Grant County allocates over $998K in 2027 tourism funds
"Hotel-motel" monies intended to promote visits, overnight stays.
Updated
Crowds pass along exhibit barns during the annual Grant County Fair in August, a popular weeklong attraction that lures thousands of visitors to the fairgrounds near Moses Lake. The event is among the recipients for promotional funding again next year. Photos by Randy Bracht
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners last week approved grant funding totaling $998,906 to 23 recipients for promotion of local tourism-related campaigns, activities and events in 2027.
Members of the county’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met Wednesday, Oct. 28 to review applications. The LTAC makes recommendations to county commissioners on the distribution of so-called “hotel-motel” funds to qualified applicants for promotions that bring visitors to the county and result in overnight stays — putting "heads in beds."
Revenue for the grants is collected through a state-levied occupancy tax on local hotels, motels, and campgrounds. The monies must be used within provisions of state law, which include specific reporting requirements by recipients.
Commissioners Kevin Burgess, Cindy Carter and Rob Jones approved allocations next year for the following organizations, events, and amounts:
— Best of Barrels Only LLC: Team Challenge/Your Barrel Connection ($5,000); Spring Warm Up ($5,000); Sand Cup Futurity ($12,000); Producers Gone Wild ($8,000).
— Central Basin Community Concert Association: Tap Into Soul ($1,500); Americana Women ($1,500); two events to be determined ($1,500 each).
— Columbia Basin Allied Arts: Arts Quest ($2,000); UMANI Festival ($5,000); Shayne Smith Comedy ($1,750); Premier Series Fall Performance ($1,750); Ballet Fantastique's "Nevermore" ($1,750).
— Columbia Basin Rodeo Association: Moses Lake Roundup and Demolition Derby, $40,000.
— Coulee City Rodeo Association: PRCA Last Stand Rodeo, $12,000.
— Day at the Lake: Youth Spring Bass Classic, $5,000.
— Ephrata Chamber of Commerce: Sage-N-Sun Festival, $10,000.
— Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee: Soap Lake Arts & Music Experience, $9,000.
— Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce: Festival of America ($10,000); Colorama Festival ($10,000).
— Grant County Fairgrounds: Grant County Fair ($75,000); 90s Flannelfest ($15,000).
— Greater Crescent Bar Association: GCBA Summer River Bash, $4,000.
— Masquers Theater of Soap Lake: fall musical “Anastasia” ($8,000); winter holiday show “A Snow White Christmas” ($3,000); “Peter & the Starcatcher” ($5,000); “The Importance of Being Earnest” ($3,000); “The Foreigner” ($3,000).
— Moses Lake Air Show: $33,000.
— Moses Lake Spring Festival: $50,000.
— Othello Sandhill Crane Festival: $11,000.
— Reel Recreation: Triple Fish Challenge, $7,500.
— Ridge Rider SaddleClub: Colorama Pro Rodeo ($18,000); Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Event ($4,000); Ridge Rider Junior Rodeo ($3,000).
— Sun Lakes Park Resort: Family Fun Day Carnival ($10,000); Decades of Distinction Car Show ($8,000); Fall Festival ($12,000); Cinco de Mayo Festival ($6,000).
— Organization funding: Columbia Basin Conservation District ($7,800); Ephrata Chamber of Commerce ($20,000); Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce ($20,000); Grant County Historical Museum ($12,800); Grant County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee ($194,856); Grant County Tourism Advisory Committee ($271,450); Greater Crescent Bar Association ($5,000), Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce ($20,000).
Waiting for the curtain to rise: patrons returned to their seats following intermission of the popular fall musical, "Anastasia," which debuted last month at the Masquers Theater in Soap Lake. The Masquers received a total of $22,000 in tourism funding from Grant County for promotion of five shows during their 2026-27 performance season.
Note: this article was updated at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2026 to include $12,250 in funding to Columbia Basin Allied Arts.
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Grant County allocates over $998K in 2027 tourism funds
"Hotel-motel" monies intended to promote visits, overnight stays.
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners last week approved grant funding totaling $998,906 to 23 recipients for promotion of local tourism-related campaigns, activities and events in 2027.
Members of the county’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met Wednesday, Oct. 28 to review applications. The LTAC makes recommendations to county commissioners on the distribution of so-called “hotel-motel” funds to qualified applicants for promotions that bring visitors to the county and result in overnight stays — putting "heads in beds."
Revenue for the grants is collected through a state-levied occupancy tax on local hotels, motels, and campgrounds. The monies must be used within provisions of state law, which include specific reporting requirements by recipients.
Commissioners Kevin Burgess, Cindy Carter and Rob Jones approved allocations next year for the following organizations, events, and amounts:
— Best of Barrels Only LLC: Team Challenge/Your Barrel Connection ($5,000); Spring Warm Up ($5,000); Sand Cup Futurity ($12,000); Producers Gone Wild ($8,000).
— Central Basin Community Concert Association: Tap Into Soul ($1,500); Americana Women ($1,500); two events to be determined ($1,500 each).
— Columbia Basin Allied Arts: Arts Quest ($2,000); UMANI Festival ($5,000); Shayne Smith Comedy ($1,750); Premier Series Fall Performance ($1,750); Ballet Fantastique's "Nevermore" ($1,750).
— Columbia Basin Rodeo Association: Moses Lake Roundup and Demolition Derby, $40,000.
— Coulee City Rodeo Association: PRCA Last Stand Rodeo, $12,000.
— Day at the Lake: Youth Spring Bass Classic, $5,000.
— Ephrata Chamber of Commerce: Sage-N-Sun Festival, $10,000.
— Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee: Soap Lake Arts & Music Experience, $9,000.
— Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce: Festival of America ($10,000); Colorama Festival ($10,000).
— Grant County Fairgrounds: Grant County Fair ($75,000); 90s Flannelfest ($15,000).
— Greater Crescent Bar Association: GCBA Summer River Bash, $4,000.
— Masquers Theater of Soap Lake: fall musical “Anastasia” ($8,000); winter holiday show “A Snow White Christmas” ($3,000); “Peter & the Starcatcher” ($5,000); “The Importance of Being Earnest” ($3,000); “The Foreigner” ($3,000).
— Moses Lake Air Show: $33,000.
— Moses Lake Spring Festival: $50,000.
— Othello Sandhill Crane Festival: $11,000.
— Reel Recreation: Triple Fish Challenge, $7,500.
— Ridge Rider Saddle Club: Colorama Pro Rodeo ($18,000); Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Event ($4,000); Ridge Rider Junior Rodeo ($3,000).
— Royal City Summerfest: $8,500.
— Sand Scorpions ORV Group: Bounty Hole & Freestyle Mud Trucks, $15,000.
— Sun Lakes Park Resort: Family Fun Day Carnival ($10,000); Decades of Distinction Car Show ($8,000); Fall Festival ($12,000); Cinco de Mayo Festival ($6,000).
— Organization funding: Columbia Basin Conservation District ($7,800); Ephrata Chamber of Commerce ($20,000); Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce ($20,000); Grant County Historical Museum ($12,800); Grant County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee ($194,856); Grant County Tourism Advisory Committee ($271,450); Greater Crescent Bar Association ($5,000), Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce ($20,000).
Note: this article was updated at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2026 to include $12,250 in funding to Columbia Basin Allied Arts.