Hotel-Motel Small Fund

The Snohomish County 2026 Hotel-Motel Small Fund Grant – Round 2 is a competitive funding opportunity aimed at supporting tourism-related marketing, promotions, and capital projects that will attract visitors to Snohomish County during major national and international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The application window for this grant opens on September 19, 2025, and closes on November 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Applications must be submitted electronically to Tourism@snoco.org. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted. A total of $300,000 is projected to be available for the 2026 funding cycle, with historical award amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 and an average grant size of $10,000. This grant program is funded by lodging taxes collected from hotel and motel stays within the county. Funding will be provided on a reimbursement-only basis, and projects must be completed no later than December 15, 2026. Disbursements will begin around January 26, 2026. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and public agencies. Proposed projects must clearly demonstrate their ability to draw tourists from at least 50 miles outside Snohomish County and generate overnight stays. Priority will be given to projects that activate around the 2026 World Cup and other nationally or internationally significant events. Examples of eligible projects include tourism itineraries, cultural performances, community watch parties, heritage events, marketing efforts, and transit access enhancements. Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their proposals with the county’s strategic tourism initiatives and to demonstrate return on investment and long-term benefit. Required materials for the application include a completed application form, at least one hotel/motel/BnB reference, a current W9, a 25% matching funds outline, a cooperative commitments form, a profit and loss statement, and documentation of city meeting minutes if submitted by public agencies. Cities with their own hotel/motel tax funds—such as Everett, Lynnwood, and Monroe—require applicants to also pursue equivalent local funding. Personnel costs may not be reimbursed by the county but can be counted toward in-kind match requirements. Applications must be submitted via email with all attachments titled in the required format, such as “2026 Hotel-Motel Grant Application Package / [Organization Name]”. Projects must be ready to activate fully by the event date and provide a final report documenting outcomes and visitor impact metrics. For questions or technical assistance, applicants should contact Harry Birak at Harry.Birak@snoco.org.

Application must be titled per guidelines and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on November 20, 2025. Early planning, strong local collaboration, and alignment with international event timelines will strengthen proposals.