Perry Chamber accepting Hotel/Motel Tax Grant applications through Oct. 19

COURTESY OF THE PERRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
·3 min read
The front entrance to the Hotel Pattee.
The front entrance to the Hotel Pattee.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2022 Hotel/Motel Tax Grant through Wednesday, Oct. 19. Eligible applicants include any nonprofit organization whose project has a beneficial impact on the community of Perry. The chamber encourages creative projects that enhance the attractiveness of Perry, encourage tourism to the area and/or promote events that draw visitors to Perry as a destination.

In 2019, the Perry Chamber switched from an ongoing or as-submitted review process to a biannual grant cycle which created two grant periods per year, with applications due in April and October. In 2020, event restrictions due to the pandemic led to a shift in efforts. Budgeted grant funds were allocated to the Perry Chamber Foundation to support joint efforts with the City of Perry and Perry Economic Development to create a Business Modernization and Protection Grant. This grant assisted local businesses, focusing on improvements that would last beyond the pandemic. This year, the Hotel/Motel Grant program returns for a single cycle, with plans for reestablishing the two per year cycle in 2023.

Grant applications are due to the Perry Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and funding allocations will be announced mid-November. Grant requests should not exceed $2,000. Matching funds are preferred, but not required.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce receives four-sevenths of the Hotel/Motel Tax that is collected in Perry. The chamber utilizes this funding source in a number of ways for the promotion and encouragement of tourism, including this grant for nonprofit organizations seeking funding assistance for special projects and/or advertising.

This grant program supports projects that include, but are not limited to:

  • Developing and/or expanding tourism programs, events, or tools

  • Building partnerships and cooperative efforts among tourism providers and attractions

  • Enhancing initiatives and efforts to attract visitors to the community

State Code governs the use of revenues derived from the Hotel/Motel Tax, a tax collected from the renting of any and all rooms where accommodations are furnished to transient guests for rent. All entities, excepting governmental entities, must be nonprofit as recognized by the Internal Revenue Code of the United States to be eligible for the consideration of the allocation of these grant funds. All recommendations of allocations shall be subject to the approval of the Perry Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Projects will be evaluated using certain criteria including but not limited to:

  • Potential reach of project, including number of visitors and overnight guests generated

  • Financial need of project and percentage of project funding being requested

  • Quality of project and likelihood of achieving stated goals

Grant guidelines and application form for the 2022 Hotel/Motel Tax Grant can be found online (www.perryia.org/chamber-of-commerce.html), picked up at the Perry Chamber office (1124 Willis Ave., Suite A), or requested via email.

For more information on Perry’s Hotel/Motel Tax Grant, contact the Perry Chamber of Commerce at perrychamber@perryia.org or (515) 465-4601.

This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: Perry’s Hotel/Motel Tax Grant application deadline set for October 19