Borough announces bed tax grant applications open

The Mat Su Borough has opened the official nomination process for Tourism Infrastructure projects to community organizations.

Last year, the Borough used some of the bed tax funding to produce an infrastructure study.  The Borough gained a lot of insight to what infrastructure projects are needed and the entire study has been posted on the Borough website.

Linda Brenner, Borough Community Development Director, says that this year there are 3 categories of possible projects – trail grooming, trail surveying and other tourism infrastructure.  Organizations are encouraged to fit their project to one of those categories.  However, she encourages all organizations to apply so the Borough can see what the need is across the board.  There are approximately 67 thousand dollars worth of grants in trail grooming, 30 thousand in trail surveying and about 30 thousand in other types of tourism infrastructure.  She says that doesn’t mean there may not be a shifting of funds depending on how many applications are received.

The mission of the bed tax grant program is to construct tourism related infrastructure facilities that will attract visitors to spend more time and money in the Borough and enhance visitor experience.

Nominations that potentially attract visitors to the Mat Su Borough will receive higher scores.  Nominations with in kind labor and services, materials or matching funds will receive higher scores.  And nominations without a detailed itemized budget will not be evaluated.

As in the past, nominations should be supported by the local community council, chamber of commerce and other local organizations.

Brenner says the Borough encourages partnerships and organizations to obtain matching funds. All nomination applications are due by the end of June.