T.E.A.M. Grant Program

The Tourism Enhancement & Area Marketing (T.E.A.M.) Grant Program is designed to support the creation and expansion of multi-day events, meetings and conventions, tourism enhancement projects, wayfinding, beautification initiatives, and public art installations that showcase Moore County's unique assets. The program's goal is to attract overnight visitors from outside a 50-mile radius, increase overnight stays, and generate a lasting economic impact for the county and its tourism industry.

All grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with primary consideration given to applications that focus on the following:

• Must be located within Moore County.
• Any applications under the multi-day event category must be open to the public to attend, participate, or spectate.
• Any funding to be used for marketing must be spent outside of a 50-mile radius in order to encourage visitors to Moore County. Funding cannot be used for local marketing purposes.
• Must acknowledge Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen in all advertising and promotions.
• Marketing plan(s) using funding for multi-day events must be submitted to Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen for approval. Once approved, the recipient is responsible for booking the marketing/advertising, providing all creative (including VPSPA logo and messaging where applicable) to the media outlet, and handling payment. Once final receipts are received, the applicant must submit the receipts for review and reimbursement.
• Must provide VPSPA with copies of paid invoices from the media outlet along with ad copy/proof of performance.
• All funding must be exhausted by June 30, 2027. Any dollars not spent will be relinquished and cannot be “carried over” beyond the deadline date. Any violation of this clause could result in disqualification for future grant opportunities.
• Maximum grant awarded under the TEAM grant program is $25,000.00.
• Only one (1) grant application permitted per group and/or organization.

• All T.E.A.M. Grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2027.
• Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee funding. Funding may be awarded for less than the amount requested or not at all. Limited funds may not allow all projects to receive funding. Preference will be given to the projects that best demonstrate the above criteria.
• Final decisions regarding the award of grant funds are at the sole discretion of the T.E.A.M. Committee, and ultimately the MCTDA Board of Directors. Once granted, awarded funding may still be dependent upon achieving certain project milestones.
• Requests to extend a project's timeline may be considered but are not guaranteed. Any extension must be approved by the MCTDA Board of Directors.

The T.E.A.M. Grant Review Committee is comprised of three members of the MCTDA Board of Directors.

• Non-Profit Organizations
• Governmental Organizations
• Municipalities
• Large, multi-day events that demonstrate significant visitor attendance and would likely generate overnight stays.

• Political events or politically affiliated organizations
• Church or religious functions
• Fundraisers
• Family reunions
• Local or county school programs, events or fundraisers, or capital projects
• General administrative operating expenses

• Multi-Day Festivals and Special Events
• Meeting & Conventions with 100+ attendees staying overnight. Uses can include guest speaker, A/V requirements, transportation, or event space.
• Wayfinding or signage that will enhance the tourism experience (i.e. trail signage), or beautification in highly public spaces that visitors will appreciate as well as residents.
• Public art projects that will be located in highly trafficked areas in towns, or other visible public spaces. More consideration will be given to projects that amplify the MCTDA’s “home” campaign.
• Other projects that will expand, strengthen and sustain local tourism and create opportunities for overnight stays from visitors to Moore County

For TEAM grant funding, multi-day festivals and special events are defined as organized public events that take place over two or more consecutive days and are designed to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius to encourage overnight stays. These events must include a series of scheduled activities, performances, or attractions that promote cultural, recreational, or community engagement and have a demonstrable impact on local tourism and overnight stays.

To be eligible for TEAM grant funding under this option, the event must:

• Span at least two (2) or more consecutive days. Must be two actual event days, not a registration on day 1, then the event on day 2. That is a one-day event and will be disqualified.
• Be open to the public, either free or ticketed.
• Have a cohesive theme or purpose (i.e. music, food, heritage, seasonal celebration, or sporting event).
• Include a published schedule of events or programming.
• Present an out-of-market promotional plan aimed at potential visitors.
• Positively affect tourism-related economic activity such as lodging, dining, retail and area activities.

