Industry Partners

Cooperative Marketing Grants

Industry Partners

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Project Overview
General Cooperative Marketing application (for organizations open to the public at least 9 months out of the year, 5 days a week)
Seasonal Cooperative Marketing application (for organizations NOT open to the public at least 9 months out of the year, 5 days a week)
Official budget grid (must be submitted with application. May use additional grid if needed.)
Sample budget grid
New CVB logo with website: PDF Format (for white backgrounds) Please contact Beth at bconway@stjomo.com for any other format.

CONCEPT: This program is a cost sharing program between the Buchanan County Tourism Board (BCTB) and eligible non-profit museums and other entities which have a 501(c)(3) status, to assist in tourism related activities in Buchanan County for the primary purpose of marketing Buchanan County as a travel/overnight destination.

APPLICATION CATEGORIES: Please use the correct application according to these definitions.
General attractions: Those attractions open to the public for tours/shows at least 5 days a week, 9 months out of the year.
Seasonal attractions: Those attractions NOT open to the public for tours/shows at least 5 days a week, 9 months out of the year.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Projects must be tourism marketing activities outside of Buchanan County(i.e. ads online, ads in print, ads on radio or TV, tourism-related marketing campaigns, ads in St. Joseph Visitors Guide).

The only exclusion to the rule includes advertising with The St. Joseph News Press, Cablevision, Eagle Radio, and KQ2. We will pay 60% of 50% of the total campaign to these vendors. Because those 4 vendors are primarily in Buchanan County, we only pay a portion.
Example: News Press - $1000 = total campaign: We will pay 60% of $500 (or 50% of total).
Production of print ads, brochures or website can be completed by vendors inside Buchanan County as long as product is primarily distributed outside of St. Joseph.

The only exclusion to the rule includes advertising with The St. Joseph News Press, Cablevision, Eagle Radio, and KQ2.We will pay 60% of 50% of the total campaign to these vendors.Because those 4 vendors are primarily in Buchanan County, we only pay a portion.

HOW FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED: The BCTB’s Marketing Committee reviews all applications and awards funding based upon the application, project and research submitted.

The attached grading matrix form illustrates how funds will be allocated. A deduction in the percentage of points on this matrix form will result in a deduction of that exact percentage from your requested funding amount. However, a score of 100% does not guarantee funding and is discrectionary by the Buchanan County Tourism Board and Marketing Committee.
Those applications submitted without research supporting their projects will not be considered for funding. If you have questions about research, please contact Beth Conway at 233-6688.
Organizations that are awarded funds and fail to use them will be deducted funding in the subsequent application period.

APPLICATION PROCESS

DEADLINE : Application deadline for eligible organizations is December 1^st, 2011. There is only 1 application deadline for the entire following year. All applications must be submitted on this deadline. Applicants will be notified in late January of which projects will be funded.
PROJECT FUNDS: The CVB will pay 60% of authorized project expenses. Project application request must be for a minimum reimbursement of $250 and a maximum of $10,000 (total project cost minimum of $418 and maximum of $16,666).
Organizations are eligible to apply for FULL CALENDAR YEAR FUNDING (max $16,666 project / $10,000 reimbursement) in January.
APPLICATION: Theoriginal application form and ONE copy of the organization’s current 990 form and 501(c)(3) must be submitted with the application. In addition, six copies of the application form and six copies of support documents (as noted in question 14 on the application) must be submitted. The original copy is kept on file and the additional copies are required for the Marketing Committee’s review of the project.
Any additional documentation other than those materials requested will be discarded.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Funding is restricted to marketing the event or attraction to audiences outside Buchanan County. The event or attraction being marketed must be located in Buchanan County. Examples of eligible projects include advertising placement in or on:

Newspapers, magazines( local publications will be funded according to audience percentage outside Buchanan County)
Radio, television (local radio and television will be funded according to audience percentage outside Buchanan County)
CVB publications (Visitors Guide)
Other publications / media approved in advance by the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Brochure creation and distribution
Direct mail
5^th Logo Signage program – Highway signage
Website development or advertising
Other marketing efforts approved in advance by the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Advertising production fees.

FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR :

Annual operating expenditures of the event or attraction
Salaries, wages or employee benefits
Consulting services of any kind
Prize money, scholarships, awards, plaques or certificates
Events or attractions which are restricted to private or exclusive participation
Marketing efforts within Buchanan County, unless otherwise specified above
Postage
Other expenses not identified as eligible unless approved in advance by the CVB.

PROJECT DESIGN

VENDORS : Vendors that are located in Buchanan County must be used for all production unlessprior approval is given by the executive director of the CVB. Projects totaling $3,000 or more must be accompanied by three bids. If the lowest bid is not chosen, please attach a short explanation.

CREDIT LINE RULES:
Funded projects must credit the CVB as follows:
Use only the NEW CVB logo and website. Our logo has changed as of April 2011.
It must be included, and legible, in all approved projects. Digital images will be provided to you or your vendor upon request.
The only exception being radio advertising: The credit line must then say “Financial assistance provided by the St. Joseph, MO Convention & Visitors Bureau.”

***You will NOT be reimbursed for any project which does not include the CVB Logo and website or audio tag line.

REIMBURSEMENTS:

ALL PROJECTS MUST BE COMPLETED and SUBMITTED for reimbursement BY DECEMBER 14, 2012 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING.

Accepted applicants will have until December 14th to complete all projects, though it is still highly recommended you do not wait until Dec 14th to submit all supporting paperwork. Please submit reimbursements throughout the year. Checks from CVB office are only cut once a month at the end of the month.

Upon completion of project, all vendor invoices should be PAID IN FULL by the applicant. To receive reimbursement for project, the following items must be submitted to us:

A copy of the vendor’s invoice.
A copy of your SIGNED CHECK showing that you have paid in full.
A copy of the project. (I.e. brochure, advertisement, tear sheet, marketing piece, CD or tape of radio or television ad, etc.)
An invoice addressed to the St. Joseph CVB for 60% of your total paid. We can only pay by invoice, not check request.
Any submitted reimbursements not containing all 4 items will not be processed.

BUDGET GRID:
NEW RULE: You must submit the budget grid provided to detail your cooperative marketing plan as an attachment to Question 5 in the application.

Any changes to this payment method may only be made by the Executive Director of the CVB.
*Alterations to any aspect of this program may only be made by the Executive Director of the CVB.