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2026 Tourism Tax Application

A FUNDING Opportunity to Strengthen Duluth’s Tourism Economy

The Tourism Tax Program is designed to strengthen Duluth’s tourism economy by supporting projects, events, and organizations that attract visitors to our city and inspire spending within our community. This is a direct investment in the vitality of Duluth!

Application Details & Deadline

The application period for the FY 2026 funding period is now open:

Application Opens: Monday, October 20, 2025
Application Closes: Monday, November 10, 2025 at 5:00pm CT
Awards Announced: November 2025

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this program and partner with Visit Duluth in driving economic growth, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Organization Status: Must be a legally recognized organization (or have a fiscal sponsor).
Activity Location: Must conduct activities exclusively within the City of Duluth.
Mission Alignment: Projects must actively strengthen the Duluth tourism economy by attracting out-of-area visitors.
Reporting: Must track and report visitor origins and demographics, and be in good standing with prior reporting requirements.

Questions? Contact Our Team

If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, please reach out to Haley Hedstrom, Visit Duluth Executive Director, at hhedstrom@visitduluth.com.

Begin Your Funding Application

Ready to invest in Duluth’s tourism economy? Use the secure online form below to submit your application. This is your chance to partner with Visit Duluth and drive economic impact by attracting new visitors to our city.

Business or Organization(Required)

Application Contact Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

What is your mission statement?(Required)

What is your tourism tax request for 2026? How will these funds be used to increase visitation from 50+ miles away and grow Duluth’s local tax base?(Required)

What is your total organization budget?(Required)

Use a monetary value (ie: $100).

Please upload your budget for 2026.(Required)

Max. file size: 64 MB.

What other revenue sources, besides tourism tax funding, contribute to your organization’s overall budget?(Required)

How many total visitors did you have in the last 12 months?(Required)

How many tourists from 50+ miles outside of Duluth did you have in the last 12 months?(Required)

How many total visitors do you anticipate in 2026?(Required)

How many tourists from 50+ miles outside of Duluth do you anticipate in 2026?(Required)

What methods or tools do you use to measure your visitors?

How do you track where your visitors come from and what demographics you serve?(Required)

How does your organization collaborate with other Duluth tourism partners (hotels, attractions, events, marketing efforts) to maximize visitor impact?(Required)

Do you agree to submit all required reports (quarterly financial documents and final report) within 60 days of event or year end?(Required)

Yes

Please list the past five years of Tourism Tax allocation your organization requested, and amount received (if applicable, list N/A if not).(Required)

Does your organization receive any other financial contributions from the City of Duluth? If yes, please explain.(Required)

What else would you like to share about your organization’s tourism activities, impact, or funding needs?

Connect with Our Experts & Resources

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