Visit Meridian to announces 2026-2027 Community Grant Award Recipients
MERIDIAN, Miss – Visit Meridian is excited to announce award recipients for the 2026-2027 Tourism Grant Program, a funding initiative designed to support local events, festivals, attractions, and community projects that help drive tourism to Meridian.
The Tourism Grant Program provides financial support for projects that attract overnight visitors to Meridian while also enriching the community through sporting events, cultural experiences, and entertainment. The program is designed to assist local partners in promoting their events and initiatives to potential visitors outside of Lauderdale County through targeted marketing efforts.
“The Tourism Grant Program is an important investment in the organizations and events that make Meridian and Lauderdale County a vibrant destination,” said Laura Carmichael, executive director of Visit Meridian. “When we invest in our local tourism partners, we are not only strengthening their individual programs—we are strengthening the entire tourism industry and generating a positive economic impact for our community. We are proud to partner with these organizations and help support the continued growth of tourism in our community”
Recipients of 2026-27 grant awards are:
• Magnolia Crappie Club
• Downtown Meridian
• State Games of Mississippi
• Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience – Sipp & Savor
• Soule’ Steam Museum
• Meridian Railroad Museum
• Rose Hill Company
• Meridian Restorations Foundation (Merrehope)
• Jimmie Rodgers Foundation
• Meridian Symphony Orchestra
• Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian
• Stronger Together Foundation
• Hope Village For Children
• Arts & Community Events Society (ACES)
• The City of Meridian
• Queen City Bridge Club
• The Montgomery Institute
• Meridian Council for the Arts
• East Mississippi Veteran’s Foundation
• Young Professionals of Meridian
Since its inception, the Visit Meridian Tourism Grant Program has helped support more than 320 tourism-focused events. To date, Visit Meridian has invested more than $630,000 into local projects and events through the program.
Applicants must meet all program requirements, including outlining how the event or project will attract overnight visitors to Meridian. All applications are reviewed through a competitive selection process by a committee of local stakeholders.
For more information about the Visit Meridian Tourism Grant Program, visit https://visitmeridian.com/grant-program/