4/24/08

Arlington tourism gets tax boost

The City of Arlington recently handed out more than $110,000 in grants benefiting efforts to promote tourism and economic development.

The Linda M. Byrnes Performing Arts Center was awarded $30,000, which will be used to purchase advertising and produce marketing brochures. $20,000 went to the Downtown Arlington Business Association (DABA) for promotion of downtown events through a variety of media outlets.

The 40th annual Arlington Fly-In, scheduled for July 9-13 at the Arlington Airport, received a grant of $20,000 from the lodging tax fund. Event organizers plan to use the money for promotional advertising.

Other recipients included the Snohomish County Fall Festival, with was awarded $14,000, and the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce, which received a $9,600 grant.

The Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Association, the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society and the Arlington Arts Council each received money for projects ranging from signage to marketing materials.

The hotel-motel tax was instituted in 2005, capturing 2 percent of lodging revenues. The money is distributed through a grant process to help pay for marketing efforts that increase tourism to the area.