SWT Grant Programs
State of Washington Tourism (SWT) offers multiple grant opportunities for tourism stakeholders. In addition to recurring grant programs such as Tourism Sustainability and Rural Tourism Support, SWT will also administer funds for exciting new grant programs in 2024-2025. These programs are made possible thanks to $3.5 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) block grant funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Eligible entities: Local governments, tribes, chambers of commerce, destination organizations, and other nonprofit organizations that support travel and tourism are welcome to apply for this grant. Note: Only tribal destinations/communities are eligible for tribal-focused grants.
Applications: Grant application periods open throughout the year. Once open, applicants can apply for individual grant programs via a secure online portal. Successful applicants will be notified within three weeks of the application closing date. View the WizeHive application portal FAQ here.
Webinars: SWT will hold webinars for each grant in the weeks leading up to the application period. The webinars will cover how to apply and the criteria by which the applications will be judged, along with providing more in-depth descriptions of the grant. An overview webinar was held on Dec. 13, 2023. A PDF version is also available.
See application dates and browse all SWT grant opportunities below. For questions, please contact Tamara Rice at tamara@stateofwatourism.com.
Rural Tourism Marketing and Production
Rural Tourism Marketing and Production Grants will help communities create the assets they need to promote their destination to travelers to generate overnight stays and stimulate visitor spending. This grant supports rural and underserved communities. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $50,000 in grant funding for content creation for blog posts and articles, as well as the production of video and image assets. Assets may include photos, videos, and written content, as well as usage rights for the applicant and SWT. View the Webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Sports Incentivization
The Sports Incentivization Grants are intended to help nonprofit entities incentivize NEW sports tournaments/competitions that will bring overnight visitors to a destination to spur economic activity. Successful applicants will be able to reserve dollars from a pool to help pay down room nights or provide amenities pending a successful bid. If a bid is ultimately unsuccessful, those dollars will go back into the pool and be available to other applicants according to a ranked waitlist. The max grant ask is $30,000. View the Webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Rural Tourism Research and Data
The primary purpose of the Rural Tourism Research and Data Grants is to discover and share critical information that can improve the efficiency, sustainability, and overall economic impact of the local tourism industry. It may also aim to support projects that analyze tourism trends, visitor behavior, cultural exchange, environmental impacts, and other topics that help inform policy decisions and support tourism growth in a region. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $25,000. View the Webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Arts and Culture
The Arts and Culture grants are intended for the promotion and management of art shows, concerts, festivals and events, as well as museums, historic sites, and cultural institutes that drive overnight stays and visitor spending in destination communities. These grants aim to boost the local economy by attracting overnight visitors who are interested in experiencing the artistic and cultural offerings of a people and a place while mitigating any negative impacts on residents, social services, and public infrastructure. The max grant ask is $30,000. View the webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Indigenous Tourism Marketing and Production
Indigenous Tourism Marketing and Production grants will help tribal communities create the assets they need to promote their destination to travelers to generate overnight stays and stimulate visitor spending. Tourism stakeholders may request up to $50,000 in grant funding for content creation for blog posts and articles, as well as production of video and image assets. Grant applicants need to budget for long-term usage rights for their organization and SWT. View the webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Rural Tourism Support Program
The RTS program focuses on long-term, sustainable destination development for underserved communities. It implements a community tourism approach that includes stakeholder surveys, community workshops, priority projects, and strategic planning from a steering committee. Upon completion of the program, stakeholders are encouraged to apply for financial assistance from SWT and other funding sources to support priority projects. View the webinar.
Application Period: Currently closed
Technical Assistance
The Technical Assistance Grant will subsidize the cost of industry-specific expertise for tourism-related projects that stimulate economic development for destination communities. Eligible projects for grant funding may include design plans for tourism infrastructure, marketing expertise, workforce training programs, and other consulting services for tourism pursuits. Washington-based tourism stakeholders may request up to $15,000 in grant funding based on project eligibility. View the webinar.
Application Period: April 15 – May 14, 2024
Tourism Regeneration
This grant is intended to foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable visitor experiences across the state and drive overnight visitation to rural and underserved communities. Project eligibility for Tourism Regeneration Grants ranges significantly from pedestrian and bicyclist safety along roadways to tourism marketing to disaster and climate adaptation planning. They may also include but are not limited to outdoor recreation, business and creative districts, and main street associations in Washington. Max grant ask is $50,000.
Application Period: Sept. 2 – 30, 2024
Tribal Rural Tourism Support Program
The Tribal RTS program focuses on long-term, sustainable destination development for tribal communities. It implements a community tourism approach that includes stakeholder surveys, community workshops, priority projects, and strategic planning from a steering committee. Upon completion of the program, stakeholders are encouraged to apply for financial assistance from SWT and other funding sources to support priority projects identified in the community workshops.
Application Period: Oct. 1 – 31, 2024
Tourism Sustainability
The Tourism Sustainability Grant is a recurring grant offered by SWT that aims to foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable visitor experiences in Washington. Applicants may request up to $30,000 in grant funding based on project eligibility. Project eligibility may include capital projects, new festivals and events, outdoor recreation, wayfinding improvements, and more.
Application Period: Currently closed