Grant Funding Opportunities

  1. Lodging Tax Grants
  2. Economic Development / Social Service Grants
  3. American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grants
  4. housing & homeless grants

Lodging Tax Grants

Lodging tax revenues are generated by a tax imposed on overnight stays at hotels and motels within the city. Revenues are dedicated specifically to funding tourism-related events and marketing activities. Historically, the city has utilized a percentage of lodging tax proceeds to provide grants to area organizations/agencies for events and marketing operations.

The city accepted applications for Spokane Valley Lodging Tax funding for qualifying tourism promotion efforts in 2024. Eligible applicants were organizations and public agencies that promote tourism with the goal of improving economic activity in Spokane Valley.

View the Request for Proposal for specific information and guidelines regarding the 2024 Lodging Tax Grant funding.

The deadline for submission was Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.  The City utilized an online submission process this year. All required sections and attachments must have been completed to be considered for funding.

Update - Nov. 9, 2023

The City has completed the review of grant applications to ensure they meet the requirements for eligibility and completion. Organizations that submitted an eligible application delivered an in-person presentation highlighting their proposal to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) at their Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, meeting. At that meeting, the LTAC developed funding recommendations for the City Council to consider. On Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, the City Council will hear an administrative report on the LTAC recommendations and subsequently make a final determination of grant funding at their Dec. 12, 2023, meeting. View the list of grant recommendations here

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

The recipients of these grants are determined by City Council, after receiving a list of recommended allocations for funding from the LTAC. The LTAC develops its list after reviewing a combination of submitted application materials and hearing a brief presentation made by each applicant. Grants are awarded annually. The LTAC is comprised of five members who are appointed by City Council, and by state law the committee membership must include:

  • At least two representatives of businesses that are required to collect the tax
  • At least two people who are involved in activities that are authorized to be funded by the tax, and 
  • One elected city official who serves as chairperson of LTAC

Annually, the City Council discusses and adopts goals and priorities that it encourages the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) to consider when making award recommendations. Here are the Council goals for the 2024 award year. Applicants were encouraged to create proposals that were aligned with the Council’s goals and priorities.

2023 Grant Recipients

Funds awarded in 2023 included $2 million from the 1.3% portion of the tax (only available to municipalities or public facilities districts for capital projects) and  $309,702 in grant awards from the 2% tax portion. See list of 2023 grant recipients 

Contact Us

If you need assistance for any of these programs, email Sarah Farr or call 509-720-5041.