**Funds Available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show 2016 **
The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) announced on October 18, 2016 that the DEMA Board of Directors has approved the activation of the Disaster Assistance Program to assist DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers impacted by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Nicole.
DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was first created in 2004 and has been used when DEMA-Member companies are impacted by natural disasters which may interfere with their ability to promote their businesses, products, services and destinations. The funds have also been set aside to assist DEMA-Member retailers to make sure that they can continue their operations. As funds are limited, in this instance, DEMA has earmarked them specifically for DEMA-Member companies that planned to exhibit or buy at DEMA Show 2016 but which were subsequently impacted by these two large storms. Funds are provided to Exhibitors, in the affected areas, based on their exhibit size, and to Buyers in the impacted areas who attend DEMA Show and stay in a DEMA block hotel.
Exhibitors from the affected areas outlined below are eligible to apply for the funds to help them get to the trade show. Buyers who planned to attend DEMA Show can also apply for funds to assist in staying onsite at DEMA Show.
"The DEMA Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA-Member manufacturers, destinations and other industry-related entities to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2016,” said Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “Registered Buyers from DEMA Member businesses who are staying in the DEMA hotel block are also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show, so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”
Exhibitor Assistance Program: DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA-Member Exhibitors who were fully paid by September 23, 2016, and physically located in the following places:
- Aruba (Hurricane Matthew)
- Bahamas – all islands (Hurricane Matthew)
- Bermuda (Hurricane Nicole)
- Bonaire and Klein Bonaire (Hurricane Matthew)
- Curacao (Hurricane Matthew)
- Florida (Hurricane Matthew) – locations from a line north of and including Palm Bay, Florida and east of I-95.
- Georgia (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
- South Carolina (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
- North Carolina (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
For affected Exhibitors, each exhibit space purchased and paid for by September 23, 2016, DEMA will provide regular Exhibitors with $US 400.00 in assistance. Funds will be awarded onsite at DEMA Show 2016 to the exhibiting companies who apply and fall within the guidelines deeming them eligible for assistance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum available from the DEMA disaster assistance fund. All interested parties must apply for the assistance funds on site at DEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV prior to close of DEMA Show on Friday November 18, 2016. For more information and to receive a DEMA 2016 Disaster Assistance Fund Processing form, see the DEMA Staff at the DEMA Booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The complete rules for disbursements will be available at the DEMA Booth.
Attendee Assistance Program: Designed for DEMA Member Buyers who are registered for the Show and staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block (Westgate Hotel, 3000 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109), one registered Buyer from an attending DEMA Member business physically located in the affected areas can receive reimbursement for one night hotel stay in the DEMA hotel block which takes place by midnight eastern time, November 18, 2016. The complete rules for disbursements will be available at the DEMA Booth.
Designated disaster areas eligible for funds include:
- Aruba (Hurricane Matthew)
- Bahamas – all islands (Hurricane Matthew)
- Bermuda (Hurricane Nicole)
- Bonaire and Klein Bonaire (Hurricane Matthew)
- Curacao (Hurricane Matthew)
- Florida (Hurricane Matthew) – locations from a line north of and including Palm Bay and east of I-95.
- Georgia (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
- South Carolina (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
- North Carolina (Hurricane Matthew) – locations east of I-95
The designated Buyer from an affected DEMA Member must apply for the disaster funds through the DEMA Office prior to close of business on December 2, 2016 and present the receipt for the hotel stay. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the DEMA disaster assistance fund. Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program, but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.
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