maximum amount of grant funding the applicant can receive. This loss is demonstrated by submitting either hotel occupancy tax reports, sales tax returns, franchise tax reports, or mixed beverage gross receipts reports for those periods. 

The costs that are eligible for reimbursement under the TTIRP are those costs incurred as result of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as employee payroll and benefit expenses (other than unemployment and pension funds), utilities, and COVID-19 mitigation measures. Eligible costs must have been incurred between November 8, 2021, and the present.  

For a full explanation of the application process and requirements please read our full update on the TTIRP here . 

January 2023 Update:

After completing the initial rounds of applications for hotels, DMOs, restaurants, and other travel-related businesses, the Governor’s Office on Economic Development and Tourism is now opening up an additional application round for entities that have not previously received a Texas Travel Industry Recovery grant (TTIR).

Important points about the additional TTIR grant application round:

• The additional TTIR grant application round will commence on February 1, 2023, and the grant application round will remain open until TTIR Program staff close the round.
• The additional application round may give some businesses that did not fully complete a prior application an opportunity to gather required documentation and work with the TTIR staff to ensure the application process is complete.
• Business entities that previously received a TTIR grant are not eligible for a second grant, and the maximum amount of the grant remains capped at $20 thousand per applicant.
• The TTIR grant eligibility requirements remain the same as the requirements in the prior grant application rounds.

Information on the TTIR application process, webinars, and the application portal are available via this webpage .

Earlier information:

August 11th Webinar:  The Office of the Governor recorded a Webinar answering many of your questions. This can be found here .

The Texas Governor’s office released information on how to apply for recovery funding allocated to the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act.  THLA’s guidance on applying for the Texas Governor’s office grants that are available to the hotel and travel industry through the “Texas Travel Industry Recovery Program” (TTIRP) grant program is as follows:

The TTIRP was created by the Texas Governor’s office in order to distribute the federal relief funds appropriated by the Texas Legislature in 2021 to the Texas hospitality and travel industry. TTIRP grants are capped at $20,000 per applicant.

The goal of the TTIRP is to reimburse hospitality and travel-related businesses for losses they incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in early July of this year, the Governor’s office will begin accepting applications and distributing TTIRP funds to applicants in 5 phases. The deadlines for application vary depending on the type of business NAICS code attributable to that industry. There are 5 categories/phases for grants, each with associated NAICS codes that indicate the types of businesses that are within that category.

The Governor’s office has launched the TTIRP website providing further explanatory information, click here to access. 

The deadlines pertinent to our membership are as follows:

• Category 1: Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVBs). A maximum $8,550,000 in total is allocated to this category.   The TTIRP application window for category 1 is July 6 th , 2022 – August, 7 th , 2022.
• This window is now closed. 
• We will work with the Governor’s Office to advocate for the eligibility of CVBs to secure this grant funding and keep you posted on the status. 
• Category 3: Traveler Accommodations (Hotels and bed and breakfast establishments). A maximum of $42,750,000 in total is allocated to this category.   The window for lodging entities to apply for these grants is between  October 1, 2022, and October 22, 2022. The Governor’s office hosted a webinar on August 11, 2022, at 1 p.m. specifically for category 3 applicants (hotels) to further explain the application process for this category of TTIRP grants. 
• Link to the Webinar can be found here.

General Guidance:

Applicants for TTIRP grants must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible:

• Must be an entity with an associated NAICS code listed in one of the 5 governor’s office noted categories.  Hotels fit under the NAICS Code that is associated with Category 3. 
• Applicant must be a privately owned entity (no publicly traded companies). We anticipate that it will not be a disqualifying factor that a hotel is privately owned but associated with a publicly traded brand company. 
• Applicant must operate within the state of Texas.  If you operate a lodging business within Texas, you meet this criteria. 
• Applicant must be a business that is open to the public or provides services primarily for in-person events.  Again, Texas lodging businesses will meet this criteria. 
• Applicant must be able to demonstrate a negative economic impact due to COVID-19. We are seeking clarification from the Governor’s office as to the method by which a hotel should show this “negative economic impact.”  It appears that the Governor’s Office is likely to consider how your total sales numbers were impacted by COVID. 
• The applicant’s business must have been in operation prior to January 20, 2020.

Application for TTIRP grants will be submitted through a web portal online.  

The applications will be reviewed not only for eligibility, but also for accuracy and completeness. Therefore, it is imperative that applicants submit a complete application.

The Governor’s office indicated that the following documentation must be submitted along with your application. It is advisable that you begin gathering the following documents: 

• Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Report (form 12-100) or Texas Sales and Use Tax Returns (form 01-117 or 01-114). These tax returns will be used to demonstrate losses and must be from the years 2019 and 2020, or 2020 and 2021.
• Most recent Federal Employer’s Quarterly Tax Form 941.
• Invoices for reimbursement. Please see the FAQ link  for more information on other costs eligible for reimbursement under the TTRIP. 
• Veteran’s service or benefits letter if applicable.  Veteran’s status is not required to apply but will likely provide a higher eligibility score, and we are seeking clarification as to the application of this criteria if there are multiple owners of a hotel.

Priority will be given to applicants who did not previously receive any “federal assistance.” Receipt of a PPP loan is considered prior “federal assistance,” but it is not likely to be a disqualifying factor for receipt of this grant due to the sheer number of businesses that received PPP loans.  However, it is possible that receipt of a prior PPP loan may have a de minimis impact on actual grant amounts. 

A preference for grant awards is also provided for veteran-owned businesses, small businesses, and businesses in certain rural communities.

TTIRP grants are primarily intended to reimburse payroll and other expenses and losses incurred as a result of COVID-19. If these payroll and benefits costs do not amount to the $20,000 cap for grants, other costs associated with efforts to mitigate viral spread and promote guest health and safety against COVID-19 may also be an allowable expense under the TTIRP.

