Downtown San Marcos

Co-Marketing Fund

ABOUT THE FUND

The City of San Marcos Downtown Co-Marketing Fund is a marketing program that provides matching advertising funds for downtown businesses to promote their business in areas outside of the San Marcos area. This program is funded by hotel occupancy tax dollars which are generated by guests staying in hotels located within the city limits of San Marcos.

If approved, 50% of the total marketing costs will be reimbursed to the applicant.

The co-marketing fund is limited to the amount funded by City Council per fiscal year and is available on a first-come, first served. $20,000 is the amount funded for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The maximum amount of funding per applicant/project is $5,000. Applications are accepted from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025 as funding is available.

This program is available for individual business marketing or collaborations with other downtown businesses or events.

Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the Destination Services team to learn about marketing workshops and opportunities to enhance your marketing campaigns.

This program is administered by the City of San Marcos Destination Services Department.

GUIDELINES

Businesses must be located in the San Marcos downtown area designated by the Main Street Program. This area includes LBJ Drive from University to MLK Drive and Hopkins Street from C.M. Allen Parkway to Comanche Street.

Advertising must include “Downtown San Marcos” or a similar phrase.

Marketing must be placed in areas outside a 50-mile radius of the San Marcos city limits: 

• The expenditure must directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry
• Promote tourism in the San Marcos area

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Applicant schedules a meeting with program administrative staff to review the completed application and proposed marketing.

2. Destination Services staff review applications monthly. If approved, funds will be processed once the invoices have been paid by the applicant.

Note: The project must be approved BEFORE the marketing initiative begins. Any past campaigns that have not been previously approved are not eligible for funding.

QUESTIONS

For questions, please contact Josie Falletta at 512-393-8430 or Rebecca Ybarra at 512-393-5937. you can also email mainstreet@sanmarcostx.gov.