Williams County announces Tourism Grant Program (United States)

Funding Information

• A total of $80,000 is available for the 2025 Grant Program.
  • Capital Project Grant:
    • The applicant can request up to $20,000 in which the grant can cover no more than 80% of the total project cost; a 20% match is required.
  • Events & Advertising Grant:
    • The applicant can request up to $5,000 in which the grant can cover no more than 80% of the total project cost; a 20% match is required.
• The project must be located, or the event must be taking place, outside of the city limits of the City of Williston, but within Williams County.

Uses of the Funds

• Capital Project Grant:
  • Funds can be used for the purchase, installation, and/or improvement of equipment, infrastructure, or a facility that relates to tourism, including drawing visitors to, or serving visitors in, Williams County.
  • All expenses must be related to tourism. Capital projects that focus on destination development will be prioritized over maintenance projects.
• Events & Advertising Grant:
  • Funds can be used to offset costs related to advertising (e.g., for an event or a facility), attracting or hosting an event located outside the city limits of the City of Williston, but within Williams County, marketing strategies and technologies including websites, signage, or other means of advertising tourism-related events or facilities in Williams County.
  • All expenses must be related to tourism.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any grant of money must be for supporting, increasing, or enhancing tourism in Williams County. The project must be located, or the event must be taking place, outside of the city limits of the City of Williston, but within Williams County.
• Eligible applicants can include private non-profit entities, clubs, and organizations; private for-profit corporations, companies; or associations; political subdivisions of the state of North Dakota; or other public or governmental entities. Grant awards will not be made to individuals or applicants that are not registered or licensed to do business in the state of North Dakota if the applicant is required by state law to be registered and/or licensed to conduct its operations, business, and activities. Fiscal agents may be used and must be identified in the application prior to submission. A fiscal agent must be identified on the application if the applicant is not a political subdivision of the state of North Dakota or is not an organization, corporation, company, association, or entity that is registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State.
• Applicants that have been previously awarded a Williams County Tourism Grant are eligible to re-apply in 2025, but will be given a lower priority than new applicants.
• The full list of eligibility criteria is provided below:
  • If a public entity, private for-profit entity, or private non-profit entity required by law to have a business license, then the entity must have a business license to conduct its operations in the State of North Dakota
  • If an entity is required by law to be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office to transact business in the State of North Dakota, then the entity must be duly registered and be in good standing at the time an application is submitted and remain in good standing throughout the term of the grant award, if any, and any reporting period
  • If a property owner in Williams County, must be current on real property taxes incurred in Williams County and must be in compliance with applicable Williams County or applicable city zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations, and amendments thereto
  • Must be requesting grant funds for costs that have not yet been incurred as of the grant award date
  • Must be requesting funds related to tourism in Williams County
  • Must be able to enter into written agreement with Williams County, subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Williams County, to receive and expend the funds
  • Must complete application in its entirety to be eligible for consideration
  • Ability to accept electronic transfers is preferred

For more information, visit Williams County.