OVERVIEW: 

The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) is committed to helping communities contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of the Commonwealth. The FY26 Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program is a competitive grant program that will award funds to improve facilities and destinations visited by in state and out-of-state travelers, with the goals of increasing visitation, enticing repeat visitation, and increasing the direct and indirect economic impacts of the tourism industry in all regions of the commonwealth. 

Eligible projects will enhance tourism resources and infrastructure and will aid in destination resiliency. Applications will be accepted for projects that include plans to expand, construct, restore or renovate Massachusetts tourism destinations and attractions. Applicants must demonstrate how the tourism capital project will work to promote the tourism goals of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the corresponding Regional Tourism Council. The DDC grant is focused on capital improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, and other physical/structural items with a greater than five-year lifespan. In accordance with the ResilientMass Plan, projects that include elements intended to increase the climate resilience of a tourism destination or attraction will receive consideration in the review process. MOTT will strive to take geographic equity into consideration, and projects with a presence in a Designated Cultural District, relate to nature-based/agricultural/rural tourism, or have a nexus with commemorations of the 250th anniversary of American Independence will receive priority consideration.

The Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program anticipates awarding up to $6,000,000 in FY26, subject to funding availability.

The grant process opens on May 28, 2025 with applications due July 9, 2025. 

Grant awards will be announced in August 2025, subject to appropriation.

Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026

Read the DDC Grant Application FAQ Document

 
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: 

1. A public agency, municipality, tribal entity, or nonprofit organization incorporated in Massachusetts with 501(c)3, 501(c)5, 501(c)6, status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that does one of the following: 
2. Produces, promotes, or presents tourism attractions and activities for the public. 
3. Provides public access to physical collections and exhibits. In operation for at least 24 months.
4. Agency must be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and city/town where it is located; must be current on all taxes due through December 31, 2023; and have active and valid state licenses/registrations, if applicable. 
5. Municipal applicants must be in compliance with MBTA Communities Act (Section 3A of MGL c. 40A), if applicable/required, to be eligible for funding 
6. Applicants must have spent at least $15,000 in a fiscal year on tourism related items. Note: A tourist is defined as somebody who travels more than 50 miles or spends a paid overnight at their destination. Tourism related items include marketing such as television, radio, web or social media based, printouts made to disburse, signage, or hiring of a marketing agency to outsource such items. And align with question in application.
7. Applicant must indicate how they are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organization. 
8. Applications must be complete, include all required documentation, and be submitted through the online portal, by the deadline, in order to be considered. 

Ineligible Organizations: 

1. For-profit organizations 
2. Any organization whose sole or primary purpose is to fundraise 
3. Public colleges and universities, and entities that receive state-level operating support or non-project support directly from the Massachusetts General Fund 
4. A fiscal sponsor that will pass through funds to an ineligible organization 
5. Organizations not located in Massachusetts
    

GRANT AMOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTION: 

Range of awards: $5,000 - $200,000 

Only one application per applicant may be submitted. Eligible costs include direct expenses for the bidding and construction of tourism infrastructure projects, including, but not limited to, bid administration, contracting, construction administration, construction, and equipment. 

Grant funds are disbursed quarterly, on a cost-reimbursement basis.

TYPES OF GRANTS AND PROJECT ELIGIBILITY: 

1. Infrastructure – Projects including but not limited: additions, renovations, or repair to an existing structure; recreation improvements (signage, kiosks); parking/transportation strategies and solutions 
2. Facilities: Projects related but not limited to garbage management solutions; restroom facility updates; ADA accessibility, systems upgrades and replacements 
3. Design and Engineering: Funding for design, engineering and permitting related to tourism projects. Design and engineering grants must be directly connected with a capital project and lead to completion of the project within a 3-year time frame 

Ineligible expenses:
Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to, the following: 

1. Expenses incurred or obligated prior to or after the funding project period 
2. Annual operating expenditures or overhead expenditures (e.g. rent, utilities, etc.) 
3. Salaries, bonuses, or fringe benefits of personnel not directly related to the project. No more than 20% of the grant may be spent on administrative or marketing salaries.
4. Prize money, gift cards, scholarships, awards, plaques, T-shirts, uniforms or certificates 
5. Entertainment expenses, including food, beverages including alcohol, cannabis or tobacco 
6. Legal fees, insurance/liability insurances and/or membership fees 
7. Mini-grants or reallocation to other organizations 
8. Any expenses not related to the described grant project
    

MATCHING REQUIREMENTS:

All grants require a 1:1 match. This means the grant recipient must raise an amount equal to or more than the grant amount. For example, if a grant in the amount of $10,000 is awarded, the recipient must contribute $10,000 or more of matching funds to the project.

DDC recipients will have until June 30, 2026 to raise matching funds. Matching funds must be used for eligible project costs. Grants that are not matched will be required to reimburse the Commonwealth for the amount not met.

Matching funds may include any of the following assets: 

1. cash funds 
2. in-kind contributions to the capital project 
3. land acquired for the capital project at the purchase price, or fair market value if donated 
4. capital project design and engineering donations 
5. capital equipment donation 
6. municipal funding 
7. donation of consultant time 

Match amount may not include: 

1. donation of employee time or fringe benefits 
2. consultant fringe benefits 
3. endowment funds
4. MOTT funds, other Commonwealth grant funds, including grants from independent and quasi-public state agencies, and federal grant funds 

REVIEW CRITERIA: 

Applications will be reviewed by the strength of the following criteria and financial need:
 

Vision And Clarity (30%): 

• Clearly shows the scope and vision of the project and how the Destination Development Capital Grant will continue that vision. 
• Demonstrates the value of the project within the community and can clearly articulate what the project is trying to achieve.
• Articulates the stakeholders, outcomes, and deliverables of the project. 
• Describe unique attributes of the project and its value as a tourist destination for visitors from Massachusetts, nationally, or internationally. 

