Tourism Grant Program | Visit Hattiesburg, MS

What is the Tourism Grant Program

VisitHATTIESBURG’s Tourism Grant Program (TGP) is a competitive annual allocation designed to enhance visitor and tourism promotion efforts in Hattiesburg. TGP provides funds for marketing and other qualified expenses for projects / events that fulfill VisitHATTIESBURG’s mission and, ultimately, increase overnight travel to Hattiesburg.

Since its launch in 2018, the Tourism Grant Program has supported more than 160 tourism-friendly local events and initiatives, including concerts, sports tournaments, expos, and cultural festivals. To date, VisitHATTIESBURG has reinvested more than $275,000 into the community through this program.

Applications for FY2026 are now closed.

Qualifying Programs and Events

Eligible applicants for funding include an organization, event, or project whose objective is to promote Hattiesburg’s tourism industry to out-of-town visitors by generating overnight travel and economic stimulus to the city. The target audience should be outside the immediate Hattiesburg area (over a 50-mile radius or out-of-state).

Qualifying entities may be attractions, associations, organizations or governmental agencies which promote their event, products and/or services to visitors from outside the area. Qualified grant projects should be classified in one of the following categories:

Festival / Event
Attraction / Public Use Facility: Museums, historical buildings, meeting space, sporting facilities, etc.
Other organizations/associations with a primary objective of promoting tourism in Hattiesburg

Proposed projects must occur between Oct. 1, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2026. The full list of eligibility requirements and project stipulations can be found here.

Grant Details

FY2026 GRANT DETAILS:

TGP FY2026 Eligibility and Project Requirements
Official TGP Application - Priority deadline: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 by 5 p.m.
FY2026 Final Report - Will be posted after initial awarding. Interested parties can review the FY2025 report below for a general framework of what will be required.
Questions can be directed to the TGP team.

Aug. 5, 2025	Applications open.
Sept. 4, 2025	Priority deadline for applications.
Sept. 17, 2025	Target date for notifying applicants of status.
Oct. 1, 2025	VisitHATTIESBURG's FY2026 fiscal year begins.
Sept. 30, 2026	Deadline for final reporting for FY2026 awards.

Applications submitted by the stated deadline will receive priority in funding decisions. If TGP funding is not fully awarded during the initial review process, applications will continue to be accepted throughout FY2026, or until allocated TGP funds are depleted.