Washington Hospitality Grants

Uncommon Bridges* worked with the Washington State Department of Commerce and FORWARD to design an outreach campaign for the Washington Hospitality Grants Program to reach businesses across Washington State through direct outreach, partnerships with business organizations, email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, and radio.  Live public webinars announced the program, eligibility criteria, application process, and requirements for the funding set aside for lodging businesses. They also provided technical and application assistance. Presentations and train-the-trainer sessions with partner organizations provided tailored program training for those providing technical and application assistance to businesses. Program information was also disseminated through economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, industry associations, and local governments. Over 200,000 impressions led to businesses seeing or interacting with materials.

The outreach strategy was tailored to ensure businesses throughout the state and with diverse ownership were aware of the grant, especially in low-applicant counties, including Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Chelan, and Clark. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) organizations were targeted for additional outreach, and organizations received offers for in-person presentations in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. The information was provided in multiple languages and accompanied by a live interview in English and Spanish on Centro Cultural Mexicano. A specific marketing campaign was created for tribal-owned businesses.

IMPACT

• $79,002,616.03 awarded total
• 1,493 businesses supported
• $75,822,197.13 in hospitality awards
• $3,180,418.90 in funding was awarded from Lodging Carve-Out
• $52,986.95 average award
• Awards in 37 of 39 counties

*This work was performed as BDS Planning & Urban Design.