The Port of Seattle Commission is requesting authorization for its 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Program, a grant initiative now in its fourth year that distributes up to $200,000 in King County tax levy funds to local destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits to promote tourism across Washington State. Grants of up to $10,000 each require a two-to-one match from recipients and must be used for advertising, public relations, digital marketing, trade shows, or familiarization tours aimed at attracting out-of-state visitors. Over its first three years, the program funded 57 projects and generated approximately $700,000 in additional tourism marketing statewide.Open full document
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A Commission agenda memorandum requesting authorization for the 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Program and authority for the Executive Director to execute related contracts for selected recipients, not to exceed $200,000 funded by the King County tax levy. The program, in its fourth year, provides matching funds of up to $10,000 each to destination marketing organizations, local communities, ports, and attractions to promote tourism in Washington State. The memo outlines marketing outreach strategies, a proposed implementation timeline, and tourism project categories funded by the program.