Funding for this program comes from the City of Leavenworth Lodging Tax Fund, which receives a percentage of hotel/motel taxes from lodging establishments inside the city limits. The City collects a tax on charges for overnight lodging. These funds are distributed by the Department of Revenue back to the City of Leavenworth for the funding of tourism-related capital facilities, non-event operations, and event marketing and operations.

If you are applying to the Lodging Tax Grant Program for a particular project/activity, you may not apply for a General Fund Grant for the same project/activity.

The Leavenworth Fund prioritizes requests that do not exceed 50% of total costs. The Leavenworth Fund wants to complement funding, not be the only funder.

The intent of the Lodging Tax Grant Program is to support the marketing or operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists to Leavenworth resulting in overnight stays. If approved, the funds are distributed to the applicant on a reimbursement basis.

The activity must meet the definition for tourism promotion and occur within the Leavenworth Fund Boundary and must comply with the requirements of RCW 67.28.1818 and RCW 35.101.010, attached at the end of the application.

Lodging taxes can be used for:

• Tourism Promotion/Marketing.
• Marketing and operations of special events, activities, and festivals designed to attract visitors from more than 50 miles away.
• Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by non-profit organizations described under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.

Lodging Tax Grant Program is open to non-profit organizations with the demonstrated ability to achieve tourism related goals as outlined below:

• Increase hotel/lodging occupancy in the City of Leavenworth by creating overnight stays.
• Increase the number of visitors to the City from more than 50 miles away.

Applicants (non-profit organizations only) may be located within or outside the City limits of Leavenworth. However, Lodging Tax Grant Program funding shall be used to support tourism related activities, events, and/or projects within the Leavenworth Fund Boundary.  

All applications must include estimates of how funding the project/activity will result in increases in people staying overnight, travelling 50 miles away or more, or coming from another state or country. To ensure this data is collected, the City is required to have applicants provide additional information in the lodging tax application.

• Maximum grant request is $10,000; not to exceed 50% of program cost.
• An application does not guarantee funding. Funding may be granted at an amount different than requested.
• Applicants may submit multiple requests.

Grant application and required attachments must be submitted via the online application available at https://cityofleavenworth.com/community/leavenworth-fund/.

• Financial support for new and ongoing festivals/events
• Activities that provide entertainment for visitors
• Marketing and promotion of festivals/events
• Staffing expenses for new and ongoing festivals/events
• Capital improvements that support the tourism experience
• Activities/projects that provide support for festivals/events

• Capital projects not associated with tourism or a community benefit
• Payroll expenses not associated with tourism or community benefit
• Insurance expenses
• Grant request due to loss of other funding
• Grant request not clearly identified in budget
• Activities outside of the Leavenworth Fund Boundary
• Vehicle purchases
• Strategic planning and/or feasibility studies
• Grant requests with less than 50% matching funds

This is a competitive grant funding program. Program funding and grant awards are determined by recommendations of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee. The Committee will review all eligible applications, develop a list of award recommendations and at what funding level(s). This list will be forwarded to the City Council for final review and award.