BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Ten organizations will share $400,000 in city lodging-tax awards for 2027, supporting visitor marketing, downtown events, arts programming and other tourism-related projects.
The City Council approved the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee’s recommendations Nov. 10 through a consent agenda that passed 6-0. The action also authorizes the city manager to enter into funding agreements with the recipients.
Visit Bainbridge Island received the largest award, $169,000, for tourism marketing and work intended to increase tourism-related revenue. The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce received $97,000 for tourism projects that include visitor information and the Grand Old Fourth event.
The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association received $75,000 to promote downtown tourism-related events and activities.
The remaining awards are $15,000 to Bloedel Reserve for shoulder-season marketing; $12,000 to Arts & Humanities Bainbridge for the Asian Arts & Heritage Festival; and $12,000 to Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network for out-of-area marketing connected with Handwork 2027.
Four organizations received $5,000 each: the Bainbridge Island History Museum for holiday open-house marketing; the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation for an online interactive public-trail map; Bainbridge Youth Services for the Fourth of July Fun Run; and the Peninsula Film Commission to support film and television business.
The advisory committee reviewed 10 proposals requesting a combined $631,188, heard presentations from the applicants and developed recommendations within the city’s $400,000 allocation, according to the staff report.
Councilmember Mike Nelson praised the committee’s work before the vote, saying members reached consensus quickly.
The allocations and project descriptions appear in the Nov. 10 agenda packet, available through https://bainbridgeislandwa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7936/overview.
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