Lombard organizations that want grant money to host festivals, conventions or visitor-drawing events have until Friday, Dec. 11, to apply for the village's 2027 Local Tourism Grant Program.

The village announced the application period on Thursday, Sept. 10. The grants are funded entirely by Lombard's hotel/motel sales tax, not general fund tax revenue. That tax is collected on overnight stays at Lombard hotels, and the village says spending is restricted to promoting tourism and encouraging overnight visits.

To qualify, an organization must propose a clearly defined festival, program or convention that attracts tourists and generates overnight hotel stays in Lombard. The village also encourages applicants to use Lombard-based vendors for event goods and services.

First-time applicants must attend a mandatory grant-seekers workshop before submitting.

The village has not posted specific workshop dates. Organizations can contact Deputy Village Manager John Schwarz at [email protected] to schedule one.

The program is overseen by the Community Promotion and Tourism Committee, chaired by Trustee Patrick Egan. The committee includes representatives from the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Yorktown Merchants' Association, the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and general managers of Lombard hotels. Trustee Bernie Dudek serves as alternate chair.

"The 2027 Local Tourism Grant Program is an opportunity for organizations to bring new ideas, events and visitors to Lombard," Egan said in the announcement. "… We look forward to seeing the ideas our local organizations bring forward for the coming year."

The grant program has funded local projects before. The Lombard Historical Society used a tourism grant and tech partner Pigeon Tech to fund its Historic Downtown Lombard app, which launched in April.

Application forms and eligibility details are available on the village's grants page. The committee meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.