Meetings and conferences that bring more than 100 overnight visitors/100+ or more room nights to Moore County. These events may include:

• Industry or professional conferences
• Conventions
• Symposiums
• Training seminars
• Other organized gatherings that promote Moore County and enhance visibility as a destination for business and organizational events

While T.E.A.M. grant funding cannot be used for lodging, funding could be used for event setup, event space, A/V purposes, transportation, speaker fees, or to provide marketing materials for attendees.

For any awarded meetings/conferences, a copy of the official VPSPA destination guide must be provided to each attendee in their welcome packet.

Tourism-based investments made to improve the quality and appearance of facilities, grounds, trails, buildings, etc. that improve and/or enhance the visitor experience. These projects are intended to make areas of Moore County attractive to visitors and increase opportunities for local businesses to be successful.

NOTE: Only governmental agencies, state associations and municipalities are eligible for this specific T.E.A.M. grant.

Public Art Projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted by either a municipality or qualifying non-profit organization. These projects are intended to enhance the visual attractiveness of an area and can include murals, sculptures and other fixed visual community improvements. This does NOT include art shows, temporary art displays, or exhibits.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that reinforce the MCTDA's "Home" brand campaign. This may include artwork that creatively incorporates the letters H-O-M-E in a permanent installation. Proposed artwork should be constructed of durable, weather-resistant materials such as metal, ceramic, painted murals, or other long-lasting mediums, and be designed to remain in place for a minimum of five (5) years.

To be eligible for this type of grant, public art projects must:

• Be in a space accessible to the public.
• Fall within the framework of any Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) established by a municipality requiring one. Grant recipients will be responsible for submitting all COA forms and absorbing associated fees.
• Adhere to any historic district rules and guidelines.
• Present a full-color rendering of the project for review by the TEAM grant committee.
• Grant recipients must acquire and pay for all needed permits and approvals prior to beginning the project.
• No political statements or art that would cause controversy or division.
• Install a final product that is intended to remain in place for a minimum of five (5) years.

• Download the application here.
• Application period: July 15, 2026 through August 28, 2026
• Applications can be sent to TEAMGrants@homeofgolf.com or dropped off in person to the MCTDA at 155 W. New York Ave., Suite 300, Southern Pines, NC. Attn: Phil Werz, President & CEO.
• All applications will be reviewed by the MCTDA TEAM Grant Review Committee and approved by the MCTDA Board of Directors. A grant award announcement will be made on September 30, 2026.
• The TEAM Grant Review Committee may request an in-person presentation if they feel they need to learn more about a specific grant application.
• Failure to meet the deadline will result in the application not being considered for funding during the grant cycle.
• All material submitted as part of an application will be a matter of public record, subject to Chapter 132 G.S. 132-1 of NC laws.

• Project information: includes timeline, strength of application, thoroughness, and tourism impact of an event or project. Details are a must.
• Financial Strength: includes stability of organization, strength of business plan, and rationale about how this will increase visitors/tourism to Moore County.
• Project impact: includes expected room nights generated, size of market to be served, and expected community impact.

Attn: Phil Werz

Or via email: TEAMGrants@homeofgolf.com

The Moore County Tourism Development Authority (MCTDA) reserves the right to accept or reject an application if it doesn’t meet the requirements. All decisions are final.

Occupancy Tax: A tax paid by guests staying in a paid overnight accommodation such as a hotel, motel, vacation rental or bed and breakfast. Guests visiting Moore County pay 6% occupancy tax.

Out-of-Market: A term used to describe guests who reside outside of the Moore County market. The MCTDA defines out-of-market as someone living more than 50 miles away. Nearby out-of-markets include: Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Wilmington. Further markets include: Atlanta, Washington, DC, Charleston, Richmond, and Tidewater area of Virginia.

Room Nights: One room night is defined as a single night spent in one room in a traditional lodging property or one night in a vacation rental or short-term rental. If there are two or more guests staying in the room, vacation, or short-term rental, it’s considered one room night.