The Whatcom County is accepting applications for its 2027 Tourism Promotion Grants to promote eligible tourism and cultural activities.
Donor Name: Whatcom County
State: Washington
County: Whatcom County (WA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/04/2026
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
This grant program is supported by the County’s lodging tax and is used to bring tourism into Whatcom County and promote economic activity.
- Tourism: Economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of overnight lodging, meals, tours, gifts, the souvenirs.
- Tourism promotion: 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; development 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.
Priorities
- Funding the primary Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, as the lead agency responsible for marketing and promoting tourism throughout the county.
- Supporting chambers that have dedicated staff to promote local tourism and provide visitor services.
- Funding organizations that offer broad, year-round services to visitors and the community, even if they are not located in unincorporated areas.
- Allocating funds for infrastructure enhancements that support tourism, such as wayfinding signage and recreational facilities (e.g., ice rinks for hockey tournaments) it is recognized that investing in infrastructure can have long-term benefits for tourism growth.
- Supporting festivals and events hosted in unincorporated areas that have a significant impact on attracting overnight visitors.
Eligibility Criteria
Activities which will be considered eligible for assistance include but are not limited to, those that:
- Increase tourism by advertising
- Publicize and distribute information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists
- Develop strategies to expand tourism
- Operate tourism promotion agencies
- Fund and market events and festivals designed to attract tourists
- Construct tourism-related facilities
For more information, visit Whatcom County.
