Marketing & Sponsorship Program
Hosting an event in St. Mary’s County? Start here.
Visit St. Mary’s MD’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Marketing and Sponsorship Program provides event planners with financial and/or marketing support ahead of their event. In general, allocated funds and/or in-kind services are used to grow event attendance, build destination awareness, and encourage overnight stays in St. Mary’s County.
Tourism-related businesses, nonprofits, event organizers, sports groups, and local community groups can apply for one or both of the following options:
1. The Marketing & Advertising Amplification Program (MAAP) enhances events with advertising and promotional support aimed at boosting overnight tourism. If awarded, VSMMD will use the resources allocated through MAAP for things like:
- Print and digital advertisement
- Search engine optimization
- Television and radio advertisements
- Billboards, transit marketing, etc.
- Social media
- Event collateral
2. Event Sponsorship provides direct funding to support new/growing events and well-established signature events. Eligible events should attract overnight visitors and provide a marketing/sponsorship opportunity for VSMMD. VSMMD will provide sponsorship dollars in line with the sponsorship package offered for the event organizers.
What events are eligible for sponsorships and MAAP:
- Arts, culture and heritage events (multi-cultural festivals, performances, art festivals, film festivals, food & beverage festivals)
- Exhibition, trade events and conferences
- Spectator sporting events
- Organized races and competitions
- Live music festivals
Events that are not eligible for sponsorships and MAAP:
- Community events/holiday celebrations that target residents rather than attract visitors*
- Fully virtual events
- Private events
- Political fundraisers and events
- Religious aspects of any organization, event or promotional campaign
* VSMMD may sponsor community-based events if they are in support of the tourism industry/stakeholders and have the potential to attract out-of-county attendees
To be considered, applicants should:
- Submit a complete application: The application form and all supporting documentation must be submitted in full at the time of application.
- Provide a post-event performance report: Recipients must provide a post-event performance report including visitor data and outline of how the funds were utilized.
- Provide economic impact information: Attendee demographics, origination zip codes, coordinated room blocks, and other data to assess economic impact metrics like local spending, hotel occupancy, and sales tax revenue.
- Track how attendees found out about their event (collected online during ticket purchase, asked upon check-in to event, post-event surveys, etc.)
- For repeat events: Provide data from previous years including ticket sales/attendee totals, available demographics, and publicity photos.
- Have good legal and financial standing: Applicants must be in good legal and financial standing with County, the State of Maryland, and the local community throughout the application process and sponsorship period.
- Follow all local, state and federal laws pertaining to safety and security. There should be a plan in place to ensure event security and safety of all participants, attendees, and staff.'
- Not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information (including family medical history).
- One sponsorship and MAAP award per organization per fiscal year (July 1-June 30); organizations may request a sponsorship in addition to the MAAP.
Ready to apply? Start here.