2024 LTAX Fund RFP - Round 2

ROUND 2 of the 2024 Lodging Tax RFP Application Submission Period Now OpenPort Angeles’s Lodging Tax Fund is the primary source of City funding for activities, operations, and expenditures designed to increase tourism. The City intends to maintain a reserve in the Fund and will assess on an annual basis how much of the Fund to appropriate in a given year. The Port Angeles City Council has created a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to conduct an annual process to solicit and recommend Lodging Tax funded services for City Council consideration. Outside of event grant proposals, the city of Port Angeles will only consider proposals for use of the Lodging Tax Fund from public and non-profit agencies.Who May Apply?Round 2 of the 2024 Lodging Tax funding Request For Proposal is now open. Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2024 at 5:00pm. All applications must be submitted digitally to document.write('ced'+'@'+'cityofpa.us')For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address.. For more information about the application process and award program please contact Ben Braudrick via email at document.write('ced'+'@'+'cityofpa.us')For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address.. Proposal applications are reviewed in accordance with the following criteria:Foster and maintain a healthy and diverse tourism sector that continues to thrive. Fully utilize and promote creative uses of existing facilities.Improve the quality of experience and relationships for tourist and residents while diminishing any negative impacts from tourism-related activities and traffic.Promote partnerships and increase tourism by concentrating on priorities identified by both residents and the tourism industryFocus on our unique Port Angeles assets that make us a premier destination for environmentally and fiscally sustainable recreation and tourismEncourage collaboration recognizing that Olympic Peninsula-based tourism supports and benefits all communitiesAs a result of State Legislative changes made in the 2013 session, all applications must include estimates of how funding the activity will result in increases to people staying overnight, travelling 50 miles or more, or coming from another state or country. To ensure this data is collected, the City is now required to have applicants provide additional information in the lodging tax application.2024 LTAX Fund Proposed Budget2024 LTAX Fund Proposed BudgetREMAINING FUNDS$ 89,500Vision, Goals and Priorities for Lodging Tax Funding ProgramsFunding of the program and specific awards are dependent on recommendations of the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). The LTAC will receive all applications and recommend a list of candidates and funding levels that will be forwarded to the Port Angeles City Council for final determination. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis.The LTAC has create a guidance document for selecting and prioritizing event and non-event applications. The Visions Goals and Priorities document was last updated and approved by City Council in August 2023.Please click this link to review the Vision, Goals, and Priorities document.State RegulationsState Law Defining the Use of Lodging TaxThe Washington State Legislature enacted changes to the laws governing the use and reporting of lodging tax revenues with the passage of ESHB 1253 in the 2013 legislative session. These changes, in part, established requirements for reporting information on the use of lodging tax which have been incorporated into the Lodging Tax/Tourism Promotion application. Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Chapter 67.28 ’Public Stadium, Convention, Arts and Tourism Facilities’ provides detailed information about the use, award and reporting of tourism funds.RCW 67.28.1816 – Use of Lodging Tax Fund.Lodging tax revenue under this chapter may be used, directly by any municipality or indirectly through a convention and visitor’s bureau or destination marketing organization for:Tourism marketing;The marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists;Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public facilities district created under chapters 35.57 and 36.100 RCW; orSupporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations described under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec 501(c)(6) or the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.RCW 67.28.080 – Definitions.Municipality means any county, city or town of the state of Washington.Operation includes, but is not limited to, operation, management, and marketing.Person means the federal government or any agency thereof, the state or any agency, subdivision, taxing district or Municipal Corporation thereof other than county, city or town, any private corporation, partnership, association, or individual.Tourism means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of overnight lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs.Tourism promotion means activities and expenditures designed to increase tourism, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism promotion agencies; and funding marketing of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.Tourism-related facility means real or tangible personal property with a usable life of three or more years, or constructed with volunteer labor, and used to support tourism, performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities.Tourist means a person who travels from a place of residence to a different town, city, county, state, or country, for purposes of business, pleasure, recreation, education, arts, heritage, or culture.