Alignment & Partnerships (25%): 

• Clearly identifies the top tourism assets in the community including target markets and demographics. 
• Clearly shows how the project is consistent with community plans around economic development in the tourism industry. 
• Articulates why tourists would choose this destination. 
• Shows thoughtful inclusion of relevant project partners. 
• Demonstrates capacity of partners involved in the program.
• Describes how the organization advances diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Ability To Execute (20%): 

• Clarity of the budget and matching funds 
• Appropriateness of the timeline 
• Has held relevant meetings and made progress on local, state, or federal permits required to implement the proposed project, where applicable.  

Economic Impact (15%): 

• Shows how the success of the project will be measured. 
• Clearly articulates the impact on the tourism economy. 
• Shows a clear target area of focus within the tourism sector with metrics and background. 

Policy Priorities (10%):  

• Demonstrates that the project will enhance the tourism asset’s and/or the community’s resilience to the effects of climate change. (For applicants requesting engineering or construction funding: the review team will consider the project’s Climate Standards Tool Report specifically; if an applicant does not complete the Climate Standards Tool, their application will receive 0 points for this category.) (4%) 
• Projects that fulfill statutory priorities may receive priority:  
• Projects that are located within a Designated Cultural District per Chapter 10, Section 58A (2%) 
• Projects that relate to nature-based, agricultural, and/or rural tourism (2%) 
• Projects that relate to commemorations of the 250th anniversary of American Independence. (2%) 

CLIMATE STANDARDS TOOL REPORT 

Applicants requesting engineering or construction funds must attach a project output report from the Commonwealth's online Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool (“Climate Standards Tool”). This Tool guides users to input basic project information and generates a downloadable report for attachment. These reports provide preliminary climate exposure ratings for a location, which the review team will use to better understand future climate risks to a project site. The entire process, exclusive of registration, should take no more than 15 minutes. Step-by-step guidance for generating a project report is given in Appendix A. 

LETTERS OF SUPPORT: 

Each application must include three different letters of support on official letterhead. One from a civic or business leader, one from a state or municipal official, and one from an area tourism leader. These must be scanned into one document and submitted through the online portal by the grant deadline. Letters submitted after the deadline and letters that are identical in wording will not be considered. No more than three letters will be accepted as a part of the application. 

AWARD PROCESS: 

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) staff will review all complete, eligible proposals submitted by July 9, 2025 at 3:00 pm. Grant questions must be submitted in writing by 3:00 p.m. on June 30, 2025.

Any applicants experiencing technical difficulties must alert MOTT by 12:00 p.m. on July 8, 2025. 

MOTT will award and disburse grants based upon criteria outlined above in consultation with EOED and subject to appropriation. Grant funds are disbursed quarterly, on a cost-reimbursement basis. Organizations that are awarded a Destination Development Capital grant are encouraged to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please see the Commonwealth’s Directory of Certified Businesses to find minority and women business enterprises. 

PROGRESS MEETINGS: Each award recipient will meet with MOTT twice during the year for one-hour virtual progress updates. Initial meetings will be scheduled after the awards are announced. Mid-project meetings will take place in January - February 2026. 

FINAL ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT: 

Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026, unless an extension is requested and approved by MOTT. Extension requests must be submitted to MOTT by April 1, 2026. The Final Accomplishment Report format will be included with contract documents. Copies of original vendor invoices showing the actual matching and grant costs incurred, the check number, and date of the check corresponding to the invoices must be submitted. Final Accomplishment Reports are due by July 31, 2026. 

The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) will be administering your Fiscal Year 2025 Earmark per the Fiscal Year 2025 Massachusetts State Budget. In order to initiate your contract, complete the Earmark Scope and Budget form and return it to the earmark program manager. Please be advised: 

• All funding under this contract must be spent by, and all deliverables must be executed, completed and delivered by June 30, 2025.
• Any unexpended funds from this contract must be refunded by July 31, 2025 in the form of a check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• The maximum contract obligation will not exceed the amount published in the state budget line item.
• Funds provided under this contract may not be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

Reimbursement Schedule: 

• 50% of the earmark will be distributed upon receipt of the signed contract.
• A second allocation of the remaining 50% will be made upon receipt of the cost reimbursement invoice and final report.
• The Cost Reimbursement Invoice and Final Report are due by June 30, 2025.

Cost Reimbursement Invoice and Final Report: In order to receive the second allotment of 50% of the earmark, you must submit a completed Cost Reimbursement Invoice (attachment B) and Final Report to the earmark program manager. The Invoice should include receipts and proof of payment for all earmark expenditures. The Final Report should provide a brief summary of how the funds were expended and address all elements of the budget at the conclusion of the initiatives. The report shall include outcomes and any quantifiable details such as: job creation, jobs retained, economic impact, return on investment, number of businesses/visitors served or trained, and other relevant statistics. The Cost Reimbursement Invoice and Final Report are due by June 30, 2025.