Both appointed boards that oversee proceeds from taxes reinvest the funds into tourism.

Tourism Board — Reinvests funds from a 1% sales tax on prepared foods and beverages into:

• Hillsborough Visitors Center
• Grants, special projects and partnerships
• Contract services with local organizations and historic sites

Tourism Development Authority — Reinvests funds from a 3% hotel and motel room occupancy tax to encourage visitors to stay in local lodging facilities. 

Both the Tourism Board and Tourism Development Authority provide funds for special projects and partnerships.

The projects and partnerships are generally small in scope and needed only once.

Requests must demonstrate or explain how the project or partnership will:

• Expand tourism if funded by either board.
• Increase Hillsborough lodging occupancies if funded by the Tourism Development Authority.

The Tourism Board does not generally accept requests for special projects and partnerships during its March-June grant cycle. 

Contact Staff Support

The Tourism Board accepts grant applications for a wide range of special events and projects designed to increase tourism to Hillsborough.

• February-March — The application period is open.
• April — Applications are competitively scored.
• May — Awards are announced at the Tourism Board meeting.
• June — Applicants receive official notification of funding status.

The board requires a final report and the return of unused grant funds after a project has concluded.

• Grant Scoring Guidelines

Contact Staff Support

Town of Hillsborough Funding

On occasion, the town partners, sponsors or contracts with local nonprofit organizations to advance the town’s strategic objectives and priorities. These agreements are:

• Guided by the town’s strategic plan.
• Approved by the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. 
• Noted in the special appropriations section of the town’s annual budget. See the Budget and Finances page.

Strategic Plan

The town does not accept general requests for funding.

Nonprofit organizations may inquire about a partnership with the town through the budget and management analyst, mayor or town commissioner. A proposal or contract may be crafted as appropriate.

Contact Budget