Events & Programs Funding Support

Visit Cook County, along with the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association, Gunflint Trail Association and Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association, offer grants and funding support for events and programs in Cook County through the destination's special 1% lodging tax. Cook County's special 1% lodging tax is in addition to the standard 3% lodging tax and was obtained through special legislation in 2008 and renewed in 2023. Commonly referred to as the “1% events tax,” its usage is more broad in scope to support the marketing and production of events and programming within Cook County. The goal of the 1% events tax is to assist organizations with producing events that drive economic impact, bring visitors to Cook County and improve the quality of life for residents.

Each year, the board members for our tourism associations meet to review events and program grant requests and make allocations utilizing the 1% lodging tax collected within their lodging tax district.