Additionally, the Governor’s office indicated that TTIRP grants may also be used to reimburse losses relating to certain rental and utility payments.

If approved, applicants will receive their grants via paper check in the mail. 

The TTIRP website will include a step-by-step tutorial video regarding the application process as well as FAQ’s that will be geared to be helpful to applicants. Follow this link for the TTIRP home page.

THLA will keep you updated and issue further instructions as the program rules and criteria evolve.

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State of Illinois announces $10 Million Grant to Support Illinois Tourist Attractions and Festivals

SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced a new $10 million grants program aimed at revitalizing the hard-hit tourism industry by bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to our state. The Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program is made possible with support of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is part of a broader effort underway by the Pritzker administration to help reinvigorate tourism in Illinois and to put the industry on a path to economic recovery from COVID-19.    Through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued today, tourism and festival businesses and entities can submit for grants of up to $1 million that may be used to establish and enhance tourism attractions or festivals planned for this year or next. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted with awards made quarterly and the department will have the ability to fund applications most closely aligned to eligibility criteria approved for immediate funding. To view the NOFO, please visit  https://bit.ly/3fRxKgN .    “From our state parks to our famous drives to our world-renowned restaurants, wineries, and architecture, Illinois has earned our status as a major international destination for business and leisure travel,”  said Governor JB Pritzker.  “In partnership with the General Assembly, I’ve built an expanded tourism recovery grants program to help more of Illinois’ communities reclaim their piece of the pie. We’re bringing visitors back into our communities, supporting our hospitality & entertainment businesses, and helping to return more Illinois residents to the job – another step toward getting our state back on track.”   The  Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant program  will help develop new or enhance existing tourism attractions located across the state – including but not limited to museums, businesses, events, performances, and festivals. To maximize the impact of the program, DCEO will utilize ARPA federal recovery dollars to provide grants ranging from $10,000 to $1 million and will require a local match. The goal of the program is to attract additional visitors and overnight stays that will bring foot traffic back in communities across Illinois. 

“Travel and tourism play a vital role in our Illinois economy, fueling hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving significant economic activity across our communities every year,”  said Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO).  “To help the tourism industry with its continued recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois has launched a new $10 million program to help communities attract new and returning visitors to their attractions, events and festivals. Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is focused on deploying resources to market the state and provide direct aid to tourism related businesses, which will boost spending, bring back jobs and keep Illinois front of mind as a top travel destination.”     Eligible applicants include units of local government, municipalities, county, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, or local promotions groups.  The funds may be utilized for capital projects, equipment, training, transportation, housing, receptions, entertainment, photography, temporary housing, and interpretive programs, like exhibits and installations – to further develop new attractions and events to attract visitors to Illinois.  In turn, these grants will result in increased visitor spending in local communities, generating revenue and creating jobs for Illinoisans.     “Illinois’ travel and tourism industry is an enormous economic and brand driver for the state,”  said Dave Herrell, Chair, Illinois Council of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (ICCVB).  “This investment announced today will further possibilities for communities to leverage and invigorate their respective destinations and tourism marketing efforts. Illinois must remain competitive in both leisure and business travel and continue to add value for the state’s visitor economy. These resources are yet another opportunity to enhance Illinois’ assets, create jobs, and showcase the state.”   Proposed attractions and festivals must demonstrate how this award will help businesses in the surrounding area and will be evaluated based on marketing value and ability to attract visitors for overnight stays. Projects will score higher based on proximity to commercial corridors and services – including hotels/motels, restaurants, retail, and other commercial operations. Attractions include but are not limited to: museums and cultural centers; theme/amusement parks; outdoor activities and recreation sites; and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors.   “Tourism is vital for my district and many others across the state,”  said Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Chair of the Senate’s Tourism and Hospitality Committee.   “This new program by the Pritzker Administration will provide a needed opportunity for communities to showcase the amazing festivals and attractions we have right here in Illinois.   Our restaurants, hotels and small businesses are ready to safely welcome visitors back.”    This additional support for the tourism industry follows on the launch of a new campaign earlier this year to reinvigorate the industry and to support convention and visitor bureau (CVB) partners in attracting visitors back into all areas across the state.   “Time for Me to Drive,”  is the first new tourism campaign since COVID-19 hit last year and seizes on pent up travel demand – namely road trips–to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy Illinois’ diverse communities and scenic landscapes safely. The campaign encompasses over 60 unique itineraries – more information can be found at the State’s official tourism website,  enjoyillinois.com .    “With the leadership of Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly, Illinois is reviving and revitalizing our tourism industry,”  said Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr. (D-Chicago), Chair of the House Tourism Committee.  “The $10 million in tourism recovery grants from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will provide our diverse communities a springboard to attract visitors to experience Illinois’ world-class museums, iconic festivals, and historic landmarks. My legislative colleagues and I on the House Tourism Committee look forward to working with the Pritzker Administration to build a re-energized, re-imagined, 21st Century Illinois tourism industry.”   A technical assistance webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 25, from 1 – 2 p.m. to explain application requirements, program eligibility and program guidelines. To sign up for the webinar, please visit  this link .   From the outset, the Pritzker administration has prioritized tourism as an industry hit hard and early by the pandemic, ensuring resources are available to offset their losses. Through the State’s Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program, more than $75 million in grants have been directed to tourism related businesses. This is on top of $133 million provided to restaurants and bars – key tourism destinations in their own right – since the pandemic began.    For regular updates on funding opportunities and resources available for businesses and communities, please visit the DCEO website and follow us on social media  @IllinoisDCEO .

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New grants launched to boost tourism in the National Forest  

9th mar 2022.

