The Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau has set an application deadline of April 1 for the group’s second round of 2017 Tourism Enhancement Grants.

This year, $45,000 in total grant funding is available for qualified projects focused on tourism promotion with $27,800 remaining after the first round of applications.

Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.olympicpeninsula.org/page/tourism-grants. Call OPVB Executive Director Marsha Massey for more information at 452-8552.

Future grant applications must be submitted for consideration by the bureau’s board at its monthly meetings (as long as funds are available) by the first day of the month prior to the scheduled review meetings in September and November. Funds for this grant program are derived from revenue generated by the hotel/motel tax on lodging facilities in unincorporated Clallam County. Lodging tax revenue is designated for the promotion of tourism to encourage long-term economic growth through tourism-related projects or events that attract overnight guests to the destination.

The Big Hurt, GOAT Run, Olympic Birdfest, Tour de Lavender, NW Colonial Festival and the North Olympic Discovery Marathon were all awarded grants in February. The Clallam Bay/Sekiu Chamber was assisted in printing marketing materials targeted to bring visitors from off the Olympic Peninsula.

In 2016, 15 grants were awarded, supporting tourism collateral production, promotion of area festivals and events, and website development.

“Tourism to the Olympic Peninsula, including Clallam County, continues to grow,” Massey said. “Tourism provides a viable contribution to a healthy local economy, supporting revenue, tax generation and jobs.”

“Our focus is on supporting further tourism development for the spring and fall, and we are eager to work with stakeholders to create greater opportunities to promote Clallam County and the Olympic Peninsula in these time periods.”