Grants are available for local events and festivals, tourism promotion and marketing programs, or capital improvement projects that increase overnight and day-visit tourism
VANCOUVER – The city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will accept grant applications for 2026 tourism-related projects and events from Aug. 1 to Sept. 19.
Grants are available for local events and festivals, tourism promotion and marketing programs, or capital improvement projects that increase overnight and day-visit tourism. Lodging Tax Grants are funded through a four percent lodging tax on hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast stays.
“These grants fuel the kinds of experiences that make Vancouver vibrant—from cultural festivals to community-driven tourism programs,” said Deputy Economic Development Director Chris Harder. “We’re eager to support projects that reflect our values, extend the season, and welcome visitors beyond the usual event locations and times.”
The committee will prioritize funding for events that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Take place outside the peak summer event season (June–August)
- Occur outside of downtown Vancouver
- Support local, small businesses
- Celebrate diverse or underserved communities
- Support climate action
Applications will be evaluated based on alignment with the City’s Strategic Plan Core Values, Visit Vancouver’s Destination Master Plan, and other factors including seasonality, geography, equity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, uniqueness and economic impact.
Support for applicants
The City and Visit Vancouver are offering the following resources to assist applicants:
- Online Q&A sessions: Optional virtual info sessions will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Email Kimberly Kerlee at kimberly.kerlee@cityofvancouver.us to receive a meeting link. Recordings will be posted online after each session.
- One-on-one consultations: Visit Vancouver is offering 30-minute appointments to help event organizers respond to visitor-related questions in the application. Book an appointment with Visit Vancouver.
For details and to apply, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/lodgingtaxgrants.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
Also read:
- Opinion: ‘This is not the best and most efficient use of the taxpayers’ funds’
Ken Vance critiques the announced $14.4 billion I-5 Bridge replacement, questioning funding gaps, the insistence on light rail, unaddressed congestion, and transparency from state officials. - Cost for IBR’s total project ‘most likely’ to be $14.4 billion
Washington’s governor committed to a light rail bridge across the Columbia River, prioritizing the $7.65 billion initial phase while sidestepping the full project’s $14.4 billion price tag. - Natural gas leak forces evacuation in restricted area in Vancouver
Crews closed multiple streets and evacuated about 20 Vancouver homes after a gas line was damaged by workers. C-TRAN provided a bus to shelter residents during the incident. - Letter: Don’t leave Longview in the dark
Longview Mayor Erik Halvorson warns that uncertainty in Washington’s energy policy is deterring manufacturing investment, citing a local project’s move to the Gulf as evidence of this statewide challenge. - OnPoint Community Credit Union welcomes Lisa White as CFO
Finance veteran Lisa White will oversee financial operations at OnPoint, drawing on two decades of leadership and her work with Girls on the Run and Columbia Bank. - Ridgefield student to serve as Rotary Club’s youth ambassador to central Mexico
Ridgefield High’s Zander Earl was chosen as Rotary’s youth ambassador and will spend his junior year studying in central Mexico, immersed in both the language and local culture. - Opinion: Hiring someone for jobs around the house?
Households in Washington that hire caregivers or cleaners will have to keep records, offer contracts, and follow new compliance rules under HB 2355.
