FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., Nov. 28, 2023
CONTACT: Katlyn Svendsen, Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director, Travel South Dakota

Travel South Dakota Awards $215k With New Tourism Grant
28 event-based entities received funds from new TAP Grant

PIERRE, S.D. – Travel South Dakota’s new Tourism Advertising Promotion (TAP) Grant program has awarded a total of $215,025 to assist South Dakota’s tourism industry and increase visitation to tourism-related events.

“These funds will help unique South Dakota events attract more visitors, especially lesser-known events that deserve a larger audience,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. “We are so excited to see the powerful effects these investments have on some amazing South Dakota events.”

The purpose of this new grant is to provide marketing funds to tourism-related events such as festivals, concerts, rodeos, and powwows. This grant program is focused on providing funding to events in smaller towns, cities, and rural areas of the state, but entities and events of all sizes were encouraged to apply. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Award recipients include: Annual Archaeological Excavation/Archaeology Awareness Days (Mitchell), Barn Raisin BBQ (Salem), Black Hills Bluegrass Festival (Sturgis), Black Hills Institute 50^th Anniversary Celebration (Hill City), Black Hills Renaissance Festival (Lead), Black Hills Winter Festival (Hill City), Casey Tibbs Rodeo (Fort Pierre), Celebration Sisseton Days (Sisseton), Cheese Fest at Farm Life (Ethan), Christmas in Belle Fourche (Belle Fourche), Crystal Springs Rodeo (Clear Lake), Czech Days (Tabor), Danish Days (Viborg), Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally (Deadwood), Deadwood Snocross 2024 (Deadwood), Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival (Hot Springs), Festival of Lights (Brookings), Gold Discovery Days (Custer), Irene Rodeo (Irene), Kadoka Buffalo Stampede (Kadoka), Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant (De Smet), Mead Museum Hall of Trees (Yankton), Mobridge Indian Relays (Mobridge), Quarry Days (Dell Rapids), Schmeckfest (Lead), Sunflower Festival (Highmore), Wild West Days (Faulkton), and Wylie Park Family Fun Weekend (Aberdeen). 

For more information about the Tourism Advertising Promotion Grant, visit SDVisit.com/TAP.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.   

-30-