DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Tourism Office is announcing the application timeline for the next round of the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund, established through the FY26 Bond and Capital Improvements Act. The fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that host events attracting out-of-state visitors and contributing to state and local economies.

Applications will be accepted from November 12th through December 12th, 2025. An informational webinar will be held Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. Registration is required. The link can be found here or on our Delaware Tourism website under Sports Planners. Reviews take place from mid-December through early in 2026 and will be followed by two public meetings. Funding is expected to be awarded in March. Ten million dollars has again been allocated for this round.

Delaware has increasingly become a destination for national sporting events, including the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championships, USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, WKA National Muay Thai & Kickboxing Championships, the annual Senior League Softball World Series, the 2025 PBA Season Opener, and the state’s first PGA Tour event, the 2022 BMW Championship.

“Sports tourism is a $128 billion global industry that is continuously growing, and Delaware faces stiff competition from neighboring states to attract and retain sporting events,” said Ryan Wolfe, Sports Sales Leader at the Delaware Tourism Office. “This fund helps ensure Delaware remains competitive by investing in the facilities that allow us to bring prestigious tournaments and championships to the First State.”

Additionally, says Wolfe, with Philadelphia set to host several major sporting events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup, the Tourism Office will be working to draw sports professionals across state lines to show them what Delaware has to offer.

“Sports tourism is a significant economic driver for Delaware, and we are thrilled to be able to reopen the program for new applications,” said Deputy Director Jaimie Watts. “These facilities contribute greatly to our state’s economic growth and help promote Delaware as a prime destination for out-of-state visitors. By continuing to invest in this industry, we are helping strengthen our tourism sector and create long-term benefits for communities across the state.”

During its first two rounds, the Delaware Tourism Office received 35 applications requesting more than $101 million and awarded $21.3 million to nine sports tourism facilities across the state. Past awardees have used the funding to add courts and fields, as well as upgrade and modernize existing facilities.

More information about the program, including details on prior awardees, can be found on the Delaware Tourism Office website.

The Delaware Tourism Office, a division of the Delaware Division of Small Business, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware.

###

Media Contact
Andrea Wojcik
Director of Communications
O: (302) 672-6802; C: (302) 554-0060
andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. – Today, the Delaware Tourism Office announced Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund awards to five Delaware sports facilities. Established through the Fiscal Year 2024 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, the fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that hold events throughout the year to attract out-of-state visitors and contribute to the state and local economy.

The Delaware Tourism Office accepted applications for the fund from Aug. 1 through Sept. 13, 2024. The office received 17 applications requesting more than $47 million. Available funds totaled $10 million.

Applications were reviewed by a panel, including the co-chairs of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, Sen. Jack Walsh and Rep. Debra Heffernan, and representatives of the Delaware Tourism Office, the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kent County Tourism, and Southern Delaware Tourism. The panel met on Oct. 24 to begin reviewing the applications and finalized their funding decisions at a meeting on Dec. 12 in Dover.

“Once again, this was a very competitive application process. The panel worked diligently to consider the merits of each facility that applied,” said Sen. Walsh. “The facilities receiving funding play an integral role in encouraging out-of-state visitation and positively impacting our economy. We will continue to encourage visitation through the fund, ensuring that sporting event operators think of Delaware when looking for states to host their tournaments and other competitions in.”

“The fund supports our facilities, encouraging them to expand and attract top sporting events throughout the year as the sports tourism industry grows in our state,” said Rep. Heffernan. “By providing financial support to these facilities, we can make certain that large sports events will continue to attract visitors who will spend money at local businesses, boost our economy and promote Delaware as an ideal destination.”

The facilities receiving funding through the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund are:

• Factory Sports ($577,000), to construct two additional basketball courts, two volleyball courts, and six pickleball courts in order to host larger and more frequent tournaments at their facility in Frankford.
• Hudson Fields ($1,123,000), to take initial steps to modernize the facility in Milton by upgrading nine outdoor playing fields, installing two turf soccer fields, and improving seven existing grass fields to tournament standards.
• Bethany Tennis Club ($3,800,000), to build a new structure with multiple interior courts and social gathering spaces to attract year-round events for tennis, pickleball, and padel sports at their Ocean View facility.
• Dover Motor Speedway ($500,000), to implement upgrades to the facility allowing it to continue hosting large-scale events with new paving, elevator upgrades, Infield Media Center refurbishments, and an improved audio system.
• Kirkwood Sports Complex ($4,000,000), to make enhancements to the New Castle facility by upgrading parking infrastructure and expanding parking with 300 additional spots, installing artificial turf on five sports fields, and lighting five turf fields.

