STA Funding Application

Overview

This is the funding application for the Sturbridge Tourist Association. Please answer each section completely and with as much detail as possible. Before you begin your application, please read the STA's funding policies (click here). If funded it is expected that the recipient shall follow and adhere to all of the STA's policies. 

You will have an opportunity to review your proposal before you submit it. Once submitted you shall receive confirmation it was received; you will be contacted by Town Staff shortly thereafter with instructions on next steps. 

Questions regarding this process can be directed to the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator at (508) 347-2500 ext. 1411. 

Additional Requirements 

In addition to completing the application, please be aware of the following requirements from the STA. 

  • All applicants are required to adhere to the Funding Policy guidelines adopted by the Sturbridge Tourist Association. A link to the most recent iteration of the policy is found at the start of this funding application.
  • Any and all funding is contingent upon the Sturbridge Tourist Association receiving recognition as a sponsor of the event in question. Failure to do so is cause for the STA to revoke the applicant’s funding.
  • Depending upon the size and scale of the event, the STA reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant. 
  • Within sixty (60) days of the conclusion of the project, the STA expects that the applicant shall submit a Post Event Evaluation to the Committee summarizing the outcome of said project. 
Provide a detailed breakdown of what your funding will be spent on. Generalizations like 'marketing' or 'entertainment' are not acceptable.
The STA is particularly interested in the numbers of hotel rooms sold, the tax revenue collected from those room sales, the number of local businesses utilized and the guaranteed revenues they received based on agreed upon contracts (Example 1: 100 room nights at $100/room * 6% sales tax = ~$9,400 for hotel and ~$600 for Sturbridge; Example 2: $2,000 contract with Sturbridge restaurant for catering an event).
According to the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), a visitor is described as someone who travels 50+ miles to attend your event OR stay overnight. This is the STA's definition of a 'tourist.'
The STA receives funding requests from numerous applicants and has limited funding. As such your request may or may not be allocated in full or in part. The STA will make that determination based on their funding policies (see above) and available funding. Please check below indicating that you understand that this is a possibility and that funding may or may not be allocated for your application.
As grantee for the project as detailed in this application, I certify that these statements made herein are true and that the funds requested to be disbursed fulfill the purpose indicated in the approved application. [If your application was approved with a condition] I further certify that the conditions imposed on the project have been met. Furthermore I agree to adhere to any and all the policies and requirements of the Sturbridge Tourist Association as stated above and in their Funding Policy guidelines, acknowledge that failure to adhere to the aforementioned items could result in the revocation of any and all funding received.