2023 Lodging Tax capital requests now open

The Chelan County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, or LTAC, has opened the grant application process for groups and municipalities seeking lodging tax dollars for capital projects, or capital improvement projects, that will help attract overnight visitors to the county.

County lodging tax revenues must be used for tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities, or operation of tourism-related facilities. This application period is specifically for capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality.

Projects will be considered capital if the funds are used for land and improvements to land, buildings and building improvements, parking lots, vehicles, machinery and equipment, works of art or historical treasures, infrastructure assets, such as roads, bridges, sidewalks, water lines, sewers, drainage systems and intangible assets, such as easements, water rights, timber rights and computer software.

The application period is open until 5 p.m. on April 14. The current funding available for capital projects is $560,000. The application must be downloaded and emailed to CM.LTAC@co.chelan.wa.us.

Lodging tax dollars are generated by local lodging establishments. In Chelan County, about half the money generated in a year is allocated to six local chambers as well as the Cascade Loop, Ohme Gardens and TREAD. Another portion is used to operate the county’s Visit Chelan County campaign. The remaining money is offered annually in the form of grants to tourist-related organizations. In December, commissioners approved the awarding of $328,600 in lodging tax dollars to 22 tourist-related organizations for marketing efforts.

For more information, including the application, go to www.co.chelan.wa.us/news/article/2023-lodging-tax-capital-requests-open-through-april-14. For more information about LTAC, go to www.co.chelan.wa.us/board-of-commissioners/pages/lodging-tax-advisory-committee.