Annual Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant

In order to support and enhance Alachua County as a culturally interesting and vibrant destination, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has allocated a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue to aid in the operations and promotions of arts, cultural, and nature events that have, as one of their main purposes, the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists.

Use of Tourist Development Tax Revenue are set by the state under the Local Option Tourist Development Act, F.S. 125.0104. An eligible event is one that its main purpose for the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the activity or event to tourists. A tourist is a person who participates in trade or recreation activities outside of the county of his or her residence, or who rents transient accommodations as provided in the Act.

The total estimated award amount for the Fiscal Year 2027 Grant is $1,500,000.00

Background

Location: Alachua County is located in North Central Florida. The County government seat is situated in Gainesville. Gainesville is located 70 miles southwest of Jacksonville, 129 miles southeast of Tallahassee, 140 miles northeast of Tampa - St. Petersburg and 109 miles northwest of Orlando. Alachua County has a population of over 250,000 and a regional airport. The County itself consists of a total area of 969 square miles.

Form of Government: Alachua County is governed by a Board of five (5) elected County Commissioners and operates under the established County Manager Charter form of government. In addition to the five County Commissioners, there are five elected Constitutional Officers: Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, Clerk of the Court, Tax Collector, and the Property Appraiser. The Alachua County Attorney also reports to the Board.

Project Details

• Reference ID: RFA 27-98-PM
• Department: Tourism & Economic Development
• Department Head: Jessica Hurov (Tourism Manager)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-08-16T04:01:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-08-05T14:00:00.000Z — Grace Knight Conference Room, Second Floor, Alachua County Administration Building, 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. Join Zoom Meeting https://alachuacounty-us.zoom.us/launch/jc/86021731666 Meeting ID: 860 2173 1666 Passcode: 180733 --- One tap mobile +13052241968,,86021731666# US +19292056099,,86021731666# US (New York) Join instructions https://alachuacounty-us.zoom.us/meetings/86021731666/invitations?signature=abKBJlLlHj8OrRfhMXFfXaHitfy6skxAPjUGiaBeAnI If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate, please contact the Alachua County ADA Coordinator at ADA@alachuacounty.us or Equal Opportunity Office at 352-374-5275 at least 7 business days prior to the event. If you are unable to notify the Office prior to the event, please inform an Alachua County employee that you need assistance. TDD/TTY users, please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Evaluation Criteria

• Attendance: (scoring range: 0 – 40 pts.) (40 pts) —
  • [35 Points] Attendance Ratio Score Calculation: (See updated chart below)
  • [5 Points] Method Transparency & Data Verification: Explain how attendance estimates were determined. Include average attendance from the past two years and provide an evaluation report showing how tracking is verified (e.g., ticket sales, gate receipts, surveys).

  In-Person Requirement: Attendance may only be included for in-person events produced and managed directly by the applicant entity.

  Do NOT include attendance for:

  • Activities that are a component of an outside organization’s event (including, but not limited to, tabling, setting up a booth, providing informational materials, performances, or installations at a festival, community fair, or concert).
  • Online streaming views, website reach, social media followers, or material distribution.
  • Classes and/or workshops.

  Note: If non-allowable attendance is reported, it will be deducted from the final attendance count and the ratio score will be re-calculated by reviewers.

  Attendance Ratio Score
  Funding request divided by attendance = Ratio Score
  □ 5.0 and below = 35 points
  □ 5.1 - 10 = 25 points
  □ 10.1 - 15 = 15 points
  □ 15.1 and higher = 5 points

• Cultural Merit and Support: (scoring range: 0 – 30 pts.) (30 pts) —
  • [10 Points] Historical Impact: History of the organization and its contribution to the cultural development of Alachua County.
  • [10 Points] Project Quality & Significance: Artistic and/or cultural significance, creativity, and quality of the proposed project(s). Describe the proposed project(s) to be funded as the scope of services for the grant.
  • [5 Points] Support: Community support, outside grants, collaborations, and/or in-kind contributions.
  • [5 Points] Validation: Up to 5 letters of support.

