Council retains Visit Greater Grand Forks event-funding program after debate over ‘heads and beds’ criterion

The Grand Forks City Council on Tuesday debated whether to refocus its event-funding program toward events that produce hotel room nights, often called a "heads and beds" approach, but ultimately voted to keep the existing program and its administration by Visit Greater Grand Forks.

Council Member Lesoski moved to continue the program with Visit Greater Grand Forks administering event funding while "start[ing] focusing on night stays to help with our hotelmotel tax." Council President Sandy seconded that motion. The measure failed on a roll-call vote, 2–5. Vice President Weigel, Council Members Berg, Lunski, Bridal and Veen voted no; Council Member Kosowski and President Sandy voted yes. The clerk announced, "Motion fails. Our motion fails 2 to 5. Osovskiy and Sandy in affirmative." The council then moved a second motion to approve the event-funding program as presented; that motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Visit Greater Grand Forks' director, Julie Rigg, told the council the criteria she presented are specifically for the event-funding program under discussion and distinguished that program from enticement funds used for convention bidding. "The enticement funds relate more to heads and beds, because we're in bidding situations for conventions and tournaments," Rigg said. She cautioned that a strict heads-and-beds rule would disqualify many local events that draw regional visitors but not overnight stays, including established community events such as street fairs and arts festivals.

Council Member Lesoski argued the council should prioritize funding toward events that boost hotel occupancy to grow the hotelmotel tax revenue that helps sustain grants. "I would ultimately like them to follow the rules of the other funding programs that they manage. And I would like to focus on, I guess, heads and beds is what we're calling it now," Lesoski said.

Other council members said the current program helps smaller and emerging events that can grow over time and provides in-kind assistance beyond direct grants. Several members suggested the council revisit the funding criteria during the 2026 budget process; staff said applications for 2026 will likely open in June or July, which would allow time for Council policy changes before awards are made.

The council recorded the failed roll-call vote on the heads-and-beds motion and then approved the program as presented; staff and Rigg will continue to administer the event-funding program under Visit Greater Grand Forks and the city will consider any policy changes ahead of the 2026 application cycle.