Applications close January 10, 2025. 

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Welcome! We are excited to hear about your upcoming event or project.

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Before you complete the application, please read the notes below thoroughly.

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Where funding comes from

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The Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA) receives a portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax collected by the Town of Huntsville from local accommodators (resorts, hotels, motels, and short-term rental accommodations).

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What we fund

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As Huntsville's designated Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMMO), HMATA and our tourism brand, Explore Huntsville, are tasked with increasing awareness of Huntsville as a tourism and visitor destination (in particular during shoulder seasons and the less-busy winter months), as well as developing or supporting initiatives that contribute to the success of Huntsville's visitor economy. This is broken down into four areas:

• Marketing via Explore Huntsville

• Tourism product development (such as the Eclipse Walk With Light attraction)

• Collaboration with our tourism partners (Muskoka Tourism, the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and the Downtown Huntsville BIA)

• Visitor Attraction Grants (this is where you come in!)

 

How much funding is available for grants?

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Our funding cap for this category is $20,000 per event/project, however most approved applications will receive less than this amount. When we are assessing applications, we consider many factors, including the timing of the event (shoulder season/winter and weekday events are preferred), the number of out-of-town visitors the event/project will attract and the potential for overnight stays, the profile of the event (local, provincial, national, or international), its environmental impact, and the number of applications received in a given intake period. Given our other obligations, the total amount available in this category is typically less than $100,000 per year for ALL applications.

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Note: Applicants are expected to invest at least 20% of the funds required in their own project (this may include monetary or in-kind donations) — HMATA will not fund a community project or event in its entirety.

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When can my organization apply?​

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HMATA has one application intake period annually. Applications will not be reviewed until after the intake period has closed. After review, applications for events or projects that meet HMATA’s criteria for funding may be invited to present to HMATA’s Board, if additional information is required.

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For HMATA’s 2025-26 fiscal year (June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026), the intake period will be December 9, 2024 - January 10, 2025.

 

Disclaimer

 

The Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association cannot guarantee funding to all applicants, nor can it ensure that the total amount requested by successful applicants will be granted. Past funding does not guarantee program funding. There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants.

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Ready to apply? Click here!

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