PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau has announced an application deadline of Sept. 1 for the second round of 2017 Tourism Enhancement Grants.
This year, $45,000 in total grant funding is available for qualified projects focused on tourism promotion, with $6,750 remaining after the first round of applications.
In March and April, a number of community entities and groups were awarded grants, including the Juan de Fuca Festival, Olympic Peninsula Bicycle Alliance, Clallam Bay/Sekiu Fun Days 2017, Peninsula Trails Coalition, Arts &Draughts, Fabric of the Forest Quilt Show, Forever Twilight in Forks, Sequim Lavender Farmers Association Lavender Driving Guide, Sequim/Dungeness Valley Pad Map, Paint the Peninsula, Forest Storytelling and CrabFest 2017.
In 2016, 15 grants were awarded, supporting tourism collateral production, promotion of area festivals and events, and website development.
Upcoming grant applications must be submitted for consideration by the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau board at its monthly meetings (as long as funds are available) by the first day of the month prior to the scheduled review meetings in September and November.
Funds for this grant program are derived from revenue generated by the hotel/motel tax on lodging facilities in unincorporated Clallam County.
Lodging tax revenue is designated for the promotion of tourism to encourage long-term economic growth through tourism-related projects or events that attract overnight guests to the destination.
“Tourism to the Olympic Peninsula, including Clallam County, continues to grow, especially during the summer season,” Executive Director Marsha Massey said.
“Our focus is on supporting further tourism development earlier in the spring and later into the fall.
“We are eager to work with stakeholders to create greater opportunities to promote Clallam County and the Olympic Peninsula in these time periods, helping to provide a viable contribution to a healthy local economy, supporting revenue, tax generation and jobs.”
Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.olympicpeninsula.org/page/tourism-grants. Call Massey at 360-452-8552 for more information if interested in applying for a grant.
