Lakewood advisory committee recommends $3.154 million in lodging-tax awards, including $2 million for H Barn renovation

The Lakewood Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommended a package of awards totaling $3,154,000 to the City Council on Sept. 5, 2025, including $1,154,000 in operating and programming grants to 17 organizations and a $2 million capital recommendation to support renovation of the H Barn at Fort Steilacoom Park.

The committee convened with a quorum and heard presentations from nonprofit applicants and city staff throughout the morning and early afternoon before moving to deliberations. After discussion, committee members moved and seconded a recommendation that the council approve the funding package; the committee chair called for a voice vote and the motion carried with “aye” recorded and the recommendation forwarded to council for final action.

Why it matters: the lodging-tax (hotel-motel) fund is designated for tourism promotion and related facility projects that attract overnight stays; the committee’s recommendations will shape local cultural programming, festivals and capital work that city staff say aim to increase hotel room nights and economic activity in Lakewood.

What the committee recommended

Votes at a glance (committee recommendation to City Council): - City of Lakewood — Summerfest, Nearcation marketing, pavilion concerts, farmer’s market, street festival, Fiesta de Familia, MLK/Beloved Community and related event marketing and operations: recommendation subtotal $1,154,000 (see itemized breakdown below). - Capital: City of Lakewood — H Barn renovation (Fort Steilacoom Park): recommended $2,000,000 (capital ask; committee recommended sending $2,000,000 to council for capital funding consideration).

Itemized operating recommendations the committee voted to forward (recommendations, not final council appropriations): - Grave Concerns Association — $12,000 - Historic Fort Steilacoom Association — $10,000 - Asia Pacific Cultural Center — $15,000 - Visit Tacoma Pierce County (county DMO activity) — $125,000 - Lakewood Gardens — $190,000 - Lakewood Chamber (destination marketing) — $132,000 - Lakewood Historical Society / Museum — $38,000 - Lakewood Playhouse — $110,000 - Lakewood Sister Cities Association (association programming) — $42,000 - City of Lakewood Marketing (Nearcation/Summerfest promotion) — $70,000 - City of Lakewood Sister Cities (delegation visits / 30th anniversary planning) — $50,000 - City of Lakewood — Summerfest (event operations/marketing) — $210,000 - City of Lakewood — Farmer’s Market — $75,000 - City of Lakewood — Pavilion concert series — $30,000 - City of Lakewood — Street Festival — $7,000 - City of Lakewood — Fiesta de Familia — $25,000 - City of Lakewood — MLK / Beloved Community programming — $15,000

Committee action and next steps: The committee recorded the voice vote endorsing the award recommendations and will forward the recommendation package to the City Council for a final funding decision and any possible changes to amounts or conditions. The City Council has final authority over appropriations and capital financing; committee staff noted remaining capital funding options will be considered as part of the council discussion on the H Barn project.

Attributions: Quotes and presentation summaries in this package were drawn from presentations by city staff and applicants at the Sept. 5, 2025 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting. The committee’s recommendation was passed by voice vote during the meeting and recorded in the meeting minutes.