Lodging Tax Grant Program
The City of Vancouver’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) offers grants for local event/festival organizers, tourism promotion organizations, and one-time tourism program and tourism facilities projects.
2027 Grant Applications
Lodging Tax Grant applications will be open from August 4, 2026, to September 20, 2026. Successful grant applications will receive funds for use in the 2027 calendar year. Links to applications are available under each grant category drop down below.
Applicants may review the application questions before creating a GrantInterface profile or select the applicable grant application below to begin the application process.
New This Year
The Lodging Tax Grant Program Guidelines and Scoring Criteria have been updated for this funding cycle. Applicants are encouraged to review the revised documents before submitting an application to become familiar with the current program requirements and evaluation criteria. These documents may be found in the ‘Resources’ section of this page.
Grant Application Consultation Opportunity
In partnership with the City of Vancouver’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Visit Vancouver is offering 30-minute grant application consultations to help event organizers with the visitor-related questions in the grant application. During these one-on-one appointments, Visit Vancouver will review and advise on visitor attendance and paid lodging night estimates to ensure they are aligned with stated program goals.
Click here to book an appointment with Visit Vancouver.
Governing Legislation
According to RCW 67.28.1816(1), lodging tax revenues may be used directly by any municipality or indirectly through a destination marketing organization for:
- Tourism marketing
- Marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists
- Capital expenditures and operating expenses of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public facilities district
- Operating expenses of tourism facilities owned or run by qualifying non-profits
Award decisions will be made based on available funds and strength of application. Evaluation criteria will focus on alignment with the City of Vancouver’s 2023-2029 Strategic Plan Core Values, Visit Vancouver’s 10-Year Destination Master Plan, seasonality, geography, equity & inclusion, environmental sustainability, uniqueness, and economic impact.
Cultural Enrichment Grant
Intended Purpose: Resources to support events or festivals that support the cultural enrichment of Vancouver.
Eligibility: Below are the eligibility guidelines that will be used to prioritize awarded grants. Applicants must meet all guidelines to be considered:
- The event is hosted or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 nonprofit organization authorized to do business in the city of Vancouver.
- A specific event or festival cannot receive a cultural enrichment grant award more than three times.
- The event must be open to the public, whether ticketed or not.
- The event demonstrates contributive potential that aligns with the City of Vancouver’s focus on celebrating cultural diversity and promoting equity and inclusion. Without limitation, this may be demonstrated by meeting one or more of the following:
- The activity is an annual cultural celebration, cultural festival, or cultural awareness event designed to advance the awareness or appreciation of one or more “vulnerable populations” as defined by RCW 70A.02.010(14).
- The host organization or institution demonstrates the event’s contributive potential to raise awareness or support for issues faced by multicultural, women, LGBTQIA2S+, or communities with accessibility needs.
- Funds are restricted to the marketing and operations of events or festivals designed to attract tourists (visitors spending night in paid accommodations or attendees who travel 50 miles or more from an origin in Washington or people who travel from another state or country).
Award Amount: The target grant amount for this category is $5,000 or less, but the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is open to considering requests above that amount should there be unique circumstance or a clear demonstrated need. Award decisions will be made based on available funds and strength of application.
Large Event/Festival Grant
Intended Purpose: Resources to support events or festivals designed to contribute to the local tourism economy, attract a significant number of visitors and enhance Vancouver as a tourism destination.
Eligibility:
- The event is hosted or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 nonprofit organization that services the city of Vancouver.
- The event or festival anticipates attendance of 2,500+ people.
- Funds are restricted to the marketing and operations of events or festivals designed to attract tourists.
- The event expects a significant number of visitors to:
- Spend the night in paid accommodations, or
- Travel 50 miles or more from an origin in Washington, or
- Travel from another state or country.
- The event must be open to the public, whether ticketed or not.
- A specific event or festival cannot receive a grant award more than two times unless it can demonstrate a change in approach or scope to attract significantly more (20%) attendees and/or reach new communities.
Award Amount: There is no grant award cap. Decisions will be made based on available funds, economic impact, and strength of application.
Tourism Program or Facilities Grant
Intended Purpose: Resources to support one-time tourism marketing or promotion programs or investments in tourism facilities designed to enhance the tourism experience or grow Vancouver’s tourism industry.
Eligibility:
Proposals must meet the eligible use of lodging tax funds as outlined in RCW 67.28.1816(1):
- Programs focused on tourism marketing and promotion activities.
- Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public facilities district created under chapters 35.57 and 36.100 RCW.
- Supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations described under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
Award Amount: There is no grant award cap. Decisions will be made based on available funds, established programs and initiatives designed to market the destination or grow Vancouver’s tourism industry, and strength of application.
Tourism Organization Operating Grant
Intended Purpose: Resources to support destination marketing or visitor attraction efforts of organizations focused on marketing and promoting Vancouver as a visitor destination or enhancing the local tourism experience.
Eligibility:
- A 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 nonprofit organization that directly services the city of Vancouver’s tourism industry through marketing and promotion.
Award Amount: There is no grant award cap. Decisions will be made based on available funds, established programs and initiatives designed to market the destination or grow Vancouver’s tourism industry, and strength of application.
Have Questions?
The City of Vancouver is offering a virtual Q&A session to help answer applicant questions on August 19, 2026, starting at 10:00a.m.
Visit Vancouver will also be in attendance to answer questions.
Please email Callie Taylor at callie.taylor@cityofvancouver.us to RSVP and receive the Microsoft Teams link for your preferred session.
For general questions or more information, please reach out to Andrew Westlund, Economic Development Management Analyst, Economic Prosperity & Housing at andrew.westlund@cityofvancouver.us.
Special Event Permits
Permits are required for any event activity that occurs on private or public property and affects the ordinary use of public streets, rights-of-ways, or sidewalks. This includes but is not limited to fairs, festivals, concerts, performances, parades, athletic events, and fundraising events. Please visit the Event Planning and Permits -The City of Vancouver, WA page for more information and details.
