The City of Spokane Valley is offering a grant program to promote and encourage tourism within the city, funded by a 2.0 percent and a 1.3 percent lodging tax. The primary mission of this program aligns with increasing economic activity in Spokane Valley by leveraging tourism. Funds from the 1.3 percent tax are specifically earmarked for capital purposes for tourism-related facilities and are exclusively available to municipalities and public facilities districts.
The target beneficiaries of this grant program include for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as municipal agencies, all of whom can contribute to enhancing the tourism landscape of Spokane Valley. The impact goal is to boost economic activity in 2025 through various tourism-related endeavors, such as increasing overnight lodging ("heads in beds"), restaurant sales, and retail activity.
The Spokane Valley Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) plays a crucial role in advising the City Council on how lodging tax revenues should be allocated to maximize tourism. The program prioritizes proposals that fall into two main categories: capital expenditures for tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality, with up to $2,554,000 available for 2025; and tourism marketing and operations for special events and festivals, or operations and marketing of tourism-related facilities owned and operated by non-profit organizations or municipalities, with up to $339,000 available for 2025.
The expected outcomes of successful proposals are directly tied to the overarching goal of increasing economic activity. This includes measurable results such as an increase in overnight lodging, signifying more visitors staying in the city; an uptick in restaurant sales, reflecting increased tourist spending on dining; and a rise in retail activity, indicating more purchases made by visitors. The foundation's strategic priority is to wisely allocate lodging tax revenues to projects that will demonstrably enhance the City's tourism appeal and economic vibrancy.
