Redmond staff secured $100,000 state grant to promote tourism ahead of 2026 World Cup

A $100,000 grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to support Redmond’s tourism promotion for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be placed on the City Council consent agenda Jan. 21, city staff said at the Committee for the Whole meeting on Jan. 7.

City Deputy Director Sarfie Allen told the council the award arrived late in 2024 and required a contract to be executed before year-end. Jackie Laylor of the city’s economic development and tourism program said the grant will fund staffing costs, marketing and public-relations efforts, and district event activations tied to World Cup activations.

The grant is ARPA-funded and carries a spending deadline; staff said the state’s contract requires expenditures by July 1, 2025. Laylor also said the city demonstrated a lodging-tax decline during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet eligibility criteria.

"This grant will help fund activities related to promoting tourism in preparation of the 2026 World Cup games," Jackie Laylor, economic development and tourism program staff, said.

Council member Nueva Camino asked whether the grant carried restrictions beyond the spending deadline; Laylor said the funding is limited to a state-approved list of eligible uses and that staffing, marketing and the listed event activations are allowable. Deputy Director Allen confirmed the award arrived at the end of 2024 and had a tight execution timeline.

Council President Kritzer asked for a thumbs-up to place the acceptance on the Jan. 21 consent agenda; the presiding officer reported seeing four thumbs, a majority of the council members present, and said the item will appear on the consent calendar.

The city staff said the item will return on the consent agenda on Jan. 21 for formal acceptance of the grant and execution of the state contract.