PIERRE — Travel South Dakota’s Tourism Advertising Promotion Grant program has awarded a total of $163,110 to assist South Dakota’s tourism industry and increase visitation to tourism-related events.

“From local events to large celebrations, South Dakota events of all kinds will be able to use these funds to celebrate the unique parts of our state,” said James Hagen, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. “We are so excited to provide assistance to these amazing South Dakota events.”

The purpose of the TAP Grant program is to provide marketing funds to tourism-related events such as festivals, concerts, rodeos and powwows. This grant program is focused on providing funding to events in smaller towns, cities, and rural areas of the state, but entities and events of all sizes were encouraged to apply. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Award recipients include: Arlington Days (Arlington), Rally Event in Belle Fourche (Belle Fourche), Deadwood Mardi Gras (Deadwood), Eurekafest (Eureka), South Dakota Chislic Festival (Freeman), Jesse James Days (Garretson), Geddes 125th Anniversary/Geddes Fur Trader Days (Geddes), Sunflower Festival (Highmore), 1880 Train Holiday Express (Hill City), Irene Rodeo (Irene), The Haunting of Keystone (Keystone), Neutrino Day (Lead), Sitting Bull Stampede (Mobridge), Back Forty Beef and Adventure Farm (Pierpont), Oahe Winter Festival (Pierre/Fort Pierre), Chinook Days (Spearfish), Sturgis Art Festival & Legendary Sturgis Battle of the Bands (Sturgis), Pumpkin Fest (Webster), and Mazing Acres’ Fall Festival (Yankton).

For more information about the Tourism Advertising Promotion Grant, visit SDVisit.com/TAP.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The department is led by Hagen.