On Nov. 15, the Delaware Tourism Office released a sports tourism economic impact study completed by Tourism Economics. The study showed that the sports tourism sector’s direct spending impact in Delaware was $257.9 million in 2023. Those sales supported more than 3,000 part-time and full-time jobs and generated $20.2 million in state and local taxes.

“The recent economic impact study confirmed that sports tourism is a significant economic driver in our state, attracting millions of visitors to Delaware each year and generating millions of dollars in revenue,” said Jessica Welch, director of the Delaware Tourism Office. “We are pleased to be able to support nine different facilities, through the first and second rounds of the capital investment fund, in their expansion efforts and ensure that Delaware offers top-notch sports facilities to event operators and visitors.”

The Delaware Tourism Office, a division of the Delaware Division of Small Business, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware. For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at www.visitdelaware.com or call toll-free at 866-284-7483.

###

Media Contact:
Allyson Ennis
Allyson.Ennis@Delaware.gov

Visit museums and win prizes to celebrate Delaware Day between December 7-28, 2024

Delaware’s rich history will be celebrated with fun, adventure, and prizes this year in a contest that challenges visitors to explore an exciting statewide lineup of historic sites in December. This year’s Delaware Day Adventure contest is inspired by the State’s crucial role in the nation’s founding, celebrated each December 7^th. Visitors who explore the five museums managed by the State of Delaware between December 7^th, 2024, and December 28^th, 2024, and have their Delaware Day passports signed will get a chance to win a prize.

Known as “Delaware Day,” the December 7^th holiday marks the moment in 1787 when Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, giving it fame as the “First State” in the nation. Here are the rules of the Delaware Day Adventure contest, sponsored by the Delaware Department of State’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs:

• Participants who visit at least two museums and have their passports signed by a staff member will be entered to win a prize.
• For every additional museum visited, with a staff member signing the passport, visitors will receive an additional entry for a prize, for a maximum of up to four entries. (A maximum of one prize can be awarded per person.)
• Prizes include restaurant gift certificates, special museum experiences, and more!
• Passports are available at each site and by downloading at the address below.

For full details and to enter, visit https://de.gov/delawareday.

The locations of the Delaware Day Adventure include:

• New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle, DE 19720
• The Old State House, 25 The Green, Dover, DE 19901
• Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New St., Dover, DE 19904
• John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Rd., Dover, DE 19901
• Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958

Completed passports must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2024. Winners will be randomly selected and will be notified by January 10, 2025.

This year the Division will invest nearly $3 million
in more than 100 arts and community organizations

WILMINGTON, DEL. (July 15, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $3 million in more than 110 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans statewide with arts programming and services, arts education, and arts marketing and promotion. This first round of funding for FY2023 includes: General Operating Support, Project Support, Arts Stabilization, StartUp and Education Resource grants.

“Artists and arts organizations state-wide have been on the cutting edge of innovation and community impact over the last two years. As they turn to a new phase of recovery from the shutdowns related to Delaware’s public health emergency, it is critical that the Delaware Division of the Arts continue our significant investment into the sector,” said Jessica Ball, director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “This investment in the creative workforce—artists and organizations alike—enhances education, stimulates local economies, and enriches our communities.”

“Delaware’s financial support of our artists and arts organizations is engrained into the fabric of what we do at the state level,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock. “Our roster of artists and arts institutions makes the State attractive for our residents, employers, and employees who spend their free time and money to enjoy the many experiences available to them. Attending an event in the State is not just about the admission price to that organization, but so often includes secondary spending at restaurants and local shops. Supporting the arts makes sense any way you look at it.”

