The City of Columbia offers Accommodations and Hospitality Tax Grants to eligible organizations and or projects/events.  
To determine eligibility, available dates, and grant guidelines, refer to the links under each grant offered. 
Community Promotions Grants are offered when money is available.


CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS: 


NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A RESILIENT COLUMBIA-ECONOMIC STABILIZATION NON-PROFIT PROGRAM:

On March 20, 2020, the City of Columbia City Council approved funds to launch A Resilient Columbia Economic Stabilization Plan for Non Profit organizations to provide local relief, recovery and rebuilding in response to impacts of COVID-19. Through participation in the Midlands Community Response Fund, we will help continue the work of serving those impacted by disasters that hit our community. 

Coalition partners include the City of Columbia, United Way of the Midlands, Central Carolina Community Foundation, and the opportunity to add regional partners.  The coalition will work together to develop a uniform online grant application;  communicate our objectives, funding requests and grant making efforts with local and regional governments and businesses; engage local and regional governments in the coalition; eliminate grant duplication and increase grant impact. 

To apply, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit in existence for at least one year, located within the City of Columbia limits, and meet program eligibility requirements.  The project period is 6 months and organizations may request up to $10,000.

For complete program details, requirements, and to complete the funding application, follow the links listed below:



 

A Resilient Columbia-Economic Stabilization Non-Profit Program:
Non-Profit Program Guidelines -  (Read and follow before submitting application)
Non-Profit Program Application




Accommodations Tax Grant:   (OPENS JANUARY 2021 FOR FY 2021/2022)

Application Deadline March 6, 2020 by 12 pm for the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year

The Accommodations Tax grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting overnight accommodations in the City of Columbia. To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia. 

It is the intent of this committee to fund the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau and Capital City Lake Murray for fiscal year 2020-2021.  Listed below is the link for the 2020-2021 A-Tax application and guidelines: 














 (Open document; click "View"; click "Edit Document"; Save your document as your organization name)

Dates to remember for A-Tax: 
Application Cycle FY 2020/2021:January 30, 2020 - March 13,2020
Application Workshop:February 10, 2020 / 2-4pm / Earlewood Facility 1113 Recreation Drive
Applications Due:March 6, 2020 12pm (noon)
Applicant Presentations to A-Tax Committee:April/May (TBD-to be determined)
Award Notifications:June 2020 (following Council approval)
Approved Grants reimbursement Cycle/FY 2020/2021:July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021
Deadline for FY 2020/2021 Reimbursement Request:May 30, 2021




Hospitality Tax Grant:  (OPENS JANUARY 2021 FOR FY 2021/2022) 

   Application Deadline March 13, 2020 by 12 pm for the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year

The Hospitality Tax grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting dining in the City of Columbia.  To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.  Refer to the Hospitality Tax guidelines to see all eligibility requirements. 









Dates to remember for H-Tax: 
Application Cycle FY 2020/2021:January 30, 2020 - March 13,2020
Application Workshop:February 10, 2020 / 2-4pm / Earlewood Facility 1113 Recreation Drive
Applications Due:March 13, 2020 12pm (noon)
Applicant Presentations to H-Tax Committee:May 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th / Earlewood Facility 1113 Recreation Drive
Award Notifications:June 2020 (following Council approval)
Approved Grants reimbursement Cycle/FY 2020/2021:July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021
Deadline for FY 2020/2021 Reimbursement Request:May 30, 2021




H-Tax Links & Forms:
Pre-Application:
Hospitality Tax Grant GuidelinesReview before completing the application
Committee CriteriaReview before completing the application
City Limits-Project/Event Address Look-upVerify project/event is within the City limits



Application:  You must first log into your organizations ZoomGrants account, or create a ZoomGrant account if your organization does not have one. Once logged into ZoomGrants, follow link below to complete the application:

https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/City_of_Columbia,_SC/Hospitality_Tax_Program_FY_2021H-Tax Application
W-9Required Attachment (blank form)
FY21 Grant Workshop.pdfGuidelines and Procedures from Workshop
Grant Workshop Application Guide/ZoomGrantsGuide for completing application

 

Post Application:
Statement of Assurance Signed form must be submitted before funds are processed
Reimbursement Request Summary Sheet Form submitted with reimbursement request










Community Promotions Grant:  



Upon availability, General Fund dollars, via this grant, provide financial support to non-profit or charitable organizations within the City of Columbia.  Applications for Community Promotions Grants will be available once funds (if any) are allocated after fiscal year end.  There is no funding available for Community Promotions Grants at this time.  Once funding is determined to be available, a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA), will be posted here on the City's website.  The process for applying for a grant will be outlined in the NOFA.  









 


Additional Links & Information:


Funded FY20:  Website Spreadsheet 2020
Funded FY19:  Website Spreadsheet 2019
Funded FY18:  Website Spreadsheet 2018


Office Personnel:

Dee Dee Fanning, Grants Administrator/Community Projects Coordinator

(803)545-3048

[email protected]

Physical Address: 1136 Washington Street, Suite 508, Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 147, Columbia, South Carolina 29217

Hours:Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.