Visit Athens County
Tourism Development Grants
and Innovation Awards
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The Visit Athens County office is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 Tourism Development Grant Program, offering a total of $35,000 in funding to support local tourism initiatives. Individual grant awards of up to $1,500 are available for qualifying projects, events, and campaigns that enhance Athens County’s appeal as a visitor destination.
Visit Athens County encourages local agencies, event planners, non-profits, restaurants, businesses, lodging properties, events, attractions, and community organizations to apply for financial support. This program is designed to streamline funding opportunities while establishing a strong foundation for community-driven tourism projects, events, and promotional efforts. Have a creative idea on how to get more visitors to our County? Great! Apply for a grant! Print materials, signage, marketing campaigns, event promotion, article coverage, influencer visits? Be creative and think about how we increase visits and knowledge of our amazing Athens.
Not a non profit? We want to encourage you to still apply. Find a non profit that is willing to be the sponsor and get us your idea. We are hoping to increase applications and encourage folks to think creatively!
Grant applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis, with priority given to new or expanded events and initiatives that attract visitors from more than 100 miles away and/or encourage overnight stays in Athens County.
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday March 16th, 2026.
INNOVATION AWARDS
The Visit Athens County is offering for its second year, a grant opportunity aimed at fostering New and Innovative ideas to attract visitors to Athens County, Ohio. This grant is offering two separate $5,000 awards to support creative projects, events and initiatives that showcase the unique character, culture and attractions of our region. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, artist, community group or tourism professional, this grant is designed to help bring fresh and engaging experiences to both locals and visitors alike. By investing in bold, new tourism-driven ideas, Visit Athens County hopes to enhance the area’s appeal and continue to make it a must-visit destination.
We encourage you to consider marketing strategies, new events, sports tournaments, conferences or workshops, marketing material costs, and creative visitor campaigns. Think about how you would share your story, event, or other to the masses!
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday March 16th, 2026.
CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW FOR THE GRANT APPLICATIONS
***Please note that some cell phones and browsers will not open the applications. It is best to complete them on a computer