We’re pleased to announce that we are piloting a new grants scheme to help fund projects aimed at boosting sustainable tourism in the National Forest. 

The grants have been set up to support businesses with their continued recovery from the pandemic, and to encourage them to invest wisely now to create a greener future for the sector. 

The Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme will pilot and fund new and innovative activity which will help providers of tourism accommodation, hospitality, attractions, and experiences to improve and promote access for all visitors to surrounding woodlands and habitats, strengthen visitor connections to the Forest, protect and enhance nature to improve the visitor experience and raise awareness of the National Forest story and our future vision.  

We’re inviting applicants to come forward with proposals that align with the National Forest’s 25-year vision and can put forward projects that help to develop the National Forest as a landmark sustainable tourism destination: inspired by the Forest, accessible to everyone, and responsive to the urgency of climate change. 

We would especially welcome projects that may help to extend the visitor season, or offer creative and innovative experiences which are new to the Forest. 

We hope to award between five and seven grants within a budget range of £1,000 - £5,000. We expect that the work funded by these grants will take place within the National Forest boundary, although organisations who apply need not be based in the Forest.

John Everitt, chief executive of the NFC, said: “There is a growing demand for more sustainable holidays and short breaks, where visitors know they are supporting green jobs and having a lower impact on the planet. We’re excited to be launching our sustainable tourism grants here in the National Forest and leading the transition to a low carbon destination.” 

In addition to this new grant scheme, we have recently produced a design guide for sustainable tourism accommodation development that is targeted at landowners, operators, investors and developers. The guide sets out a rationale for encouraging new and retrofitted tourist accommodation development that will help to create a distinctive National Forest character and sense of place, and that can contribute to a net-zero carbon future. You can find out more about the guide, here .  

The Sustainable Tourism Grant scheme is open now and the deadline for submission for applications is 5pm, on Tuesday 31 May . You can find out more about the scheme and apply, here .

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Tourism ni periodically runs funding programmes for events and capital development. you can find out more about these previous schemes below. to ensure you find out about any open programmes please ensure you are signed up to our mailing list, details below., previous event funding schemes, national tourism events sponsorship scheme 2022/23.

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The Digital Solutions program  pairs you with a dedicated business mentor and gives you access to one-to-one advice, workshops and online webinars on everything from social media and marketing to bookkeeping and business planning.

Support for addressing labour shortages

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme  offers employers in selected locations in the agriculture and accommodation sectors access workers when there is not enough local Australian labour to meet seasonal demand.

Sustainable tourism support

A wide variety of Federal and State Government support, assistance and grants programs are available to allow businesses to plan for a more sustainable future. Find out more here . 

Safe and Healthy Crowded Places Handbook

A free national resource, the Safe and Healthy Crowded Places Handbook encourages a proactive approach from event organisers, venue owners and operators, and others involved in managing crowded places.

Support for Indigenous businesses

Advice and finance for indigenous businesses.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)  provides assistance to Indigenous Australians to acquire, establish and grow their business. It offers a range of support services including free workshops to help you reach your business goals and also access to business loans for working capital and equipment.

Indigenous tourism mentoring 

The  National Indigenous Tourism Mentoring Program  is an individualised  mentoring  program to help tourism businesses gain practical advice from industry experts. Through the program, mentors will help you develop a business plan, refine your strategies and help implement the plan. The program is yet to start but more information is coming soon from the National Indigenous Australians Agency .

Financial support

Grants to develop your export market.

Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program offers financial support to help you grow your businesses in overseas markets. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply here .

Finance to grow your international business

Export Finance Australia  is the Australian Government’s export credit agency and provides loans and guarantees to Australian export-related businesses when their bank may be unable to help. If you're a business that provides tourism services directly, or through the supply chain, to international tourists and you need finance to help you grow the international side of your business, Export Finance Australia can help.

Additional support

• Grant Connect
• Regional Development Australia
• Austrade assistance

State-based grants and funding support:

• ACT Government
• NSW Government
• Northern Territory Government
• Queensland Government
• Government of South Australia
• Tasmanian Government
• Government of Western Australia

Discover more

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is presented in good faith and on the basis that Tourism Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given in this website. Tourism Australia wishes to advise people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent that this website may contain images of persons now deceased.

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Government of Canada launches new Tourism Growth Program

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

News release

Canada’s regional development agencies will deliver $108 million over three years to support tourism projects across the country

November 20, 2023 – Vancouver, British Columbia 

Tourism is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy. The tourism sector creates opportunities in communities across this country, supporting almost two million jobs and contributing some $38 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2022. After suffering some of its worst years in history, Canadian tourism is poised to grow significantly; experts predict that its contribution to our economy will continue to increase substantially. The ambitious Federal Tourism Growth Strategy targets a 40% increase of tourism sector's contribution to Canada's GDP by the end of the decade. That is why the Government of Canada is working to help Canadian tourism grow and bring more visitors to our shores. 

The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today launched the new Tourism Growth Program (TGP). With $108 million in federal funding, this program will invest in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, small businesses, and not-for-profits, helping them grow and positioning Canada as a destination of choice.

Canada’s seven regional development agencies will deliver the program’s funding directly to businesses and other organizations over the next three years, supporting projects to help more domestic and international visitors discover all that Canada has to offer. The projects will also align with the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy —supporting sustainable tourism, outdoor experiences, Indigenous tourism, seasonal expansion, and tourism in rural and remote areas—with the goal of diversifying regional economies and spurring economic growth.

Promoting Indigenous tourism is an important part of the Tourism Growth Program, with 15% of funds reserved for it. Indigenous tourism creates jobs and opportunities in communities across the country, which is why the Government of Canada is working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to encourage its growth. Indigenous tourism also sets Canada apart as a tourism destination for visitors from around the world. Most importantly, Indigenous tourism plays an important role in accelerating self-determination for communities and advancing reconciliation.

