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ALTON – Local event and festival organizers may be eligible for thousands in grants from the City of Alton.
An ordinance establishing a microgrant fund for city-wide festivals and events was given a second reading and final approval at the July 8, 2026 Alton City Council meeting.
Under the city’s new microgrant program, eligible applicants can secure grants of up to $1,000 for each event, with a cap of $10,000 awarded per applicant each fiscal year.
Multiple application deadlines throughout the year allow greater flexibility for event organizers, particularly for seasonal events. These deadlines fall on March 1, June 1, Sept. 1, and Dec. 1 of each year, with one exception for July of 2026.
The first grant application deadline falls on July 15, 2026, followed by the year’s second deadline on Sept. 1, 2026. Applications will be made available on the City of Alton website.
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, Alton-based retail businesses, and other contributors to the city’s Food and Beverage Tax fund. Grant funds are paid out of the city’s Food and Beverage Tax proceeds.
Events also must also meet certain criteria, including being open to the public and taking place within the city and fiscal year. Ineligible events include fundraisers, private/exclusive events, political events, and any events receiving over 50% of their funding from other city-managed sources.
Grant funds can be used for “event logistics” such as tents, chairs, restrooms, staging, and entertainers, as well as insurance and marketing/promotion costs. However, funds cannot be used for awards, prizes, scholarships, travel, lodging, entertainment, food/beverage, alcohol/tobacco, staff salaries or consulting fees, capital purchases, or any prior or future event expenses.
A full recording of the July 8, 2026 Alton City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.
