Funding Categories

Eligibility & Guidelines

In addition to the general guidelines found here (General Guidelines), the following apply to Event Retention funding applications.

An organization that receives event retention funding through the Accommodation Tax funding program is ineligible to apply for event retention funding again for the same event for a period of 3 years following the year in which event funding was applicable. For example, an organization that receives funding for a 2017 event, would not be eligible to apply under the retention category again until 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

What criteria are used to determine how much Accommodation Tax funding I will receive?

Applications will be evaluated using Event Retention criteria set forth in the table below.

This category is typically suitable for an event that has a history of being hosted in Brandon but is in jeopardy of no longer being hosted in Brandon or being shortened as a result of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to finances or a competitive bid from another community.

Application Form

Event Retention Application Form

Eligibility & Guidelines

This category is typically suitable for an event that has a history of being hosted in Brandon but is looking to expand the event in order to attract a totally new market segment to the event, an audience that otherwise would not have attended the event, which will result in increased room nights.

In addition to the general guidelines found here (General Guidelines), the following apply to Growing an Event funding applications.

To be eligible for funding a new element must be added to an existing event that targets a totally different audience which will result in increased overnight stays (limited to hotel/motel rooms, Brandon University, B&B rooms). Incremental attendance growth resulting without a distinct change to the event offerings / format is ineligible. An example of an eligible event would be a hockey tournament is held annually that includes competitors aged 14 – 16. A decision is made to expand the tournament to include competitors between the ages of 10-13. As an entire new division has been added, this event would be eligible for consideration under the Growing an Event funding category.

Frequently Asked Questions

What criteria are used to determine how much Accommodation Tax funding I will receive?

Applications will be evaluated using Growing an Event criteria set forth in the table below.

These metrics are typically suitable for an event that has a history of being hosted in Brandon but is looking to expand the event in order to grow event attendance that will result in overnight stays.

I am going to significantly increase my event marketing budget to try and attract people from Winnipeg to my event. Am I eligible for funding?

No, you would not be eligible. The Winnipeg market could have reasonably been considered part of your event target market thus is not adding a new market segment. An example of a qualifying application would be a horse show was held annually that attracted competitors and spectators. A decision was made to add a 2-day conference on farm animal care to the event. This would be eligible as the conference has the potential to attract a different group of participants. A second example would be a hockey tournament that is held annually and includes competitors aged 14 – 16. A decision is made to expand the tournament to include competitors between the ages of 10-13. As an entire new division has been added, this event would be eligible for consideration under the Growing an Event funding category.

Application Form

Growing an Event Application Form

Eligibility and Guidelines

In addition to the general guidelines found here (General Guidelines), the following apply to Capital Enhancement funding applications.

• The request for capital enhancements must be directly related to a need identified in order to successfully host a specified event in Brandon, and the specified event must generate new “event based overnight stays” (limited to hotel/motel rooms, Brandon University, B&B rooms) or maintain existing overnight stays generated by the specified event.”
• The applicant must provide written proof that the capital enhancements are part of a bid requirement and/or that with the addition of the capital asset, a specific event will be hosted/retained in Brandon.”
• Funding recommendations will be based on a percentage of the economic impact of the event for which the capital funding is being applied for. The economic  impact of an event will be determined by utilizing the Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM) or for smaller events by multiplying the number of room nights generated by the event duration times the average expenditure for event participants as set forth by the Conference Board of Canada.
• Capital funding approvals that span multiple years should not exceed $200,000 annually.
• In any given year, every attempt should be made not to allocate more than 50% of the annually collected funds ear marked for event funding (less the 15% that is placed in the Large Event Accommodation Tax Reserve) to capital enhancements/upgrades, recognizing that in some instances the economic return for the community may be sufficient to warrant a greater funding level.
• Only one capital application will be permitted per project (ie. two or more organizations cannot both apply for funding for the same capital project).
• Business plans that accompany a capital funding application must demonstrate sustainability of the capital asset once constructed.
• Return on Investment (ROI) will be part of the evaluation criteria.
• Accommodation Tax funding for capital projects is intended to primarily be “top up funding” for eligible capital projects not the primary funding source. There may be situations when the Accommodation Tax is the primary funding source.
• For a 1 year capital funding commitment, 50% of the funds will be paid to the applicant at commencement of construction and the remaining 50% once construction of the capital project is complete.
• For multiple year capital funding commitments, a grant payment schedule will be determined at the time of signing the funding agreement.
• The event organizer whether the same or different from the capital funding applicant may apply for event funding under the appropriate Accommodation Tax event funding category.

Eligibility to apply for Capital Enhancement funding from the Accommodation Tax Reserve

• The event for which capital funding is required must generate overnight stays (limited to hotel/motel rooms, Brandon University, B&B rooms).
• The capital enhancements for which funding is being requested must be necessary to secure or retain an identified event and are not intended to fund what would be considered normal / regular capital maintenance.
• The capital enhancements and the event for which capital enhancements are being completed must occur in Brandon.
• The applicant must have no outstanding taxes, utility charges or other amounts owing to the municipal government and all properties owned by the Organization must be free of any City of Brandon Building and Safety Maintenance Orders.