The Tourism Growth Program is one of the many ways in which the Government of Canada is helping the tourism industry to grow and thrive. Last week, Minister Ferrada announced the launch of the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s Micro and Small Business Stream, which will provide $10 million in direct support for Indigenous tourism operators. Additional supports for the industry include the $500 million Tourism Relief Fund established during the pandemic, increases in funding to Destination Canada, support for major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, investments in the Trans Canada Trail, and partnerships with other governments and the private sector to help enhance tourism offerings and welcome more visitors to our country.

“When it comes to tourism, Canada has what the world wants—and it’s no surprise that we’re a tourism powerhouse. As a government, we have a responsibility to help the industry grow and thrive so it can keep contributing to Canada’s prosperity. The new Tourism Growth Program will help Canadian tourism seize opportunities and create jobs, and I look forward to seeing the difference it makes in communities across this land.” – The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

“With its unique arts and culture experiences, breathtaking natural attractions, and more, B.C. is a world-class destination for visitors. Through the Tourism Growth Program, PacifiCan will invest in projects that grow the B.C. tourism industry—an industry that already supports more than 80,000 jobs and 16,000 businesses across the province. Growing tourism in B.C. means creating more jobs that British Columbians can rely on and attracting more visitors to our beautiful home.” – The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

The $108 million Tourism Growth Program was announced in Budget 2023.

The Tourism Growth Program complements supports for the tourism industry provided through other federal, provincial and territorial programs.

In 2023, Canada welcomed 12.6 million international tourists in the first eight months, a 54% increase from the same period in 2022. 1

In 2022, the tourism industry supported 1.87 million jobs, recovering to 90% of the number of jobs seen in 2019, when the industry supported 2.07 million jobs. 2

In 2022, tourism contributed nearly $38 billion to Canada’s GDP 3 , generated close to $94 billion in revenue for businesses 4 , and accounted for almost 13% of service exports 5 .

Associated links

• Tourism Growth Program
• The new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy
• The Canadian tourism sector

Marie-Justine Torres Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec 613-327-5918 [email protected]

Media Relations Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [email protected]

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED .

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on LinkedIn .

Follow @cdntourism on social media: X (Twitter) , Instagram .

Follow Canada Business on social media: X (Twitter) , Facebook , Instagram .

______________________________________________________________

• Statistics Canada. Table 24-10-0055-01  Non-resident visitors entering Canada, by country of residence, mode of transportation, arrival type and traveller type
• Statistics Canada. 2019-2022. Labour Force Survey
• Statistics Canada.  Table 36-10-0234-01  Tourism gross domestic product, constant prices (x 1,000,000)
• Statistics Canada.  Table 36-10-0230-01  Tourism demand in Canada, constant prices (x 1,000,000)
• Statistics Canada. Table 12-10-0134-01 Exports and imports of goods and services, quarterly, Canada, (NAPCS 2017) (x 1,000,000)

Page details

Two Rivers grant program aims to boost tourism and the overall economy. Here's how to apply.

A portion of the city's room tax revenues are allocated to provide the opportunity grants..

TWO RIVERS — The city’s Explore Two Rivers Board is accepting applications for its opportunity grants.

Grants of $500 to $5,000 are meant to help support events and programs and strengthen tourism and the overall economy of Two Rivers. A portion of the city’s room tax revenues are allocated to provide the opportunity grants.

“This grant program acknowledges the pivotal role of Two Rivers’ arts, cultural, nature and heritage venues in driving tourism and fostering a thriving community,” said Two Rivers Tourism Director Joseph Metzen in a news release.

“Annually, these diverse attractions contribute significantly to the generation of room tax revenue, thereby amplifying their economic impact,” he added.

Sign up for local business news with our new Manitowoc Streetwise newsletter

The Explore Two Rivers Tourism Grant program supports tourism-related initiatives within and around the city by providing financial assistance for projects, marketing efforts and events.

The competitive grant program was established to provide direct operating and marketing assistance grants to organizations that host and operate existing or new tourism events, the release said.

For more details, visit exploretworivers.com and click on the Opportunity Grant tab.

New Two Rivers bus route: Maritime Metro Transit will have a new bus route, bus stop during Roosevelt Avenue construction

Contact reporter Patti Zarling at [email protected] or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling or on Instagram @PGPatti.

TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Tourism Accommodations Can Access Grants

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is offering support to the island’s tourism accommodation properties through Phase 2 of the Tourism Accommodation Relief Grant, which is being administered through the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL).

“ Following the onset of this pandemic in 2020, the Tobago House of Assembly committed to supporting the people of Tobago: our business persons, our hotels and other businesses in the accommodation sector, in a number of ways,” said THA Chief Secretary Hon. Ancil K. Dennis.

The financial support will aid owners and operators of accommodation properties with reopening and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The non-repayable grants can help cover operational expenses towards reopening, utility expenses, landscaping, expenses towards compliance with Health and Safety standards and TTIC Certification, and Public Liability Insurance.

Grants range from $50,000 to $300,000 and will be determined based on property size.

For the full grant guidelines, persons can visit www.tobagobeyond.com/covid19-grants and start the application process for Phase 2 of the Tourism Accommodation Relief Grant.

For additional information or questions, contact TTAL via email at [email protected] .

The THA is committed to the successful reopening of Tobago’s tourism sector.

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Grant program launched to support sustainable tourism initiatives across Summit County

By logan stefanich, ksl.com | posted - march 28, 2024 at 4:33 p.m., the park city chamber of commerce and visitors bureau is launching a second-annual grant program to help fund programs and initiatives that will support summit county's sustainable tourism plan. (jeffrey d. allred, deseret news).

