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1. Can for-profit entities apply for lodging tax funds (LTAC Grants)?

Yes. The statute does not explicitly prohibit for-profit entities from applying for lodging tax funds. The purpose of the funds is to promote tourism in the jurisdiction by attracting individuals traveling over 50 miles away and encouraging overnight stays.

2. The application says "Events Only" - can I apply for our Chamber of Commerce for year round promotion or for a capital improvemnent?

YES - you can still apply. The LTAC made an error on the application and it has since been corrected. This application is not for events only - it is for all aspects of Tourism Promotion. Please explain, clearly, on your application what the application is for and the LTAC will consider it accordingly.

Applications have been corrected an reposted to the website.

3. Our Fall Event will not be finalized until February 2023. Can we submit our application as just a FALL MUSICAL and add details later for reimbursement? The budget would be similar to the 2022 Musical

Yes - you can apply. Please be as specific as possible when answering the LTAC questions. As your event develops, you will be required to keep the LTAC up to date.

4. Why is it important to draw people from more than 50 miles away?

All applications must include estimates of how funding the activity will result in increases in the number of people staying overnight, traveling 50 miles or more, or coming from another state or country. To ensure that the applicants are compliant with this statutory requirement, this information should be included in the lodging tax application form that will be filed with the city/county or the LTAC. There is no requirement that priority for funding is given to applicants expected to generate the largest number of tourists, and lodging tax revenue may still be awarded to recipients who provide services that indirectly increase tourism such as destination marketing organizations.

5. Can you explain the question "How will this event increase County overnight stay's outside of cities?

The Lodging Tax Grants that are provided by the Grant County LTAC are funded through the Lodging Tax applied to overnight stays within Grant County. Most major, incorporated cities within Grant County have their own LTAC that provides grants also, as you are probably aware. The tax revenues for overnight stays within those cities go back to those city LTACs to disperse.

Likewise, any overnight stays within rural Grant County (i.e. Mardon, Sunlakes, PUD parks, other non-city entities) generate lodging tax funds for the Grant County LTAC to disperse. Thus, the more overnight stays within rural Grant County, the more the LTAC funds received, and the more LTAC grants dispersed.

The basis of the question from the LTAC is how will this put more heads in beds that in rural Grant County? It is not necessarily a disqualifier or requirement but merely a question to get a feel for the impact countywide.  

6. When will the 2023 LTAC Grants be available?

The 2023 Tourism Promotion Grant applications will be published on October 3, 2022 and will be open from October 3, 2022 through 5:00pm on Friday, October 21, 2022.

7. Can we be reimbursed for all eligible expenses or is it limited to advertising reimbursements only?

Cities and counties may levy lodging taxes on all charges related to furnishing lodging at hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and recreational vehicle (RV) parks for stays of less than30 days. Revenues received from these taxes are then restricted to the following uses:

• Tourism marketing
• Marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists
• Operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district, and
• Operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations.

8. What can the funds be used for?

All lodging tax revenues must be used for tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities, or operation of tourism-related facilities (RCW 67.28.1815 and RCW 67.28.1816), including:

• Tourism marketing;
• Marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists;
• Operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public facilities district; or 
• Operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations (but not capital expenditures).

Counties may use the funds either directly, or indirectly through a convention and visitor’s bureau or destination marketing organization. Chapter 67.28 RCW demonstrates that it was the state legislative intent to provide local control over the use of lodging tax revenues and to provide for the distribution of this tax back to those organizations and agencies that promote tourism within the county. Definitions are provided in RCW 67.28.080. Of particular note are the following definitions:

• “Tourism promotion” means activities, operations, and expenditures designed to increase tourism, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism promotion agencies, and funding the marketing of or the operation of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.
• “Tourism-related facility” means real or tangible personal property with a usable life of three or more years, or constructed with volunteer labor that is (a) (i) Owned by a public entity; (ii) owned by a nonprofit organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; or (iii) owned by a nonprofit organization described under section 501(c)(6) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, a business organization, destination marketing organization, main street organization, lodging association or chamber of commerce and (b) used to support tourism, performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities.

9. Can we use the funds to promote our events all year?

No, not on the Phase 2 Grants. These are for events only. You must fill out an application for each event your wish to request funds for.

If you received a grant earlier in the year for year-round promotion - yes, you can.