Spokane Conservation District told the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee on Oct. 29 it seeks lodging‑tax marketing funds to promote the Scale House Market and a slate of seasonal festivals at its Quarry Campus in Spokane Valley.

Lisette Walzer, speaking for Spokane Conservation District, said the Scale House Market opened May 31 and offers an accessible, year‑round indoor/outdoor market, a commercial kitchen and rentable event spaces. The district requested $32,000 to cover design and placement of a minimum of six billboards positioned in and near Spokane Valley, and $5,000 for professional design and printed collateral aimed at promoting out‑of‑area attendance and encouraging hotel bookings. (Walzer said staff removed a separate $8,000 signage request when staff determined that portion was not eligible for LTAC funding.)

Walzer cited a 2022 feasibility study completed for the Washington State Department of Commerce and the market’s opening‑quarter operating metrics as the basis for its projections. The applicant estimated 250,000 visitors in 2026, including about 17,500 overnight visits and 75,000 out‑of‑town visitors tied to the proposed seasonal festivals; the application reported a projected overall economic impact of about $14.3 million and an estimated tax revenue generation of roughly $1.0 million. Walzer told members her team is working with Gonzaga University on search‑engine and origin tracking to refine estimates.

Committee members probed the methodology behind the room‑night projection and whether the market’s marketing campaign (local billboards, collateral and digital channels) would effectively reach visitors who stay in Spokane Valley hotels rather than downtown. Walzer said the projections combine the feasibility study, early sales and transaction data and ongoing SEO and partner‑tracking; she acknowledged additional data collection is planned to refine overnight‑stay estimates.

Why it matters: The Scale House Market is an early‑stage, market‑driven tourism asset that the district contends will support agri‑tourism, vendor sales and hotel demand if marketing and event programming scale as projected.

Provenance: Applicant presentation and Q&A at approximately 00:52:47–01:00:47 of the meeting transcript.

Taper: Staff will include the committee’s recommended ranking and any award amounts on the spreadsheet forwarded to City Council.