  Merit Scoring Tiers:
  • Excellent (25–30 points): Organizational timeline and cultural contributions clearly demonstrate growth, sustainability, and expansion with specific examples. Projects are well-defined, achievable, unique, and reflect excellence. Clear evidence the organization follows best practices in multi-sourced funding strategies with examples of diversified and broad-based community support.
  • Good (20–24 points): Organizational timeline and cultural contributions are defined. Projects are defined and achievable. Funding strategies provide examples of outside support.
  • Fair (15–19 points): Little evidence of cultural contributions, sustainability, or growth. Programs are not well-defined or achievable. Outside funding sources are lacking and there is little evidence of broader community support.

• Marketing and Advertising Plan: (scoring range: 0 – 30 pts.) (30 pts) —
  • [15 Points] Tourism Strategy: Describe the organization’s marketing plan, including out-of-county marketing, and how the proposed event will be promoted to tourists.
  • [10 Points] Mandatory Tourist Spending: Provide a detailed description with a budget breakdown of how 25% of requested grant funding will be spent specifically to attract tourists.
  • [5 Points] Historical Analytics: Additional supporting documents; attach examples of past brochures, programs, reviews, advertising, social media posts, and social media metrics/engagement reports.

  Marketing Scoring Tiers:
  • Excellent (25–30 points): Well-defined marketing plan to grow attendance and attract tourists. Includes strategic use of multiple platforms (social, radio, web, etc.). Articulates understanding of target markets and the demographic profile of attendees. Includes plans for editorial press coverage. Clearly defines a return on investment for marketing and advertising expenditures.
  • Good (20–24 points): Marketing plan to attract and grow attendance. Includes multiple platforms (social, radio, web, etc.).
  • Fair (15–19 points): Undefined marketing plan to attract and grow attendance.

Submission Requirements

• Corporate Resolution Granting Signature (required) —

  The response must be submitted by an officer of the business who is legally authorized to enter into a contractual relationship in the name of the bidder. An authorized representative who is not an officer may sign the proposal, but must attach or upon request provide a corporate resolution granting authorization to the representative to execute on behalf of the business. Are you authorized to submit this RFA?

• Taxpayer Identification Form (required) —

  Upload your W-9 form.

• Sunbiz (required) —

  Upload your active Sunbiz.

• Authorized Signatory (required) —

  Provide proof of persons authorized to sign contracts by submitting a Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations registration copy, board resolution or other evidentiary document. Please download the below document, complete, and upload.

• Only Private Non-Profit Entities Provide the following: (required) —
  • Board of Directors – Provide a list indicating officers and all directors’ contact information including name, business affiliation, and contact information.
  • Current State of Florida Solicitation License from the Florida Department of Agriculture
• Select your Entity type for Required Organizational Documents. (required)
• Required Organizational Documents. (required) —

  Based on your answer in Question 6 upload your required organizational documents here. The required documents are found in Section 4.9 Application Documents.

• Drug Free Workplace (required) —

  In accordance with §287.087, Florida Statute

  Do you certify that you meet the following:

  1. Publish a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition.

  2. Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations.

  3. Give each employee engaged in providing the commodities or contractual services that are under bid a copy of the statement specified in subsection (1).

  4. In the statement specified in subsection (1), notify the employees that, as a condition of working on the commodities or contractual services that are under bid, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employer of any conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any violation of Chapter 1893 or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) days after such conviction.

  5. Impose a sanction on, or require the satisfactory participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program if such is available in the employee's community, by any employee who is so convicted.

  6. Make a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of this section.

  As the person authorized to sign the statement, I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.

• Organization Name (required)
• Authorized Contact Name and Phone Number (required)
• Board President Name and Phone Number (required)
• Project/Activity Name (required)
• Project/Activity Dates (required)
• Mailing Address (required)
• Email Address(s) (required)
• Requested Amount (required)
• Attendance Ratio Score (Maximum 35 Points) (required) —

  Please download the below NCDE Attendance Ratio Score Calculator, complete, and upload.

