Important Grant Information

Accommodations Tax Grants provide financial support to fund tourism and tourism-related projects that occur in Richland County. These events should promote overnight accommodations in unincorporated areas of Richland County. A grant writing workshop will be held on January 25, 2012 at 2020 Hampton Street in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor. The workshop will be from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Please register by calling (803) 576-2069 or by emailing salleys@rcgov.us.

Proposals are due before 5:00pm on Friday, February 24, 2012.
FY13 Guidelines and Forms:
FY13 Guidelines
FY13 Application

Click here to view the list of FY 2012 grantees.

FY 2012 Reports and Forms:
Application Guidelines
Application
Payment Request
Mid-Year Report - Due January 31, 2012
Final Report - Due July 31, 2012
Richland County Logo

NOTE: Please read all guidelines carefully! The application form and guidelines have changed.
If you experience problems with opening these file, you may need the install the Free Word Viewer.

Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

Contact:
Sara Salley
Grants Manager
(803) 576-2069
salleys@rcgov.us

Accommodation Tax Information

By act of the South Carolina General Assembly, a two percent (2%) tax is levied in South Carolina on the rental of all transient accommodations. Chapter 4, Title 6 of the South Carolina Code of Laws provides for the allocation of the Accommodations Tax Revenues collected by a county or municipality and provides that a portion of the Accommodations Tax be allocated by the municipality or county for a special " Tourism-related Fund" to be used for "tourism-related expenditures."

• advertising and promotion of tourism so as to develop and increase tourist attendance through the generation of publicity
• promotion of the arts and cultural events
• construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities for civic and cultural activities including construction and maintenance of access and other nearby roads and utilities for the facilities
• the criminal justice system, law enforcement, fire protection, solid waste collection, and health facilities when required to serve tourists and tourist facilities. This is based on the estimated percentage of costs directly attributed to tourists
• public facilities such as restrooms, dressing rooms, parks, and parking lots
• tourist shuttle transportation
• control and repair of waterfront erosion
• operating visitor information centers

The funds received by a municipality or county must be allocated as follows:

• The first $25,000 to the General Operating Fund.
• The balance remaining, after deduction of the $25,000, must be allocated as follows:
  • 5% of balance to General Operating Fund
  • 30% of balance to special fund for advertising and promotion of tourism
  • 65% of balance, plus interest, to a fund for tourism-related expenditures as described above

All applications for funding will first be reviewed by the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee, after review of each application, will make a recommendation to the County Council, which makes the final determination as to how the funds will be distributed.