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

PARK CITY — The Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is, for the second year, launching a grant program for programs and initiatives that support sustainable tourism in the area.

Summit County's Sustainable Tourism Plan was developed in 2022 and this is the second year officials have announced funding for it.

"We created a sustainable tourism plan for the community of Park City and Summit County, and it's basically a long-range plan that's designed to balance a thriving tourism economy with all of the social and environmental pressures that come along with it; and making sure we're supporting the social and environmental needs of an area that does have such a robust tourism economy," said Morgan Mingle, director of sustainable tourism at Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau.

The grant program allows applicants to request up to $30,000 to fund eligible sustainable tourism projects. Mingle said the rationale behind the grant is to support small businesses and departments that are part of larger businesses, to increase sustainability practices or create new initiatives.

These projects and initiatives across the tourism industry can include community-building festivals and events, outdoor recreation, businesses and business districts.

Mingle said one example from the program last year was the development of a website showing the status of trails throughout Summit County.

"I think locals had a hard time of knowing what organization was managing what trail and what website you should go to if you wanted to check those conditions, and now they're all feeding into the backend of one website. And I think it's a really great example of stepping back, recognizing that the way we were communicating that information might've been confusing and just cutting through the noise and saying 'OK, let's all work together, let's build one website that we can send people to,'" Mingle said.

In total, last year's grant awarded 24 recipients (of 42 applicants) with funding for sustainable tourism projects.

The Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau appoints a committee to vet applications and score the submissions based on a standardized rubric. Grants are awarded based on application scores, availability of grant funding and final approval from the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

Aside from environmental sustainability, Mingle said the grant is also focused on funding social sustainability initiatives and elevating local culture. Last year's grant helped fund the Latino Arts Festival and a film series hosted by Park City Film highlighting the culture of eastern Summit County.

"Protecting and caring for our natural environment is essential for promoting sustainable outdoor recreation, ensuring the long-term resilience of our community and economy," said Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO at the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau. "Through the Sustainable Tourism Grant, qualifying organizations are given the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey toward a more mindful and sustainable approach to tourism, thus making sustainable tourism efforts a communitywide effort."

Mingle said the chamber encourages small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as nonprofit organizations, to apply for the grant.

Applications for the grant are now open and will close on April 24. Applications can be submitted here.

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Grants and funding

Exploring grant opportunities.

Applying for grants and funding is one way tourism operators can further enhance their businesses. Grants programs currently managed by the SATC include the Mid Murray Tourism Recovery Fund, Experience Nature Tourism Fund and Regional Event Fund .

Read on to find out more, including grants and funding opportunities available through other government agencies.

Mid Murray Tourism Recovery Fund

Mid Murray River tourism operators significantly impacted by the once-in-a-century flooding event will receive additional $500,000 in funding to support the return to full operations, staff upskilling, marketing activities and funding for events. 

This includes the new Mid Murray River Tourism Business Support Program, with grants of up to $50,000 allocated to businesses in low-lying regions, such as caravan parks. 

Experience Nature Tourism Fund

The $2 million Experience Nature Tourism Fund aims to spur investment in nature-based tourism experiences and make South Australia more competitive in luring domestic and international tourists.

A total of 33 nature tourism products and experiences have been granted funding under the first two rounds of the Experience Nature Tourism Fund. 

To date, a total of nearly $1 million in grants will unlock almost $1.6 million in combined project value.

Tourism Industry Development Fund

The $20 million Tourism Industry Development Fund (TIDF) ran from 2020 until 2022. In that time, it funded 114 projects across the state, unlocking $82.7 million worth of new and improved tourism infrastructure.

Over half of these projects are now complete, with the remainder expected to come online in 2023.

State and Federal Government grants

Grants and programs finder, state government funding programs, regional development australia (rda), federal funding programs.

• business.gov.au
• Department of Primary Industries and Regions  
• Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
• RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island RDA Adelaide Hills & Coast Grant Finder Funding Finder (grantguru.com.au)
• RDA Limestone Coast Grants and Funding - Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast (rdalc.org.au)
• RDA Barossa, Gawler, Light, Adelaide Plains Grants - RDA Barossa Gawler Light Adelaide Plains
• RDA Far North Grants and Funding Information (rdafn.com.au)
• RDA Murraylands and Riverland Grants and Funding Information (rdamr.com.au)
• RDA Eyre Peninsula Funding Opportunities - Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula (rdaep.org.au)
• RDA Yorke and Mid North Grants - Regional Development Australia Yorke & Mid North (yorkeandmidnorth.com.au)
• Export Market Development Grants

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Brown County Board approves $3.2 million tourism funds for new ice rink, turf, sports facilities

GREEN BAY - Brown County Board voted to award $3.2 million in tourism grants to seven organizations ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.

The seven groups were selected out of 16 that applied for a part of the tourism grants that was provided by American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Those selected are:

• Impact Sports Academy  outdoor sports complex: $500,000
• NE Wisconsin Rugby Foundation Inc.  for rugby fields: $200,000
• Wisconsin United Football Club  to convert grass fields to turf: $1 million
• De Pere Select Soccer and the  Sports Emporium  for an indoor sports facility: $300,000
• Cornerstone Community Center  to add another ice rink: $1 million
• OneDenmark  to develop a community hub: $100,000
• Pulaski Area Chamber of Commerce  for a welcome/community center: $100,000

Wisconsin United FC and Cornerstone Community Center got the $1 million they both requested, while the amounts given to the five groups were less than what they applied for. The grant program was created to support local tourism amenities and help the industry recover from COVID-19 shutdowns.

All County Board members voted in support of the recommended groups. Members John Vander Leest and Salvador Sierra were not at the meeting.

