The City of Bingen receives funds from lodging taxes imposed upon hotels and motels located within the City. The City uses these funds to contract for a narrow range of services, activities, and facilities as established by the State.
Donor Name: City of Bingen
State: Washington
City: Bingen
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/30/2022
Size of the Grant: $2,500
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Under the authority of RCW 67.28, the City requests proposals to provide services or construct facilities that will attract visitors to the City. The City’s program supports activities that will increase tourism (especially overnight visits) through:
- Tourism marketing.
- The marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.
- Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a Washington municipality or a public facilities district.
- Supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations described under sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
RCW 67.28.1816 requires applicants for the use of lodging tax revenue to provide estimates of the number of people traveling for business or pleasure for certain categories (included on the application form), and final reports showing actual attendance by category. All recipients of these funds will be required to file evaluation forms with the City before receiving final reimbursement from the City.
Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:
- For Capital Expenditures, priority will be given to proposals to construct or improve city-owned or managed tourism related facilities meeting the requirements of RCW 67.28.1816, with emphasis on improving key community assets, such as Daubenspeck Park. Priority will also be given to proposals that leverage other funds.
- For tourism marketing, special events and festivals:
- Broad tourism marketing efforts will be given priority over the promotion of events.
- Multi-day events generating multiple overnight stays will be given priority over single-day.
- Priority will be given to those proposals that leverage other funds.
- Priority will be given to events that attract visitors during the shoulder seasons.
Funding Information
Grants must be for a minimum of $2,500.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations may submit more than one application each year but there must be a separate application form for each project/activity.
- Matching funds are not required but are encouraged as a sign of community support and organization commitment.
- Special events/festivals, capital projects or facilities requesting operating funds must be located inside the City limits.
- Special events/festivals:
- Must be sponsored by a non-profit or the City
- Grants funds can be used for operational expenses, including marketing and promotion with the exception of salaries and/or benefits for event organizers or other key staff, insurance and travel. Funds may be used for security staff, traffic control, etc.;
- Funds in this cycle are available beginning January 1, 2023 and must be spent by December 31, 2023.
- For existing special events – in operation for more than three years – proposals must be for expansion or enhancement for the event and those expansions and/or enhancements must be clearly defined and measurable.
- All advertising must acknowledge the City of Bingen as sponsor.
Criteria for Grant Awards
- Priority will be given to lodging tax grant proposals that:
- Demonstrate potential to result in overnight stays by tourists in lodging facilities within the City of Bingen or to attract day visitors from outside Klickitat County.
- Provide, maintain, operate or enhance City-owned tourist related facilities or
- Promote the City of Bingen and/or events, activities and places in the city to potential tourists from outside the region.
- Have a demonstrated potential to result in economic benefit to Bingen. Successful proposals will show specific strategies to draw visitors.
- Provide funds from sources other than lodging tax funding.
- Are sponsored by an organization that has a successful track record with similar projects or events.
For more information, visit City of Bingen.
