Hotel/Motel Tax Funds Committee

100% of the revenue derived from the Hotel/Motel Tax shall be expended for the promotion and maintenance of tourism. All requests for funding shall be submitted to the Hotel/Motel Tax Committee. Any request for funding shall be on forms approved by the Committee and shall be reviewed by the Committee to ensure the funding requests meet the requirements established as authorized by Chapter 423A of the Code of Iowa. 

Eligible applicants include any individual, agency, group, business or non-profit organization whose project has a beneficial impact on the promotion of tourism in Shelby County. The Committee encourages creative projects that enhance the lives of the residents of Shelby County and promotes tourism in its communities.

The Hotel/Motel Tax Committee meets four (4) times per year - the second Tuesday of January, the second Tuesday of April, the second Tuesday of July and the second Tuesday of October. Meetings are held at 9 am in the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry Conference Room 1901 Hawkeye Avenue, Harlan IA 51537. 

Applications for funds are due on the last working day of the month prior to the meeting by 5 pm. Forms should be submitted to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, 1901 Hawkeye Avenue, Suite 101, Harlan IA 51537 or emailed to info@exploreshelbycounty.com. If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 712-755-2114.

REQUIREMENTS:

THE HOTEL MOTEL LOGO MUST BE ON ALL ADVERTISING MEDIA (Contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry office for the Hotel/Motel Logo, 712-755-2114 or info@exploreshelbycounty.com).

A DETAILED BUDGET OF HOW AND WHERE THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT (ADVERTISING ONLY!)

ADVERTISING/EVENTS OCCURRING PRIOR OR ON THE DATE OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING ARE INELIGIABLE FOR POST-MEETING APPROVAL.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS / PROJECTS and EVENTS:

Eligible applicants include any individual, agency, group or non-profit organization whose project has a beneficial impact on the promotion of tourism in Shelby County. The Committee encourages creative projects that enhance the lives of the residents of Shelby County and promotes tourism in its communities. This program supports projects that:

•  Project/Event promotes Shelby County and its communities as a place to live, work, and visit.
• Project/Event promotes Shelby County and its communities as a destination.
• Project/Event encourages overnight stays in the County’s hotels and motels and thus generating additional Hotel/Motel Tax.
• Project/Event promotes activities that will generate new and repeat visitors, thereby creating a positive economic impact for Shelby County and its communities.
• Project/Event shall be located within Shelby County.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Grant funds are to be used to attract tourists and individuals outside of the area to Shelby County. Advertising and promotion of events and attractions are the primary anticipated use of the funds. Styles of promotion that can be used:

• Newspaper Advertising
• Radio Advertising
• Brochures
• Flyers
• Costs for a booth at a convention/conference / trade show / county fair (booth registration cost only)
• Social media boosts to specific audiences
• Signage (reusable and, or wayfinding)
• Mailers
• Video creation for advertising and promotion

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Application must be complete and include all information requested on the form.
• All completed applications must be legible and on the approved form.
• Grant award will be to the applicant, not various vendors, unless specified in advance.
• Grant preparation time and other administrative fees will not be eligible.
• The Committee may require a presentation on the proposed project.
• The Committee requires that “Paid” invoices be submitted upon completion of the project before the check for the grant is written.
• Proposed project must be completed within one year of application, or a new application will be required to be submitted to the Committee.
• The Committee may require examples/drafts of proposed printed matter and/or advertisements.
• The Committee will require that all printed matter or advertisements have a prominent notation that it was paid in full or in part by Hotel/Motel Tax Grants.
• Grant funds shall not reimburse for sales tax, office supplies, or insurance of any kind.
• The Committee will require that an After-Action Report be completed for all events on the form provided by the Committee.
• Grant awards shall be limited to a maximum of $8,000 per year per organization and dependent on available funding.

Once a grant has been approved and all requirements have been met, with all receipts and final report, funds will be released upon committee approval at the next quarterly meeting.