The grant program selected groups based on which would be more likely to bring more people to the area to stay in hotels and short-term rentals.

"It was meant to bring more people to Brown County to participate in a variety of activities and put a little money in the coffers with heads in beds so we can pay for some of our wonderful facilities like the KI Center and Resch Center," said Pat Buckley, the County Board president.

Members of the organizations lined up to speak in support of their group at the start of the County Board meeting for nearly two hours.

The other projects that initially applied were:

• Develop the  Evergreen Theater
• Develop the  Green Bay Public Market
• Heritage Hill State Historical Park to relocate Curly Lambeau's cottage to the history park
• Children's Museum of Green Bay  expansion
• Definitely De Pere  for construction of the Nelson Family Pavilion in Voyageur Park
• Backyard Brew LLC  for an outdoor recreation, food and beverage business
• SAGE Inc.  to create a mobile art studio
• Wisconsin Doulas Association  to host a statewide conference
• Experience Greater Green Bay to build an escalator at the KI Convention Center

The nine applicants did not receive funds under Wednesday's vote but more grants could still be on their way.

County Board members Jessica Adams and Patrick Hopkins noted most of the chosen groups were sports-related and asked the Executive Committee to offer funds for Definitely De Pere and the Children's Museum of Green Bay. Board members Patrick Evans, Rich Schadewald, and Hopkins also showed support for funding the Children's Museum. Board member Tom Peters asked to consider additional funding for Backyard Brew.

"I want to make sure we're looking at a well-rounded county as we go on, not specifically all sports," Hopkins said.

County staff scored the applications in five areas and made a recommendation to the county's Executive Committee — made up of Scott Anthes, golf course superintendent; Jeff Flynt, county deputy executive; Matt Kriese, county parks director; Marty Piette, Austin Straubel International Airport director; and Cole Runge, county planning director — for consideration. The committee then made their own recommendations to the County Board for approval. Next, contracts will be made on how they specifically will spend the money.

The county needs to "obligate" the money to all projects by Dec. 31 and applicants must spend the money by Dec. 31, 2026. The total $3.2 million for the program has been allocated, but the Executive Committee is set to discuss possible additional funding requests from the board in its next meeting.

More: KI Convention Center does not have an escalator. Tourism group wants to change that.

Benita Mathew is a health and county reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her at [email protected].

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Private equity reporting grants show good return

Projects in Hawaii, Milwaukee and south central Indiana knit news organizations into community life

Flying into Honolulu at night, the towering hotels glitter against the dark like the gold they mean for the state’s economy. But beneath the spectacle, there’s a prosaic reality that few Hawaiians know — about a third of the hotel rooms are owned by private equity investors.

Readers can learn a lot when local newsrooms get the chance to dig into private equity ownership.

In Hawaii, they learned about the reach of private equity into the state’s largest industry.

In Bloomington, Indiana, they learned that the number of local news stories fell by 75% after private equity owners took control of the local paper.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they learned that right under their noses, a single firm had quietly acquired more than 1,000 single-family homes, many in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Last year, Poynter’s Beat Academy awarded three private equity reporting grants from funds provided by the Omidyar Network, and it’s time to look back and see what those grants produced.

“This is something that we’ve wanted to do for four or five years,” said Noelle Fujii-Oride, a reporter with grant recipient Hawaii Business Magazine. “Finally doing it was so important for us as a magazine. I can’t think of other local media or even national media outlets that really investigated ownership and impacts in Hawaii.”

A heavy lift

Private equity, and its close cousin in housing, the real estate investment trust, is a daunting subject to tackle. A landscape littered with phrases like leveraged buyout, harvest phase and dividend recapitalization would scare off even a seasoned reporter. By design, private equity lies behind a curtain of privacy, with nominal reporting requirements and none of the disclosures that come with firms trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Each news organization faced different reporting challenges.

In a span of three years, VineBrook Homes Trust grew to be Milwaukee’s largest single-family landlord. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Genevieve Redsten and Cary Spivak spent months working through property records and court filings.

“Their work required a considerable amount of time to learn the structure and strategy of VineBrook, a very complicated and seemingly deliberately confusing company with numerous subsidiaries,” said editor Jim Nelson.

The Journal Sentinel reporters came upon an unexpected development — VineBrook was in a debt squeeze . Nationwide, it had lost $213 million and was unloading homes, including 200 in Milwaukee. It was a shift that both threatened community stability, but also opened the door to a large-scale affordable ownership intervention that is still playing out in the city.

Hawaii Business Magazine’s Fujii-Oride, who had never taken a single course in business, found herself following a cookie-crumb trail of press releases, corporate filings and proprietary data to build a picture of Hawaii’s hotel industry.

In Bloomington, the reporting team at Indiana Public Media painstakingly gathered the hard numbers on declines in staffing at seven publications. For one newspaper, the Herald Times, they tallied local news articles in 2014 and 2018 by going through microfilm, one page of archived coverage at a time.

There’s a reason private equity goes uncovered. It’s tough work. But the effort isn’t without rewards.

In a time when media grapples to retain trust, all three projects drew newsrooms into substantive conversations with people across their market area. Residents told Indiana Public Media’s Sarah Vaughan about the hole it left when high school sports went uncovered, and a former Bloomington mayor decried the risk to democracy when local lawmakers saw zero coverage of their votes and decisions.

The Milwaukee project was a team effort of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, a nonprofit aimed at boosting coverage of the city’s less affluent communities. MNNS reporter PrincessSafiya Byers found that community leaders had no idea that a multi-million dollar real estate firm had a foothold in their neighborhood.

“A quick Google search lets us know this group is a potential slumlord, so I can’t understand how we allowed this to happen,” North Side resident Chrystal West told Byers .

