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Funding support for the Gunflint Mail Run, U.S. Forest Service Summer Naturalist programs, Radio Waves Music Festival and so much more will be considered in the coming weeks.
In 2008, an additional 1 percent lodging tax was established for all Cook County lodging tax districts to specifically fund local events and programs. This 1 percent lodging tax is in addition to the 3 percent lodging tax collected by 90 jurisdictions around Minnesota, including Cook County.
Right now, the Visit Cook County staff is preparing to meet with our three tourism associations (Grand Marais Area Tourism Association, Gunflint Trail Association and Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association) later this month to determine how to allocate that 1 percent tax revenue. Each association dictates how money is allocated out of the 1 percent lodging tax collected in their lodging district for every Visit Cook County fiscal year, which runs May 1 to April 30.
To prepare, we collect information from event producers and programs, evaluating past events and reviewing new requests. While Visit Cook County organizes this information and process, it is ultimately the board members of each association that make the final funding decisions.
Some events and programs may receive funding by one local tourism association, but many are supported by two or all three. Regardless, it’s money paid by visitors being put directly back into the county through events and programs like Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour, Lutsen 99er and Wet Your Paddle on the Gunflint Trail.
Many of the funding recipients are local nonprofits such as the Cook County Historical Society, Gunflint Historical Society & Chik- Wauk Museum and Nature Center, Grand Marais Art Colony and WTIP North Shore Community Radio — just to name a few.
Multiple factors are considered when deciding whether to provide funding support, including the time of year the event or program will take place. Funding is prioritized to support events and programs in non-peak time frames while still supporting some key flagship events and programs in the summer. With a unified effort to grow Cook County’s tourism shoulder and winter seasons, funding from the 1 percent lodging tax has contributed to a growth in April & May lodging tax by 93 percent and November by 39 percent from 2011-2019. This growth has allowed many businesses to expand hours throughout the year and retain employees longer.
As a part of this 1 percent funding determination, the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association (GMATA) sets aside money as a part of it’s Local Events Marketing Grant program, also known as GMATA Mini Grants. The maximum allocation for these Mini Grants is $1,000 and the program has previously supported Grand Marais events and programs such as the Cook County Curling Club, Grand Marais Playhouse, Pincushion Winter Festival Ski Race and so many more.
If you’re interested in applying for a GMATA Mini Grant, please contact me at nick@visitcookcounty.com or 218-387-2788, ext. 102, to receive an application. Applications are due February 15.
The events and programs supported by the 1 percent lodging tax are enjoyed by not just visitors, but also by locals. I can personally vouch for that as I was a visitor before becoming a Cook County resident in early 2021. And just like many of you reading right now, I enjoyed shopping at the Grand Marais Arts Festival and watching Fourth of July fireworks last year. It’s events and programs like these that help make Cook County such a unique place. They help instill a strong sense of community, add vibrancy and contribute to a high quality of life.
Talking Tourism is a regular feature offered by Visit Cook County. This week’s contributor is Nick Cusick, Events & Marketing Director for Visit Cook County at Visit Cook County.
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