Grant updates for fiscal year 2023:

• TranspARTation has returned! The grant will re-open in August 2022 to support travel expenses, to include buses, fuel, parking and toll costs of up to $500 (an increase of $200 from previous years) for schools to travel to Delaware arts and cultural institutions and venues in order for students to attend arts performances, events, and exhibits.
• Artist Opportunity Grants have increased to $1,000. Artist Opportunity Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support unique professional and artistic development and presentation opportunities for artists. Applicants can request up to 80% of the opportunity cost not to exceed $1,000. Quarterly deadlines: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

The awards include:

• General Operating Support for sixty-one (62) arts organizations.
• Project Support for twenty-nine (29) community-based organizations that provide arts programming for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities; students whose schools are under-resourced and face multiple barriers, individuals and family members dealing with cancer; and young children and community members from across Delaware.
• Eight (8) Arts Stabilization projects that support capital improvements and repairs to facilities owned by arts organizations.
• StartUp Support for two emerging arts organizations, Jester Artspace and Reed’s Refuge, providing a combination of technical assistance and financial support for these new organizations.
• Fourteen (14) education-based partnerships between Delaware’s schools, arts organizations and artists that provide teacher training and standards-based arts learning experiences for pre K-12 students statewide, in alignment with the Delaware Standards for Learning in the Visual and Performing Arts.

Grants for Fiscal Year 2023

Funding for the Delaware Division of the Arts comes from the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency. In addition, the funds for capital improvements grants—provided by the Arts Stabilization Fund—are drawn from the Arts Consortium of Delaware, Inc. (ArtCo) endowment. A complete list of grants for the first round of FY2023 can be found here.

Grant review panels made up of Delaware artists, arts educators, arts and nonprofit organization administrators, corporate and fundraising managers, and interested community members, provided an impartial peer review of these grant applications based on established evaluation criteria, reflecting the importance of having diverse public and expert participation in the grant-making process.

The Division also awards grants on an on-going basis throughout the year, including Arts Access grants, Artist Residencies, Individual Artist Fellowships, and Individual Artist Opportunity grants. Full grant descriptions are available on the Division’s website and at the end of the release.

Interested members of the public, artists, arts organizations, and community leaders are encouraged to visit the Division’s website to learn more about these programs. Notification of grant deadlines, guidelines and applications, as well as technical assistance opportunities are published in the monthly e-newsletter, Arts E-News. Please visit our website at arts.delaware.gov for more details.

GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Arts Organizations: Non-profit Delaware organizations whose primary mission is the promotion, production, presentation, or teaching of the arts

General Operating Support – support of annual operating expenses to ensure that year-round participation in the arts is available to the people of Delaware. This grant category utilizes a three-year application cycle. Full applications are due every three years, with Interim applications due in the “off” years. Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Stabilization – supports improvements to facilities owned (or under long-term lease) and operated by the organization. Arts Stabilization grants are funded through the Division’s participation in the Arts Consortium of Delaware, Inc. (ArtCo) endowment. Annual March 1 deadline.

StartUp – a comprehensive program of financial support, training, and consultation to develop and strengthen the management capacity of emerging arts organizations so that they can operate in a sustainable manner. Completion of the StartUp program is a prerequisite for emerging organizations seeking General Operating Support. Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Access – supports small budget projects that include the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the project start date, and are reviewed as they are received, beginning on July 1 of each year. Organizations that receive General Operating or Project Support from the Division are not eligible to apply. Rolling deadline.

Community-Based Organizations: Non-profit Delaware organizations, colleges, universities, and government entities that do not have the arts as their primary mission

Project Support – supports arts programs provided by CBOs that assist in the growth of a vibrant cultural environment by encouraging the continued development of arts activities in communities throughout the state. College and university projects must be non-credit and serve the general community.  Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Access – supports small budget projects that include the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the project start date, and are reviewed as they are received, beginning on July 1 of each year. Organizations that receive General Operating or Project Support from the Division are not eligible to apply. Rolling deadline.

Schools: Delaware pre-K through 12 public, charter, private, and parochial schools

Artist Residency – grants for residencies with visual, literary, performing, or media artists working with students in the classroom or in professional development workshops with teachers. Rolling deadline.

TranspARTation – grants that support transportation costs for schools to travel to Delaware arts and cultural institutions and venues in order for students to attend arts performances, events and exhibits. The FY2023 TranspARTation application will be available in August 2022 for the 2022-2023 school year.

