Simpsonville opens tourism grant applications for 2027–2028 community events ahead of Oct. 31 deadline

Nonprofits, community organizations, and event planners looking to bring festivals, cultural performances, and civic celebrations to Simpsonville have until October 31 to apply for critical municipal tourism funding.

The City of Simpsonville is accepting applications for state Accommodations Tax (ATAX) grants to support tourism-related events and capital initiatives scheduled between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2028.

Because South Carolina law strictly mandates that ATAX revenues—collected from overnight lodging such as hotels and short-term rentals—be reinvested into tourism promotion, these grants represent the financial engine behind many of the Upstate’s most visible community gatherings.

Shaping the Local Calendar

From outdoor seasonal celebrations and downtown concerts to arts showcases and historic walking tours, ATAX dollars help organizers absorb the substantial costs of staging public events.

For local cultural groups, the grant program bridges the gap between a creative concept and execution.

“When you are organizing a community-wide event, marketing and logistical overhead can quickly exhaust a nonprofit budget,” said Marcus Vance, an event director whose Upstate arts collective secured ATAX funding for a downtown weekend music series in a prior cycle. “Receiving ATAX assistance allowed us to run regional ad campaigns across western North Carolina and Georgia. That advertising brought families into Simpsonville who spent money at local restaurants, booked hotel rooms, and made our festival sustainable year after year.”

Under state statute, reimbursable expenditures must directly cultivate visitor attendance. Eligible uses include:

• Advertising, marketing campaigns, and promotional generation aimed at attracting out-of-town visitors.

• Operational support and facilities maintenance for civic, cultural, and recreational activities.

• Public infrastructure improvements serving tourists, including signage, parking, and visitor center operations.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Priority is routinely given to applicants who can demonstrate an ability to generate overnight stays in Simpsonville hotels. Organizations are encouraged to provide data such as reserved room blocks, historical hotel booking records from previous iterations of their event, or targeted out-of-market advertising plans.

All application packets must include:

1. Completed and signed ATAX funding application form.

2. A detailed marketing plan outlining promotional efforts to draw regional visitors.

3. The organization’s latest audited financial statements.

4. The required printed packet copies as outlined in the city submittal checklist.

Completed packages must be submitted no later than Friday, October 31. Following the deadline, the Simpsonville Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee will review each proposal, host applicant interviews, and present recommendations to Simpsonville City Council for final funding authorization.

How to Apply

Application forms and program guidelines are available directly through the City of Simpsonville website. Completed packets may be delivered to Simpsonville City Hall:

• Office: City of Simpsonville, Administration & Finance

• Address: 425 E. Curtis St., Simpsonville, SC 29681

• Website: simpsonville.com