Whatcom County is now accepting applications for tourism promotion grants that will fund eligible tourism and cultural activities in 2027. The application window is open through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, giving local organizations nearly two months to prepare and submit materials.
What the Grants Fund
The grants are supported by the county's lodging tax, a fee collected on short-term lodging stays at hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and similar properties throughout Whatcom County. State law allows counties to use lodging tax revenue specifically to promote tourism and attract visitors to the area. The program is intended to bring new economic activity to the county by funding events, programs, and initiatives that draw people from outside the region.
Eligible uses include tourism promotion activities, cultural events, visitor programs, and projects that highlight Whatcom County as a destination. Organizations that have received lodging tax funding in past years include festivals, cultural nonprofits, visitor centers, and event organizers. Grants are awarded through a competitive review process, meaning applicants should clearly demonstrate how their project would bring visitors to Whatcom County and generate economic activity.
The lodging tax has become an increasingly important funding mechanism for regional tourism infrastructure as state and county general fund budgets face competing demands. Revenue from the tax fluctuates with travel patterns, so the county uses the competitive grant process to ensure funds flow to projects with the clearest visitor impact rather than distributing money through formula-based allocations. Applicants who can document projected overnight stays, anticipated visitor spending, or measurable increases in out-of-county attendance at their events tend to score well in competitive reviews of this type.
Who Should Apply
The grant program is open to eligible organizations operating in Whatcom County. Nonprofits, arts organizations, festivals, and tourism-related businesses that run programs or events attracting out-of-county visitors are typical applicants. The program is administered by the county's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, which reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the County Executive.
Whatcom County has a rich tourism ecosystem, from the beaches at Birch Bay and the waterfront in Bellingham to the hiking and skiing terrain near Mount Baker and the farms and wineries of the Lynden and Ferndale areas. Cultural and heritage organizations celebrating the region's Indigenous, agricultural, and maritime history are also strong candidates for this type of funding.
The diversity of Whatcom County's visitor economy is one of its strengths as a tourism destination. Summer draws hikers, cyclists, and water recreation enthusiasts. The fall shoulder season sees agritourism visitors making their way through the Skagit and Nooksack valleys. Winter brings skiers and snowshoers to the Mount Baker corridor. Organizations whose programming aligns with these seasonal patterns and draws visitors during typically slower periods may find the competitive review process particularly receptive to their applications, since filling shoulder-season gaps in visitation is a consistent priority for county tourism planners.
First-time applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility criteria posted on the county's website before investing significant time in an application. The lodging tax statutes in Washington State are specific about what categories of use qualify, and projects that primarily serve local residents rather than attracting out-of-county visitors may not meet the statutory requirements even if they are otherwise worthwhile community programs. Organizations that are uncertain about whether their project qualifies are strongly encouraged to contact Jake Logan, Administrative Services Coordinator, before the deadline rather than submitting an application that may be ruled ineligible.
Applications and complete information are available through the Whatcom County website on the Lodging Tax Tourism Promotion Grants page. The county lists eligibility criteria, required application materials, and the review timeline on that page.
Deadline and Contact Information
The deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026. Late applications will not be considered. Organizations that have questions about the program or need help determining whether their project qualifies can contact Jake Logan, Administrative Services Coordinator, at Whatcom County Administrative Services by phone at (360) 778-5211.
For media inquiries, contact Riley Sweeney, Policy and Communications Specialist, at 360-778-5213. The county encourages interested organizations to begin working on applications early, as competitive grants require strong documentation of visitor impact and economic benefit. The September 4 deadline falls on a Friday, and the 4:00 p.m. cutoff means organizations should plan to have materials submitted well before the end of the business day to avoid technical or logistical problems. Grant cycles of this type typically fund programming for the following calendar year, so awards made in fall 2026 would support activities taking place in 2027. That timeline means applicants should be prepared to describe programming that is still in the planning stages rather than already fully operational. Detailed event budgets, projected attendance figures, and letters of support from partner organizations can all strengthen a competitive submission. For more on how Whatcom County is working to support local economic activity, earlier coverage of Port of Bellingham development milestones offers useful context on the region's broader economic priorities.