• Attendance Methodology & Verification (Maximum 5 Points): Detail how your attendance estimates were calculated. You must provide your average attendance from the past two years and attach an evaluation report verifying how this data is tracked. (required)
• Cultural Merit and Support: History of the organization and its contribution to the cultural development of Alachua County. (Maximum 10 Points) (required)
• Cultural Merit and Support: Artistic and/or cultural significance, creativity, and quality of the proposed project(s). Describe the proposed project(s) to be funded as the scope of services for the grant. Be specific. Include name(s) of events, location, dates and all relevant information. (Maximum 10 points) (required)
• Cultural Merit and Support: Community support, grants, collaborations and/or in-kind contributions. (Maximum 5 points) (required)
• Letters of Support (Maximum 5 points) (required) —

  Upload up to 5 letters of support. (1 point per letter of support)

• Marketing and Advertising Plan: Describe the organization’s marketing plan, including out-of-county marketing, and how the proposed event will be promoted to tourists. (Maximum 15 points) (required)
• Marketing and Advertising Plan: Provide a detailed description with budget breakdown of how 25% of requested grant funding will be spent to attract tourists. (Maximum 10 points) (required)
• Additional supporting documents (Maximum 5 points) (required) —

  Attach examples of past brochures, programs, reviews, advertising, social media posts, and social media metrics and engagement reports

• Conflict of Interest (required) —

  The bidder certifies that to the best of his knowledge or belief, no elected/appointed official or employee of the County is financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the purchase of the goods or services specified on this order. ( Select yes, if there is no conflict of interest)

• I attest that all information in the application is accurate and that the events and activities to be considered for funding are in compliance with the Alachua County Code of Ordinances and grant funding criteria. (required)
• I attest that if awarded, the funding provided by way of this program or agreement will not be used in aid of a program or event whose purpose is to promote the religion of the provider, be significantly sectarian in nature, involve religious indoctrination, require participation in religious ritual, or encourage the preference of a religion (required)
• I attest that if awarded, the funding will not support or include discriminatory acts or practices, including discrimination based on race; color; national origin; religion; sex; marital status; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression. (required)
• I understand that all printed and/or digital collateral and advertisements must include the Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL logo as one of the event sponsors and on all advertising/marketing materials, the event website (with link to VisitGainesville.com), programs, and any newsletters or email notifications promoting the event. (required)
• The Applicant will comply with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, including these grant/program requirements. Failure to comply may subject the applicant to loss of funding or removal of participation in this or a future County tourism development tax funded grant/program (required)
• I understand that the event will credit Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL at the level equal to the award amount. For example, if the award is $15,000.00 and that is a gold-level sponsor, Visit Gainesville Alachua County is to be listed as a gold sponsor. (required)
• Tickets for the appropriate level sponsorship must be provided to Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL for promotional activities. (required)
• I understand that all reporting requirements must be satisfied to receive reimbursement funding. (required)
• I understand that the event(s) must be ADA accessible. (required)
• I understand that a statement on letterhead that the applicant is a governmental entity or a copy of the Organization’s Active Status from Sunbiz.org must be attached to be eligible for funding. (required)
• I certify that my event is within the boundaries of Alachua County. (required)
• I acknowledge that this application and grant documents submitted to the County, become public records subject to the provisions of Chapter 119, F.S., Florida Public Records Law. (required)
• Certification Required by §287.139, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to §287.139, Florida Statutes, the Grant Applicant hereby certifies to the County that it does not and will not use County funds in requiring its employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents to ascribed to, study, or be instructed using materials relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion as defined in §125.595(1), Florida Statutes. (required)
• Acknowledgement of Requirements (required) —

  Did you review and complete all the required documents, attachments, addenda and questions and answers?

• Advertisement for RFA (required) —

  Does the RFA need to be publicly advertised in the Local Newspaper?

• Do you require a Electronic Pricing Table? (required)
• Insurance Requirements (required) —

  Which Insurance will you need for this ITB?

• Will you require Term Language (required)
• Initial Term Start Year (required) —

  What year does the term start on.

  Example: 2023

• Initial Term End Year (required) —

  Example: 2023

• Number of Renewal Periods (required) —

  Example: two (2)

• Renewal Year Length (required) —

  Example: two (2)

• Evaluation Critera (required) —

  Please choose the following:

  Option 1: Covers Annual / One Time Project (Includes Local Preferences)

  Option 2: Covers A&E CCNA and No Local/SBE/GMW (Excludes Local Preferences )

  Option 3: No Technical Scoring required

• Contract Type (required) —

  What type of Contract will this solicitation result in?