Hotel and Motel Tax Fund Request for Support

The City of Morris receives a percent of the tax paid on hotel and motel stays in the city limits. A portion of that tax is reinvested in the community through grants supporting events and initiatives generating overnight hotel stays. Not-for-profit, charitable, cultural, and educational organizations are invited to apply. As events and initiatives successfully attract out-of-area visitors to stay in Morris hotels and motels, funding will continue to be made available for this purpose.

Priority is given to organizations/events with a track record of:

1. Drawing nonresidents to stay in Morris hotels (the source of available funding)
2. Attracting positive media coverage to promote Morris as a destination
3. Yielding a benefit back to the local economy greater than the resources invested
4. Acquiring multiple sources of support, rather than relying on the City of Morris as its primary revenue source.

The application period opened February 12th and will close at the end of business on Friday, March 14th. Grant applications will be evaluated by City staff and the Finance Committee. Morris City Council will make final approvals after the start of the new fiscal year May 1, 2025.

If you are a first-time applicant or have questions, please contact Julie Wilkinson, Business Development Director, at [email protected] or (815) 941-3685 before applying.