The City of Burleson is calling for proposals for tourism-related projects that are specifically designed to attract overnight visitors to the area. The city will provide grants from the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax revenue generated within the Burleson city limits.
Donor Name: City of Burleson
State: Texas
City: Burleson
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/21/2023
Details:
The City of Burleson’s use of funds collected through the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax (HOT) is governed by the Tax Code. The funds primary use is intended to benefit the convention and hotel industries through the promotion of tourism to the City.
The allocation of funding is premised on the City’s population and the existence of funds for the acquisition of sites for convention center facilities and/or visitor information centers.
Use of the approved HOT funds, MUST by law, directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry, AND fall within one of the statutorily provided categories:
- Visitor Information Center: Funds may be used for the acquisition of sites for and the construction, improvement, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operation, and maintenance of convention center facilities or visitor information centers, or both
- Furnishing of Facilities and Registration of Visitors: Funds may be used for the furnishing of facilities, personnel, and materials for the registration of convention delegates or registrants.
- Advertising, Promotional Programs and Activities: Funds may be expended for advertising, conducting solicitations and promotional programs to attract tourists and convention delegates or registrants to the municipality or its vicinity
- Arts Promotion: Occupancy tax funds may be used for the encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of the arts, including instrumental and vocal music, dance, drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture, design and allied fields, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic and craft arts, motion pictures, radio, television, tape and sound recording, and other arts related to the presentation, performance, execution, and exhibition of these major art forms
- Historical Restoration and Preservation: Funds may be used for historical restoration and preservation projects or activities or advertising and conducting solicitations and promotional programs to encourage tourists and convention delegates to visit preserved historic sites or museums.
- Tourist Transportation Systems: Funds may be used to transport the attendees to different tourism venues. In 2007, the legislature authorized the use of city hotel tax for any sized city to cover the costs for transporting tourists from hotels to and near the city to any of the following destinations:
- The commercial center of the city
- A convention center in the city
- Other hotels in or near the city
- Tourist attractions in or near the city.
Guidelines
- The applicant must present reasonable evidence that the expenditure or event has potential to increase overnight stays in Burleson that are consistent with the level of HOT funding requested
- The selection committee will base award decisions on the following factors (in no particular order):
- Potential to attract overnight stays in Burleson (multi-day events preferred)
- Level in which tourism is promoted
- Impact on local economy
- Quality of event
- All sponsorship requests are required to submit an application that will be reviewed by City Council in accordance with HOT/MOT grant eligibility and process
- Event must have established hotel promo code to encourage overnight stays for vendors and/or patrons
- 50% of the prior year’s annual Hotel/Motel tax revenue will be the maximum amount allocated to grant awarding. That amount may be increased only at the discretion of City Council
- If previously awarded a grant, the applicant must have successfully fulfilled all contractual obligations
- Recipient must explore local businesses for products and services when expending HOT funds.
For more information, visit City of Burleson.