After it ran its story, Hawaii Business Magazine held a community conversation about the impact of private equity. To be sure, its findings had a measured tone. Outside investors had pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into hotels and resorts, chiefly so they could charge hundreds of dollars more per night. And the gamble generally has paid off.

The tourists are coming, and If hotel employment has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, it has been steadily rising.

“We haven’t seen the same type of aggressive profit-extracting tactics they’ve used in other industries,” Fujii-Oride, said.

But at the event, the conversation focused not on whether workers were abused, but on the much trickier question of whether they, and the rest of the community, were getting a fair shake. Tourism is Hawaii’s No.1 industry. Thriving tourism is a good thing, said Cade Watanabe with the union Unite Here Local 5. But that impact, he said, wasn’t equal across the board.

“We have one of the highest rates of outmigration,” Watanabe said. “We have people working multiple jobs to be able to earn a decent living. Why should the people of Hawaii continue to support tourism if tourism doesn’t support our ability to stay and live here?”

Going forward

Each of the private equity projects made a real contribution to its community.

In south-central Indiana, Indiana Public Media gathered original data that no one else had assembled, and sparked a public conversation about the ties between democracy, community life and local news.

Hawaii Business Magazine provided a solid understanding of private equity ownership that any journalist or researcher can turn to in years to come, and they got people talking about a broader question — that economic growth isn’t good in itself, but in how its benefits are spread around.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service helped citizens and local leaders see the invisible owner that had permeated their city. Their coverage was one reason U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., pressed the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to help first-time home buyers and introduced a bill to impose a tax on firms that buy homes in bulk.

Each project was a case study of news that doesn’t tell people what to think, but tells them what is worth thinking about.

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By Jonathan Abrams and Matt Stevens

Jonathan Abrams reported from Thomasville, Ga., and Matt Stevens from New York.

It is no wonder that moviemakers saw potential in Thomasville, Ga., as a stand-in for Main Street U.S.A. Cobblestone streets and mom-and-pop stores speckle the downtown of this city of 18,000 that is caked in red clay soil and nestled among rolling hills.

Just as attractive to some of those producers are Georgia’s lavish filming incentives, which have made Thomasville a cost-effective place to make modest pictures with major stars. Dustin Hoffman came for the rom-com “Sam & Kate.” A children’s book adaptation, “The Tiger Rising,” brought Dennis Quaid and Queen Latifah to town.

But what is good on the ground for local economies — Thomasville says each of the six movies filmed there has provided an economic boost of about $1 million — can simultaneously be a drain on state coffers .

Some Georgia lawmakers wondered whether it might be wise to put some limits on an uncapped tax incentive program that has given billions of dollars to Hollywood studios, scrambling this week in hopes of passing a bill that would modify the program.

How much money have states been spending?

Over the last 20 years, states have given movie and television productions more than $25 billion in filming incentives. Thirty-eight states currently offer some form of incentive. Georgia’s lauded program has poured more than $5 billion into Hollywood since 2015. New York has spent at least $7 billion, and California has dedicated more than $3 billion to try to retain productions.

Why do states want to encourage filming?

Supporters of film incentives see them as an engine for job creation. After all, when productions come to town, they need electricians, hair stylists and many other crew members to make movie magic. Productions also spend money while working — money that trickles through local economies to hotels, diners and dry cleaners.

Are there any downsides?

Incentives can be effective at luring projects. But economists warn that using them to do so is very expensive and offers minimal bang for your buck. Study after study has found that the tax revenue generated by film incentive programs is a quarter, or even a dime, of every dollar invested. In some programs, each job that is directly created can cost taxpayers more than $100,000.

And yet states are handing out cash?

Incentives come in different forms. Many states do offer cash rebates or grants, which are paid out directly to production companies. Other states give some form of a tax credit. Depending on the state, tax credits can be used toward tax liability, converted into a refund or sold.

Wait, studios sell their tax credits?

Yes. Many states offer a transferable tax credit. Studios can then sell those credits to companies with high state-tax liabilities. By selling them, often at a slight discount, studios can cash out and buyers can receive modest tax relief. As a result, companies with minimal ties to the entertainment industry have become a hidden part of the incentive ecosystem.

Who’s buying these credits?

Companies like Best Buy, U.S. Bank and Dr Pepper buy these tax credits from productions. High-net-worth individuals also sometimes purchase them. Consider one example: The production company behind “The Trial of the Chicago 7” received a $5.2 million tax credit from New Jersey that it sold to Apple Inc. for $4.8 million.

Can we track where all this money is going?

It’s hard. This process involves vast sums of tax revenue that states are owed but never collect. Because the money does not come into the state treasury to begin with, it is less obvious that the revenue has been lost. And that can make transferable tax credits politically palatable.

Stuffy meetings about abstract budget crunching can feel like distant concerns in Thomasville, a bastion for quail hunters that is much closer to Tallahassee, Fla., than to Atlanta. To residents, the evidence that the state’s film subsidies are a boon to business is as clear as day.

When “The Tiger Rising” became the first major movie to film in Thomasville in late 2019, the studio Thomasville Pictures wanted to make it apparent that productions would benefit local business owners. So it decided to slip $2 bills into its cash per diems.

The distinctive bills were presented as payment at Jonah’s Fish & Grits. Actors handed them across the counter at Grassroots Coffee. They were also laid down as tips at Liam’s, a local restaurant that fills up with crew members and celebrities alike.

Rhonda Foster, who owns and runs Liam’s with her family, estimates that the restaurant makes an additional $30,000 — enough to add a few full-time employees — whenever monthlong filming is underway. Machine Gun Kelly and his girlfriend, the actor Megan Fox, became regulars while he was working on “One Way.” During “Bandit,” so did Mel Gibson.

