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The Shreveport-Bossier $100K Tourism Challenge

The Destination 318 initiative by Visit Shreveport-Bossier will launch the second year of its $100K Tourism Challenge, a program designed to boost tourism and enhance the visitor experience across Caddo and Bossier Parishes. The initiative will encourage community members to submit impactful ideas that benefit both visitors and local residents.

Following months of idea development, workshops, and pitch sessions, Visit Shreveport-Bossier and the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), a division of BRF, will announce the winners of Destination 318—a competitive grant program created to fuel tourism-driven business growth and innovation in the region.

A total of $100,000 in funding will be awarded to six winning businesses selected by a panel of judges. One winner will also receive an additional $2,000 People’s Choice Award, voted on by the public.

Purpose and Overview

Destination 318 will serve as a bold and strategic tourism development challenge created to bring the Destination Master Plan to life. Designed to strengthen the Shreveport-Bossier region's appeal to visitors while enriching the daily lives of residents, the challenge will act as a catalyst for long-term growth and innovation within the local tourism economy.

At its core, Destination 318 will aim to:

Increase year-round visitor spending by supporting attractions and experiences that drive consistent foot traffic in all seasons.
Elevate the quality of life for residents through investments that create shared spaces, new entertainment options, and enhanced community pride.
Celebrate and promote the unique assets of Shreveport-Bossier—from cultural landmarks and culinary heritage to outdoor adventures and artistic talent.
Encourage bold, tourism-forward ideas by providing financial support to entrepreneurs and organizations with the vision and drive to transform the region’s visitor experience.

Through Destination 318, local creativity and community pride will take center stage, paving the way for a more vibrant, inclusive, and economically resilient tourism landscape.