$129K In Grants Boost Healdsburg 4th Of July Fireworks, More Events

Press release from the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District:

HEALDSBURG, CA — The Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District, a benefit assessment district designed to boost sustainable tourism, in May announced $129,750 in grants to 15 local organizations that help support various annual festivals, community holidays and children’s programs in Healdsburg.

The semi-annual grant program is derived from the local hospitality industry’s annual bed tax receipts. The contributions aim to fund arts, cultural and educational activities and subsequently promote room stays among the 31-member lodging properties within the city limits.

The grants will support upcoming events and organizations including:

• Community-favorite, Fourth of July Parade and Duck Dash in the Healdsburg Plaza hosted by Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise for its eighth year
• American Legion Healdsburg 4th of July Fireworks, which will return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Tuesdays in the Plaza Concert Series for the community to gather together while enjoying exceptional bands all summer long
• Family-friendly Dia De Los Muertos event hosted by Corazon Healdsburg to celebrate the traditions of the Mexican Holiday
• Healdsburg Jazz Festival, a celebration of jazz, music, the arts, and the best of Sonoma County and beyond
• The Healdsburg Center for the Arts’ 2022 Arts Festival bringing together artists from around the world
• The acclaimed Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience gathering celebrity chefs for an ultimate epicurean three-day celebration
• The Alexander Valley Film Festival will offer more than 100 screenings at The Clover Theater, Orsi Family Vineyards and Healdsburg Community Center

“We are proud to contribute to each of these local organizations and help support the recovery of tourism in Healdsburg after the pandemic and bring the community together this season,” said Circe Sher, member of the HTID and co-founder of Piazza Hospitality. “While the tourism and hospitality industries were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, we have not let those challenges stop us from welcoming visitors to Healdsburg. These grants allow our town to not only put on events that residents look forward to each year but also showcase our county and attract new visitors by enriching the destination with locally driven cultural experiences.”

Adopted in 2013, the HTID gives 22.5 percent of its funds to the District Development Grant Program. All lodging properties within the city limits pay a 2-percent assessment, which funds HTID’s activities promoting tourism to Healdsburg. The grant recipients are processed by a Destination Development Advisory Subcommittee including HTID Member Circe Sher and Healdsburg City Council Member Evelyn Mitchell, who provide grant recommendations to the HTID Committee for endorsement. Grant applications for the coming year will open in the fall and be available at www.healdsburg.com/htid.

This press release was produced by the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District. The views expressed here are the author's own.