Lodging Tax Grant Applications

The City of Auburn provides grant funding for the promotion of events and activities that encourage, welcome, and entertain tourists and visitors.  The grants are funded through local and state Hotel Motel Excise Tax collected on accommodations within the City of Auburn.

Grants are awarded annually by the City Council based on the recommendations of the Auburn Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC).  The Auburn LTAC is currently accepting applications for 2020 grant funding.  Applications will be due no later than 4:00 PM Tuesday, February 18, 2020.  Recipient selection may be announced in March or April 2020.

Questions regarding the Lodging Tax Tourism Enrichment Grant Application requirements and process may be directed to Jenn Francis, City of Auburn Tourism Coordinator at jfrancis@auburnwa.gov. 

About the Program

The funding is allocated to activities that promote tourism to generate overnight guests to Auburn.

Activities which will be considered for funding for activities, operations and expenditures designed to increase tourism. Specifically, lodging tax grants can be used for marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.

The expected outcome of such activities would be to increase economic activity during the funding year and subsequent years by increasing the number of guests lodged in the area, additional meals, shopping at local retail businesses, and the availability and accessibility of tourism-related facilities. 

All recipients of lodging tax revenue, regardless of what the revenue is to be used for, must submit a report to the municipality describing the actual number of travelers generated. Good faith estimates of actuals can be reported provided applicants and users of funds indicate how those estimates will be developed. These reports are due immediately after the event or activity.

Application Process

• The Lodging Tax Tourism Enrichment Application for 2020 funding is now available.
• The submission deadline is Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm. No late applications will be accepted or reviewed.
• Applications may be submitted by any organization, group, or business (not-for-profit, municipality, etc.) interested in promoting tourism in Auburn.
• Selected applicants may be invited to provide an oral presentation to the Auburn Tourism Board (ATB).
• Committee recommendations are completed and submitted to the City Council by the end of March.
• Monies are distributed as reimbursement and contingent upon the recipient completing an After Event Report which documents how many overnight visitors the event brought to Auburn no later than a week after the event date.