McCall Chamber wins $500,000 state lodging-tax grant for destination marketing

At the council meeting, Sheila Francis, executive director of the McCall Chamber of Commerce, reported the chamber received a $500,000 grant from the Idaho Bridal Council funded by the state lodging (hotel) tax to support destination marketing and subgrantee activities for the coming year.

Francis told council the grant is distributed on a "heads and beds" basis, meaning it must be used for visitor marketing and related tourism efforts rather than chamber membership operations. She said the chamber will pass a portion of the funds to subgrantees and event organizers and highlighted ongoing outreach and tourism-management work, including the art walk, pathways map and a planned bike parade and business block party in September.

Councilors praised the chamber's work and asked a few clarifying questions. Francis said the grant is a one-year award that runs from Aug. 1 through the following July and that the chamber will continue to promote destination-management messaging, such as the "McCall Promise" (leave no trace and appropriate visitor behavior) as part of the funded marketing.

What the report means: The grant provides a substantial, one-year infusion of lodging-tax-supported marketing funds to help promote McCall and fund events; the chamber said the structure ensures tourism promotion is paid for by visitors through lodging taxes rather than membership funds.