City of Alpine Hotel Occupancy Tax Grants Open for Applicants

City of Alpine Hotel Occupancy Tax Grants Open for Applicants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: 
Chris Ruggia
Director of Tourism
432-386-5916
 
City of Alpine Hotel Occupancy Tax Grants Open for Applicants
 
Applications are now available for Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) grants from the City of Alpine for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Visitor events and other projects that draw overnight visits to the City are eligible for funding consideration, according to the requirements of state law.
 
The grant application and guidelines can be found on the city website (cityofalpine.com) under “How Do I  >  Apply For  >  Hotel Occupancy Tax Funding”.
 
The application deadline is August 28 for grants during the funding period, which runs from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. Questions about the grants can be directed to admin@visitalpinetx.com.
 
State law identifies the various ways that Hotel Occupancy Tax funds may be used. The allowed expense categories include Advertising, Promotion of the Arts, Historical Restoration and Preservation, and Sporting Events. All expenditures must also directly encourage overnight stays at hotels (or short term rentals).
 
This is the first year that the City of Alpine’s new Hotel Occupancy Tax Grants Committee will review and make recommendations on the grant applications. The committee is comprised of community members appointed by the City Council, with Alpine’s City Manager and Director of Tourism also serving as non-voting ex officio committee members.
 
The HOT Grants Committee will evaluate the applications based on their impact on overnight stays, business and promotional plans, the capacity to host a successful program or event, innovative new programs, and other criteria listed in the grant guidelines and then make funding recommendations within the projected tax revenues for 2020-2021. 
 
“With the reduction in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are expecting smaller overall HOT revenues for next year,” said Director of Tourism Chris Ruggia. “We are very grateful to the grants committee members who have stepped up to help with the sometimes difficult decisions of how to best use this limited fund resource to support and encourage the quality events and programs that apply.” 
 
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