Indiana Dunes Tourism is once again offering $50,000 in grants to fund community projects, marketing initiatives and unique events that attract visitors to Porter County. The grant program aligns with the organization’s mission to attract new and repeat visitors to Porter County by enhancing their stay through the promotion of attractions, marketing efforts and new product development.
The grant application process opened on Monday, October 5, 2026, at noon, and the submission deadline is Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:59 pm, with recipients announced in December or early January, a news release said. Grants are for fiscal year 2027, covering projects and events from January 2027 to December 2027. Porter County for-profit, non-profit and government organizations, including cities and towns, are eligible. Private-sector applications will also be considered if the project or event attracts visitors from outside Porter County.
“Every year, we continue to streamline our grant process to make it easier for our partners to participate,” says Christine Livingston, President / CEO at Indiana Dunes Tourism. “Since these grants are a vital part of Indiana Dunes Tourism’s mission to promote our destination and contribute to our communities, we want our partners to be able to navigate them easily. They are meant to provide local support to enhance visitors’ experiences and improve the quality of life for our residents.”
“We plan to launch the grant program on the first Monday in October every year so our partners know when their application will be due and have access to the grant dollars for the entire fiscal year,” says Dustin Ritchea, the Communications and Creative Director for Indiana Dunes Tourism, who administers the grant program. “This year, we are also working to align the grant to some of Tourism’s campaigns and initiatives. For example, any projects themed ‘Sand + Steel’ will receive higher prioritization from our grant committee.”
Additional information from Indiana Dunes Tourism:
The following types of projects are eligible to apply for the Indiana Dunes Tourism Grant Program. While specific projects may fit into more than one project type, multiple applications for various aspects of a project may not be eligible. There is a limited amount of funding available for this program, and not all requests will be funded:
1. Community Development Projects (maximum request $5,000): Eligible projects include the creation or enhancement of tourism amenities, attractions, facilities and experiences within Porter County that will attract out-of-county visitors and improve the quality of life for residents. Preference will be given to projects that align with Indiana Dunes Tourism’s themes and campaigns. For 2027, projects that align with the Sand + Steel regional initiative will be given greater weight.
2. Events and Marketing (maximum request $2,500): Eligible events include Porter County festivals, special events, conventions and sports tournaments attracting attendees from outside Northwest Indiana. Indiana Dunes Tourism does not award funding for seasonal or holiday events celebrated by most communities (e.g., 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas). The marketing of events or community development projects is also eligible if it targets audiences outside of Porter County. While businesses and organizations can continue to apply for grant funding, after three years, preference will be given to other projects. The purpose of our program is to establish projects and events so they can sustain themselves in the future.
Organizations interested in participating in the 2027 grant program should apply at IndianaDunes.com/Grant-Programs .
