Special Event Grants

2021 Tourism Grants

The City of Redmond is now accepting applications for its 2021 and 2022 Special Event Grants, provided through Redmond’s Tourism Promotion Program. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, August 15, at 5:00 p.m. The goal of Redmond's Tourism Promotion Program is to attract overnight visitors to Redmond. Grant applicants may be cultural, historical, educational, sports, or community organizations coordinating events and tournaments that bring visitors to Redmond.  

The grants are available to help fund projects that drive visitors and stimulation of Redmond’s local economy and are paid for by a portion of the one percent sales tax collected on hotel rooms located in Redmond. Grants may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project. For the 2021 grant season, both events that have already taken place or begun this year and those yet to occur are eligible to apply. Events seeking a grant for both 2021 and 2022 will need to complete and submit two separate applications. 

The Redmond Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will evaluate qualifying applications on a competitive basis, using the official tourism promotion funding criteria, and will forward recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for approval. City Council will award the grants in October 2021.  

Program Guidelines

The City of Redmond’s Tourism Matching Grants Program accepts applications from any public or private organization with the demonstrated ability to accomplish the proposed project(s). These include:

  • Business organizations
  • Community organizations
  • Cultural organizations
  • Educational organizations
  • Entertainment organizations
  • Galleries
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  • Heritage organizations
  • Historical organizations
  • Museums
  • Sports organizations
  • Visitor information bureaus

Eligibility of sponsors and projects is defined broadly to encourage wide participation and innovative proposals.

Guidelines for application are: minimum award is $1,000; no award of funds will exceed 50% of the cost of the event/activity; the award will be contingent upon the applicant's demonstration of other funding sources; and expenditures are subject to audit.