The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is inviting interested eligible entities to submit a Letter of Intent Form for grant funding assistance from the Undiscovered South Carolina Grant Program. The program assists non-profit organizations and communities with the development of publicly owned tourism products and attractions that will encourage visitation to South Carolina.

The grant can help cover the implementation of existing plans or the expansion or enhancement of an existing tourism product. It is a 50-50 match grant, and the minimum project amount must be $200,000.

An Undiscovered Grant helped expand the tourism appeal of Bluffton, for example, when it supported the restoration of the historic Garvin-Garvey House. The house was built in the late 19###sup/sup### century by Cyrus Garvin, a Freedman of the region, and represents a rare example of structures built during the Reconstruction Era.

Another project funded by an Undiscovered Grant is the renovation of the historic Sumter Opera House, a major attraction in Sumter. With the grant, the Opera House was able to upgrade its lobby and performers’ dressrooms, enhancing experiences for customers and visiting artists alike.

For more details about the program, read the Memo to Potential Applicants and Eligibility and Procedures. To forward a letter of intent to apply for an Undiscovered South Carolina Grant, complete and submit the form at this link. The form must be received at SCPRT by Friday, Oct. 25.

For more information, contact Dawn Dawson-House at ddawson@scprt.com or 803-734-1779.