City taking applications for tourism grants

The city of Wimberley is taking applications from individuals, groups and organizations for grants from its Hotel Occupancy Tax fund.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, Jan. 31. According to Wimberley Tourism Director Leanne Kirby, applications must show how the funds will be used to directly enhance and promote overnight tourism and the lodging industry.

“We’re looking forward to supporting local events that attract overnight visitors to our town,” Kirby said. “It’s a plus that our community gets to enjoy these events, too.”

Wimberley began collecting a seven-percent HOT from lodging owners within the city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction this past spring. In addition to allocating the grant funds for promotions, the HOT has been used to fund a tourism director, design and instal- lation of wayfinding signage, development of a dedicated website, promotional materials and advertising in travel-related publications.

In March, the applications will be reviewed by the city’s HOT Advisory Committee, which will then make recommendations for funding to the Wimberley City Council in April. Contracts and funding are scheduled for May.

"This is the first year Wimberley is collecting and disbursing HOT funds,” Kirby noted. “We will be assessing the process along the way to make any necessary adjustments.”

Application forms are available online at cityofwimberley.com.

Municipal hotel occupancy taxes are primarily governed by the Texas Tax Code. There is a two-part test for every expenditure of local HOT: every expenditure must directly enhance and promote overnight tourism and the convention and hotel industry and every expenditure must clearly fit into one of nine categories.

More information is included on the HOT Fund Application or by calling the city’s tourism director at (281) 622-7351.