Ocean Shores LTAC reviews grant applications, schedules interviews with major applicants

Members of Ocean Shores’ Lodging Tax Advisory Committee reviewed grant applications for 2026 on Oct. 9 and identified a subset of applicants to invite back for interviews or to provide additional reporting before final awards.

The committee discussed roughly two dozen applications spanning convention-center operations, festivals, cultural programs and marketing. After initial review, members agreed to invite several applicants back for follow-up interviews or reports: the Coastal Interpretive Center (CIC), the convention-center operations request (Public Facilities District), the North Beach Artist Guild (Gallery of Ocean Shores/ARC), North Beach Independent Media / North Beach TV, the Ocean Shores Hospitality Collaborative (workforce/hospitality training), and the Ocean Shores Marketing Coalition. Chair Carol Prowse confirmed the list near the meeting’s end.

Committee members flagged applications that raised questions or required further documentation. The Coastal Interpretive Center’s $98,921 request drew scrutiny because the application included operating and facility costs that some members said resembled routine business expenses rather than tourism marketing. "Much of their request is for the cost of doing business, not for bringing people into town," said Shannon, a committee member.

Other applications discussed and their amounts included a Beachcombers Expo request (about $8,500), a Grey's Harbor Ducks Athletics golf tournament ($10,000), an Ocean Shores Master Gardeners tour and plant sale (application asked $4,500; estimated hotel room nights cited), an Edge Shores demonstration garden (a $30,000 capital-phased request), an arts/workshop series from the Gallery of Ocean Shores ($12,500), North Beach TV’s request to expand streaming and platform distribution (about $20,000), a New Year’s Eve event proposal (previously funded; current ask larger than prior year’s $10,000 award), and a corgi beach party ($5,050).

The committee signaled that straightforward, long-running events with clear hotel-booking tracking and modest requests might not need to return for interviews; by contrast, large or capital-intensive requests and applicants with reporting gaps were asked to provide additional information or to appear in person. "We need a list of who has been funded previously, what their funding amount was, and their reporting," Sarah, finance director, said. The committee resolved to collect prior reports and applicant summaries and to ask applicants back as needed.

Several members also noted shifting LTAC administration to a reimbursement model; applicants and staff will need to work out reimbursement details with the finance department. The committee directed staff to collate evaluation scores submitted by members before the next meeting and to prepare interview schedules for the shortlisted applicants.