Not eligible for Accommodation Tax Capital Funding grants

• Retroactive applications will not be considered. Capital applications must be received, reviewed and a decision made by City Council before construction commences and before the event is hosted.
• Capital enhancements that are not tied to a specific event but instead increase the likelihood of attracting future events are not eligible for Accommodation Tax capital funding.
• Interior / exterior enhancements that are typical of operating a facility are not eligible for an Accommodation Tax Capital Grant. Ineligible items would include but not be limited to facility maintenance items such as roof repairs / replacement, floor repairs / replacements, renovations, parking lot repairs/replacement, cosmetic improvements, legislatively required upgrades, etc. An exception to this would be items such as a special type of flooring required for an event that differs from the existing floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What criteria are used to determine how much Accommodation Tax funding I will receive?

Applications will be evaluated using Capital Enhancements criteria set forth in the table below.

These metrics are typically suitable for funding applications for repairs or upgrades of a capital nature that are required in order to host a specific event in Brandon that generates overnight stays. Capital funding will not be approved to position Brandon to pursue future events or for the purposes of regular maintenance.

Can I apply for funding after the capital work has commenced or has been completed?

No, retroactive applications will not be considered.

If capital funding has been approved for an event, can the event for which the capital enhancements are required apply for Accommodation Tax Event funding?

Yes. The event organizer whether the same or different from the capital funding applicant may apply for event funding under the applicable Accommodation Tax event funding category.

Application Form

Capital Enhancements Application Form

Annual Events of Significant Economic Impact

Eligibility & Guidelines

This category is suitable for events held in Brandon for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years that generate a minimum of 1,500 room nights that are subject to the Accommodation Tax (campground stays and Airbnb do not qualify as room nights).  Events that alternate between Brandon and another location on an annual basis are not eligible for funding.

In addition to the general guidelines found here (General Guidelines), the following apply to Annual Events of Significant Economic Impact funding applications.

• The event must generate a minimum of 1,500 room nights (total for the duration of the event) that are subject to Accommodation Tax (eligible room nights). 

• The event must have been held in Brandon annually for a minimum of 5 consecutive years or have signed a hosting agreement whereby the years in which the event has been held in Brandon combined with the duration of the hosting / venue agreement total a minimum of 5 consecutive years.  Annual events that alternate annually between Brandon and other centres are not eligible. 

• Eligible events will receive an annual yearly grant for as long as the event continues to be held annually in Brandon with no break in consecutive years and provided their current room nights continue to meet the established minimum for eligibility.   

• The event must initially complete the supplied application form and provide validated room nights for the event (to serve as benchmark).  Annual grant payments are based upon room nights realized in the previous year.  When an event does not have an established prior year room night count verified by City of Brandon staff, grant amounts will be determined by the current years verified room count. 

• If an eligible event drops beneath the minimum room night count, they will not be eligible for funding in the following year and must start the application process over again for subsequent years. 

• Once the City of Brandon approves an event as being eligible for funding as an Annual Event of Significant Economic Impact, to receive funding in future years, the applicant must provide annual room nights generated on the event final report form.  Room nights are then verified by City of Brandon staff.  The annual grant will be paid out at the conclusion of the event based on the previous years realized room nights when they are known or for new events once the room nights have been verified by City staff. 

• There will be no advance payment issued for events eligible for funding under the Annual Event of Significant Economic Impact funding category.

• In the event an Annual Event of Significant Economic Impact is approved for funding under another Accommodation Tax grant funding category, the event shall not be eligible for funding in that particular year under the Annual Event of Significant Impact category. 

• Event organizers are required to notify Economic Development Brandon of the event dates a minimum of 60 days prior to the event each year.

• The annual grant is based on $7 per City of Brandon verified room night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive an Accommodation Tax Grant advance if I am approved for funding under the Annual Event of Significant Economic Impact funding category.

No, approved events are not eligible for grant advances.  The grant is paid at the conclusion of the event after the City of Brandon receives a final report on the supplied form and verifies room counts. 

Annual Events of Significant Economic Impact Application Form

What are the eligibility criteria?

The event must have been held in Brandon annually for a minimum of 5 consecutive years or have signed a hosting agreement whereby the years in which the event has been held in Brandon combined with the duration of the hosting / venue agreement total a minimum of 5 consecutive years.  The event room must also generate a minimum of 1,500 room nights that are subject to the Accommodation Tax.  Annual events that alternate annually between Brandon and other centres are not eligible and campground and trailer park stays are not considered eligible room nights. 

How much will the annual grant be?

The annual grant is calculated at a rate of $7 per room night, using the previous years realized room night counts, provided they have been confirmed by the City of Brandon.  For events that meet the eligibility criteria but previous years room nights have not been verified by the City of Brandon, current year room nights verified by city of Brandon staff will be used to calculate the grant.    

If my event has been eligible for funding under the Annual Event of Significant Economic Impact funding category for several years and then room nights realized drop below the minimum 1,500 room night requirement for one year, am I eligible for funding? 

You will receive funding in the year that the room nights drop below the minimum threshold as the grant is calculated on the previous year’s realized room nights.  However, you will not be eligible for funding the following year and will have to complete the application process again for future funding. 

Do we have to notify anyone of our annual event dates?

Event organizers are required to notify Economic Development Brandon of the event dates a minimum of 60 days prior to the event each year.

Application Form

Significant Economic Impact Funding Application