PRESS RELEASE - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Announces Fall Grant Round

PORT TOWNSEND – The City of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) invites proposals for funding activities that benefit visitors and residents. LTAC will review proposals for funding with an intent to award grants totaling $10,000 in this fall cycle. Funding for projects will range between $1,000 - $10,000 depending on the number of applicants and eligible projects. Applications can be submitted through an online portal at https://cityofpt.us/bc/page/lodging-tax-advisory-committee. The application deadline is Friday, September 22, and proposals will be considered at a regular meeting of LTAC scheduled for Tuesday, October 10.

All proposals must meet the minimum statutory requirements of RCW 67.28, regulating the use of Lodging Tax funds. Applicants are asked to demonstrate the value of the proposed activity to both visitors and residents, with an increase in overnight stays and a preferred focus on the shoulder seasons (October through May). Proposals will be evaluated against other weighted criteria determined by LTAC, and applicants are asked to attend the October meeting to briefly present their proposal and field questions.

In the spring round of LTAC grants, Key City Public Theater, Centrum, and Fort Worden Hospitality were all awarded grants for marketing ranging from $1,500 to $7,000. Lodging tax funds are distributed annually among a variety of initiatives, including marketing, planning, infrastructure, fee waivers, and debt service. Lodging tax totaled $602,167 in 2022.

Co-owner of the Old Consulate Inn and LTAC Vice Chair, Nathan Barnett, says, “LTAC’s vision of sustainable tourism is to reinvest community resources to enhance the lives of both residents and visitors. We hope to see proposals that reflect this vision. Working in hospitality plus serving on LTAC, PT Main Street, and Olympic Peninsula Steam, I appreciate the importance of inviting everyone to the table. Connecting visitors and residents is essential. It keeps us vibrant year-round, strengthens our social fabric - and keeps Port Townsend quirky and lively."

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For more information on LTAC including RCW 67.28, grant criteria, the yearly LTAC funding cycle go to the LTAC webpage: https://cityofpt.us/bc/page/lodging-tax-advisory-committee. Questions about Lodging Tax can be sent to LTAC@cityofpt.us