“Those of us that own businesses are more than happy to see them here,” Ms. Foster said.

But for all the extra revenue and civic pride generated in Thomasville and other municipalities in Georgia, many economists worry that the state is paying too high a price so locals can spot Mr. Quaid cruising by in a Jeep or Mr. Hoffman sipping his coffee.

Because municipalities seldom forgo tax revenue, they see only the benefits of the program. But the subsidy — studios can get up to 30 percent of their production costs back — is costly for the state, which is legally required to pass a balanced budget.

Between 2015 and 2022, Georgia paid out more than $5.2 billion in tax incentives for filming, according to data obtained by The New York Times. State estimates project that the program will cost Georgia another $2.5 billion altogether for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

J.C. Bradbury, an economics professor at Kennesaw State University who has studied the state’s program , estimated that the $800 million in tax credits Georgia handed out in 2018 cost each household $220. That fiscal year, the state planned to allocate less than $300 million from its general fund to its Department of Public Health .

“I would be happy driving a Ferrari,” Professor Bradbury said, “but I don’t buy a Ferrari because I’d rather have the other things that $500,000 could buy.”

Few can deny that Georgia’s spending has resulted in a formidable infrastructure to accommodate incoming productions. Dozens of states offer filming incentives, and some have struggled to train enough crew members and build enough soundstages to fully leverage the tax breaks. Not so in Georgia, which has for years been held up as a national success story.

Tyler Perry’s 330-acre studio complex stands tall in Atlanta , which has earned the nickname “Hollywood of the South” ; nearby, the 32 stages at Trilith Studios are home to Marvel movies . On-location shoots are also thriving, whether for television shows like “The Walking Dead” (Senoia) and “Stranger Things” (Jackson) or films like “May December” (Savannah) and “The Color Purple” (Macon).

Thomasville Pictures was founded in 2016 by Ryan Smith and Allen Cheney, a fourth-generation Thomasvillian who had moved to Los Angeles to begin his producing career. Their vision to film in southern Georgia overlapped with the goals of Bonnie Hayes, who was then Thomasville’s tourism director.

Ms. Hayes had hosted a local-interest television show for years before teaching broadcasting to high schoolers. Her students, she found, had no local outlet for pursuing passions like film after graduating.

“I would like for South Georgia to get a piece of that big money pie, to employ some of these really great creative kids,” said Ms. Hayes, who became Thomas County’s first film liaison.

Business owners said no when Marvel Studios asked to film a project that would close downtown for more than a month, Ms. Hayes said. But Thomasville’s small-town charm has come through since.

For “Bandit,” a closed restaurant became a strip club, and a member of a car club helped secure a few dozen 1980s vehicles. When one film wanted to use a specific house, Ms. Hayes persuaded the member of her church who lived there to allow it.

The films that Thomasville Pictures has brought to the city were not box-office bonanzas, making a combined $1.7 million from ticket sales. But they brought an infusion of cash and jobs to the region, which supporters of the film tax incentives say shows that the program is working as intended .

One recent report commissioned by the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, an advocacy group for studios and their industry partners in the state, found that every dollar Georgia spends on film tax incentives generated $6.30 in value to the state economy. The same report found that the tax credit supported more than 59,000 jobs in 2022.

In a statewide online survey of likely voters conducted this month for the coalition, roughly two-thirds of the respondents said they were aware of the state’s film credit program and supported it.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Cheney say the response has been overwhelmingly positive when they talk to Thomasville business owners after each film.

“I didn’t want to just steamroll through it, use and abuse all the elements that we could and then head out, like some people might if they were just coming in to save money and they have no loyalty to an area,” Mr. Cheney said.

Economists not connected to the film industry say the big picture is more complicated.

“The argument against film subsidies isn’t that no one benefits,” Prof. Bradbury said. “There are clearly winners and losers, and if you are one of the winners, you’re obviously going to like them.”

State auditors published a report in December estimating that every dollar invested in the film incentive program was returning 19 cents in tax revenue. An auditors’ report in 2020 found that the Georgia Department of Economic Development had inaccurately nearly doubled the economic impact of the film tax credit while also reporting misleading job data.

The department eventually made some adjustments , and lawmakers responded to oversight concerns by requiring audits for projects receiving the credit .

This legislative session, a proposal to place even a very modest adjustable cap on the program’s spending met resistance.

As lawmakers tried to hammer out a compromise this week, they effectively gutted the cap proposal by carving out an exemption for productions shot inside Georgia’s biggest studios. A last-ditch effort to revive the plan died on Thursday, the last day of the session.

In Thomasville, not all business owners are sanguine about the filming that has arrived. Heather Abbott recalled how the actress Anne Heche bought several items, including a $300 purse, from her jewelry and leather goods store when Heche was filming “Supercell.”

Not long after Ms. Heche, who died in 2022 , hopped on her bike and pedaled off, Ms. Abbott weighed the cost of that economic engine. She said that when filming shuts down access to her store for a month, she loses about $2,000, and that a crew once taped over her windows without asking permission.

“Let’s get real, that tax credit is for a rich person,” Ms. Abbott said. “They are trying to offset their income by impeding on mine.”

Mr. Smith said that Thomasville Pictures had received $6 million in state tax credits for five of its films, and that the studio hoped to make three movies in the area this year.

It may yet get a little more help. The Georgia Regional Film and Entertainment Alliance, which represents smaller cities like Thomasville, has an idea: an additional 10 percent tax credit for all productions that film outside metro Atlanta.

Jonathan Abrams writes about the intersections of sports and culture and the changing cultural scenes in the South. More about Jonathan Abrams

Matt Stevens writes about arts and culture news for The Times. More about Matt Stevens