The Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board has begun accepting applications for a new grant program aimed at supporting special events downtown.

The agency plans to award up to ten $2,500 grants a year to events that have the potential to drive visitors downtown and raise the area’s profile as a cultural destination. The program is open to both private businesses and nonprofit organizations. 

“We’re excited about the opportunity to support downtown businesses with funding for their special events,” DIB executive director Walker Wilson said this week, in announcing the program. 

The special event grant program is a continuation of the DIB’s efforts to support the businesses located in the 44-block DIB district. The agency also funds the annual holiday lights, the Saturday morning Palafox Market, the free Palafox Market trolley, daily street and sidewalk cleaning, enhanced police presence downtown and other initiatives.

“Special events are tremendously successful in bringing people downtown to shop, dine and play,” Wilson said, “We want to support our downtown businesses and leverage events to have a positive impact on the entire downtown district.”  

Grant applications are being accepted online here. Completed funding requests will be scored by the agency’s board of directors. 

For more information, visit the DIB website, or call their office at 850-380-9642.

[Photo by Laura Bogan}