2027 Tourism Tax Application

Help us bring more visitors to duluth!

Tourism tax funding supports marketing projects, events, and organizations that bring visitors to Duluth and get them spending in our community. These dollars come from Duluth’s lodging and food and beverage taxes. Visit Duluth administers the discretionary allocations for FY 2027, on behalf of the City of Duluth.

Our focus is to invest in the work that draws visitors from 50+ miles away and grows Duluth’s visitor economy.

Application opens: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Application closes: Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CT
Review and board approval: December 2026
Awards announced: Late December 2026
Funding period: January 1 through December 31, 2027

Eligibility Requirements

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

Be a registered 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor
Conduct activities within the City of Duluth
Attract out-of-area visitors and grow tourism spending in Duluth
Track and report visitor origins and demographics
Be in good standing on all prior Tourism Tax reporting requirements

Examples of what funding can support:

· Marketing and advertising aimed at audiences 50+ miles away
· Event promotion
· Rack cards, brochures, promotional materials
· Bid fees to bring events to Duluth

how applications are reviewed

A review committee scores every application using the same rubric. The Visit Duluth Board of Directors approves final awards.

1. Pre-screening (pass/fail): The application was on time, past funds were used as intended, and prior reports were submitted on time.
2. Visitor impact (40%): Visitor numbers, especially visitors from 50+ miles away, and the cost per additional visitor.
3. Organization (20%): Mission fit, partnerships, visitor tracking, diversified revenue, and added community benefit.
4. Need (20%): Existing City support, alignment with tourism tax intent, and your role in drawing visitors to Duluth.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

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.

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