Lodging Tax / Tourism Promotion Grant

The City of Oak Harbor offers the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) grant program on an annual basis to support tourism-related initiatives within its municipal boundaries. The program is rooted in compliance with Washington State law requiring cities with populations over 5,000 to establish such committees before implementing or modifying lodging tax policies. The LTAC reviews applications and makes recommendations on the allocation of lodging tax revenues, which are then subject to approval by the Oak Harbor City Council. LTAC grants are intended to promote tourism as defined under RCW 67.28.080, encompassing activities that generate economic activity from tourists. This includes expenditures on lodging, meals, tours, gifts, and souvenirs. "Tourism promotion" includes marketing strategies, publicity efforts, operation of tourism agencies, and funding or marketing of public events and festivals intended to attract visitors. The grant is open to all organization types, including nonprofit and for-profit entities. Eligibility is not limited by the legal status of the applicant but is strictly contingent upon the proposed activity’s ability to drive tourism to Oak Harbor. All supported events or initiatives must be open to the general public. Funding may be used for tourism marketing, event operations, and tourism-related facility operations. Capital expenses are allowed when conducted by a municipality or qualified public facilities district. For nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status, only operational costs—not capital—are eligible for funding. These criteria are governed by RCW 67.28.1816 and related sections of Washington state law. Applications are submitted online during a window that typically opens in late summer or early fall. For the 2026 cycle, the application window ran from September 15 through September 26, 2025. The committee held meetings on October 9 and October 29, 2025, to evaluate submissions. After review, the LTAC’s funding recommendations were presented to and approved by the City Council, resulting in the award of $408,000 in new single and multi-year grants. Applicants may be invited to present their projects during public LTAC meetings, with scheduling conducted via email. The LTAC process culminates with a resolution that incorporates approved grant allocations, finalizing the grant cycle. The City of Oak Harbor emphasizes non-discriminatory practices in all its programs and encourages applications from a wide range of eligible community organizations.