In the 2024 budget, the City Commission set aside $150,000 in Transient Guest Tax (TGT) funds for the purpose of supporting a competitive grant program for events. The grant program guidelines and the application are available online at lawrenceks.org/lprd/tgt-grants. The application period runs from midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 18, through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.
There will be two informational meetings: one from 3-4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, and one from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3. The meetings will be held in a hybrid format at the Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, 1141 Massachusetts St., and via Zoom video conference. These meetings are for anyone interested in learning more about the Transient Guest Tax Grant program and grant funding. During each informational meeting, City staff will provide a presentation and be available to answer questions. Attendance at the informational meeting is not a requirement for grant eligibility.
For those not appearing in person, registration for using Zoom is required:
- Register for the Thursday, Nov. 2 Zoom meeting here: https://bit.ly/46vEZmW
- Register for the Friday, Nov. 3. Zoom meeting here: https://bit.ly/400lyQS
- Demonstrate a measurable economic benefit including enhancing the cultural economy or travel/tourism economy, creating additional transient guest tax and sales tax; and
- Enhance Lawrence’s unmistakable identity and reputation for tourist activities, demonstrating the pull of regional visitors.
The program will have one funding cycle for 2023 (for events occurring Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024). An advisory board reviews the applications and makes recommendations for funding to the City Commission for approval and final funding decisions. Grant applications for 2024 are due by 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.
The application and grant guidelines are online at lawrenceks.org/lprd/tgt-grants.
Contact: Roger Steinbrock, communications and events manager, (785) 832-3458, rsteinbrock@lawrenceks.org.