Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM Item No. 10b
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting January 27, 2026
DATE : January 15, 2026
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Nick Leonti, Director, Tourism Development
SUBJECT: Tourism Development – Tourism Marketing Support Program Authorization
Amount of this request: $600,000.00
Total estimated project cost: $600,000.00
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization of the 2026/27 Tourism Marketing Support grant program
(TMSP) and authority for the Executive Director to approve execution for all related contract
agreements for the 2026/27 selected Tourism Marketing Support Program recipients in an
amount not to exceed $600,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Port’s Tourism Development department continues to adapt to ensure that the tourism
industry is delivering benefit to the organization, the community, local businesses, and visitors.
Part of this effort is continuing the long-running Tourism Marketing Support Program (TMSP)
which provides grants to enable local partners to drive tourism in a responsible way.
Tourism is a powerful economic engine for Seattle and Washington State, one that supports small
businesses, sustains jobs, and reinforces our region’s identity as a welcoming, culturally rich, and
environmentally responsible destination. The Port plays a unique and irreplaceable role in this
ecosystem. Through our global marketing presence, destination stewardship initiatives, and
strategic investments in community-centered tourism, the Port ensures that visitor spending
translates into broad, equitable, and sustainable benefits for residents across the region.
As we prepare for the next round of the Tourism Marketing Support Program (TMSP) grants, we
are requesting authorization of $600,000 to continue delivering measurable, community-focused
outcomes and advancing the Port’s economic, environmental, and equity goals.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: January 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
JUSTIFICATION
The TMSP grant program is a key to including local partners in our larger scope of tourism
development work focused on advancing Commissioner Hasegawa’s goal of rewriting the map
for equitable tourism. Through the Port’s leadership, local partners can be involved in regular
contact with travel producers, travel media outreach and hosting, destination trainings,
responsible tourism efforts and more.
Tourism marketing is destination stewardship in action and the projects supported by the TMSP
help drive visitors when and where they are needed most. This includes smaller, lesser-resourced
communities, destinations and attractions that support the livelihood of the region’s local
residents.
Diversity in Contracting
The opportunity to apply will be directly shared with diverse non-profit organizations and all
applications are evaluated for their impact on promoting equitable, inclusive tourism. The second
tier of grants which allow for more staff time to be included in the match funds was specifically
designed with smaller, culturally-based organizations in mind.
DETAILS
Scope of Work
Work will include but not limited to:
(1) Announcement of program guidelines, application window dates, application process
and materials, and eligibility and scoring criteria.
(2) Outreach and promotion of the grant program, including virtual information sessions
and email communications.
(3) Coordination of the application review and evaluation process, including convening an
evaluation panel and scoring applications based on established criteria.
(4) Execution and management of grant agreements with selected recipients, including
contract compliance and payment processing.
(5) Monitoring of funded projects through progress check-ins, review of final reports, and
documentation of project outcomes.
(6) Grant cycle closeout activities, including final report review, approval, and
disbursement of funds.
Schedule
February 2026 – Application window opens
Feb/March 2026 – Informational sessions held
March 2026 – Application window closes
March 2026 – Port of Seattle Evaluation panel meets/Recipients selected
April 2026 – Contracts in place and projects begin
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: January 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
October 2026 – February 2027 – Recipient check-ins, support and progress updates
December 2027 – Final Reports Due and funds disbursed (some may be due earlier)
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Do not offer the Tourism Marketing Support Program for 2026/27.
Cost Implications: $0.
Pros:
(1) Reduces specific budget request by $600,000 for 2026/27.
Cons:
(1) Eliminating the program would impact small tourism organizations and industry
partners that rely on this funding to support their projects due to limited resources for
marketing to out-of-state visitors.
(2) Eliminating the program would decrease positive impact of visitor-spending to lesser-
known and lesser-visited neighborhoods, destinations and attractions throughout the
region.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Offer and authorize funding for the Tourism Marketing Support Program for
2026/27.
Cost Implications: $600,000 over two years
Pros:
(1) The TMSP program assists and demonstrates the Port of Seattle’s intention to work with
a diverse range of organizations and industry partners.
(2) Because the TMSP program requires a two-to-one matching contribution, the $600,000
positively impacts tourism and visitor marketing throughout Washington State with a
minimum of $900,000 in total marketing promotional efforts. In previous years the
actual match fund levels exceeded the two-to-one match requirement.
(3) This program will advance the Port’s destination stewardship efforts by prioritizing
projects that embrace responsible tourism principles that drive visitor spending when
and where it is needed most.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary Capital Expense Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate $0 $600,000 $600,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: January 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations 0 0 0
Current request for authorization 0 600,000 600,000
Total authorizations, including this request 0 600,000 600,000
Remaining amount to be authorized $0 $0 $0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Funding for the 2026/27 Tourism Marketing Support Program is included in the approved
operating budget.
TMSP will be funded from the tax levy.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis $600,000
Business Unit (BU) Economic Development Division, Tourism Development
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
Supports increased tourism-related economic activity
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
CPE Impact
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
TMSP does not generate direct Port of Seattle revenues. However, the program leverages a
required 2:1 match from grant recipients. This results in a minimum of $900,000 in additional
tourism marketing expenditures statewide. There are no ongoing capital costs or long-term
operating expenses beyond the authorized 2026/27 grant cycle.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Attachment: List of TMSP- supported projects from previous grant cycle
(2) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
February 13, 2024 – Commission approved $600,000 for 2024/25 Tourism Marketing Support
Program
January 24, 2023 – Commission approved $200,000 for all contract agreements for the 2023
Tourism Marketing Support Program
December 15, 2020 – Commissioners authorized the Executive Director to approve execution
of all contract agreements for the 2021 Tourism Marketing Support Program
December 10, 2019 - Commissioners authorized the Executive Director to execute contract
agreements for the 2020 Tourism Marketing Support Program in the not-to-exceed
amount of $200,000
