Both appointed boards that oversee proceeds from taxes reinvest the funds into tourism.

Tourism Board — Reinvests funds from a 1% sales tax on prepared foods and beverages into:

• Hillsborough Visitors Center
• Grants, special projects and partnerships
• Contract services with local organizations and historic sites

Tourism Development Authority — Reinvests funds from a 3% hotel and motel room occupancy tax to encourage visitors to stay in local lodging facilities. 

Both the Tourism Board and Tourism Development Authority provide funds for special projects and partnerships.

The projects and partnerships are generally small in scope and needed only once.

Requests must demonstrate or explain how the project or partnership will:

• Expand tourism if funded by either board.
• Increase Hillsborough lodging occupancies if funded by the Tourism Development Authority.

The Tourism Board does not generally accept requests for special projects and partnerships during its March-June grant cycle. 

Contact Staff Support

The Tourism Board accepts grant applications for a wide range of special events and projects designed to increase tourism to Hillsborough.

• February-March — The application period is open.
• April — Applications are competitively scored.
• May — Awards are announced at the Tourism Board meeting.
• June — Applicants receive official notification of funding status.

The board requires a final report and the return of unused grant funds after a project has concluded.

• Grant Scoring Guidelines

Contact Staff Support