Arts Organizations and Schools:

Education Resource – grants to strengthen standards-based arts education projects, programs, and activities that utilize the arts education resources of the Delaware arts community or strengthen arts organizations’ capacity to serve as professional development resources for teaching artists and educators.  Annual March 1 deadline.

Individual Artists: Delaware residents, 18 years of age or older, not enrolled in a degree-granting program

Artist Fellowships – supports individual artists in their work as visual, performing, media, folk, and/or literary artists. Applications are received and processed by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. FY2022 Masters categories are Literary and Media Arts. Annual August 1 deadline (August 2 in 2021).

Artist Opportunity Grants – provides up to $1,000 to support individual artists with unique professional and artistic development or presentation opportunities. Quarterly deadlines, January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

###

Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications
302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Small Business announced Thursday more than $7.7 million in funding awards to seven organizations as part of the recovery effort for the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries. 

The funds are part of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $750 million American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation program, which provided $510 million in State Tourism grants and $240 million in Competitive Tourism grants to be awarded to advance the economic recovery and resiliency of communities where the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries were hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Delaware received over $7 million of those funds and announced a request for proposals (RFPs) in November.

“Delaware’s tourism industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to face challenges as it rebuilds,” said Governor Carney. “The organizations receiving funding today will provide a boost to the industry by maintaining quality jobs and encouraging travelers to visit our state’s many destinations.”

“The $3.2 billion tourism industry in Delaware employs more than 44,000 people and is an important part of our state’s workforce and economy. It is critical that we do everything we can to support the industry,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “The organizations receiving the funds today have found creative solutions to help our state’s tourism industry recover from the pandemic and prepare for future challenges.”

“A robust arts and culture industry is directly linked to Delaware’s tourism industry and to our state’s overall economic recovery from COVID-19,” said Delaware Arts Alliance interim executive director Lorraine Poling. “Our team has created a comprehensive and thoughtful plan to use these funds to engage our communities and assist the tourism industry in rebuilding and remaining sustainable into the future.”

The funding announced on Thursday will provide:

• $1 million to the Delaware Arts Alliance to produce an interactive, publicly available map of Delaware’s creative economy; create comprehensive recovery plans for Delaware’s Opportunity Zones; and perform an economic impact study.
• $1.7 million to Delaware State University in collaboration with the University of Delaware to expand current programs, including DSU’s Hospitality & Tourism Management degree, to support the rebuilding of the travel and tourism industry in Delaware. Funds will also be used to create familiarization tours for a targeted audience of national as well as international admission officers and other officials who make recommendations to students and parents regarding colleges or universities in the U.S. Tours will target those students interested in tourism-related industries, including hotel and restaurant management, facilities management, museum studies, and culinary arts.
• $751,262 to the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for a multi-faceted “Welcome All” regional campaign targeting travelers along the eastern corridor from New York to Virginia. The campaign will highlight the many diverse treasures of New Castle County, the City of Wilmington, and the region’s unique neighborhoods.
• $334,999 to Kent County Tourism for a comprehensive advertising and marketing program to increase awareness and promote unique Kent County offerings. Marketing and advertising efforts will also focus on growing the group market, particularly military reunions tied to the AMC museum and Dover Air Force Base. In addition, marketing efforts will also include website upgrades.
• $400,000 to Southern Delaware Tourism for a comprehensive advertising and marketing plan to promote overnight visitation to Sussex County as well as a publicity program to promote Southern Delaware’s Culinary Coast™.
• $300,000 to the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation for a comprehensive marketing campaign to draw even greater tourism activity from out-of-state visitors to Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville. Marketing efforts will include but are not limited to television, radio, social media and billboard and signage enhancements. The project also proposes updating the foundation’s economic impact study, which was last updated in 2018.
• $3.25 million to the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) to “Light Up the Riverfront” by painting and installing LED lights along the railroad bridges surrounding the Wilmington Riverfront and installing lighting on trees, bushes and structures along the Riverwalk, with themed displays and projection art throughout the year. The RDC will also use the funds to create a regional marketing plan and visitor incentives for the new light installations utilizing its existing Riverfront Wilmington app.

###