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Spokane Valley creates Tourism Promotion Area "Opportunity Fund" to attract events
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 26-006 to authorize a Tourism Promotion Area Opportunity Fund that lets the TPA Commission make awards to recruit events; councilmembers called it a tool to boost competitiveness for larger events and the ordinance passed unanimously on second reading.
The Spokane Valley City Council voted unanimously May 5, 2026, to adopt Ordinance 26-006, which authorizes amendments to chapter 3.21 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code to establish a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Opportunity Fund.
City attorney Kelly Concrete and Community and Economic Development Director Mike Basinger presented the second reading. Concrete said the fund will allow the TPA Commission to make awards or recommendations for grants to incentivize events to locate within Spokane Valley, enabling the city to act nimbly when opportunities arise. Basinger described the change as a way to better position the city to generate tourism activity and related economic benefits.
Council members expressed support for the fund’s potential to secure larger events for the area. After brief discussion, the motion to adopt the ordinance was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.
Staff noted no substantive changes had been made since the prior presentation and offered to answer questions about implementation. Council did not identify additional allocation details during the meeting; those will be determined through TPA Commission guidelines and subsequent budget actions.
