CITY EVENT SERVICES PROGRAM

EVENT DESIGNATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to receive non-monetary support (personnel, equipment, or services), events must first be designated as either a Citywide Event or a City of Tacoma Sponsored Event through the special events grant funding application process.

Events must apply for a City of Tacoma Special Events Grant, meet all eligibility requirements, and receive a minimum of 60% of the overall available points (as scored by the CERC), including no less than 50% of the available points in each category. The events must also meet the following guidelines:

  • The event provides a benefit to the public or stimulates economic or cultural activity

  • A majority of the event is free to the public without admission or participation fee

  • The provision of City services will result in improved crowd control and public safety

  • The event meets the City’s Green Event Participation Criteria

  • The event would not typically be defined as an athletic, commercial, or free-speech event

All events must also submit a complete Special Event Permit Application including a professionally drafted comprehensive traffic control plan, if required, no less than 90 days prior to the event.

Individual event producers may have up to two events designated as Citywide Event and/or City of Tacoma Sponsored Event per year.

CITYWIDE EVENT DESIGNATION

Events meeting the eligibility requirements may be considered for Citywide Event designation based on the following criteria:

  • The event is conducted by a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates from or provides services within Tacoma

  • The event is expected to draw a significant citywide and/or regional crowd

  • The event has one or more of the following characteristics

    • The event is expected to draw attendance of more than 10,000 spectators

    • The event utilizes no less than seven (7) city blocks

    • The event is a celebration of a local, regional, or federal holiday

Based on their significant impact to the City of Tacoma, the following events are formally designated as Citywide Events and are not required to submit an application to maintain such status: Daffodil Parade, Jr. Daffodil Parade, Pride Parade, December’s Annual Downtown Holiday Celebration, and any event conducted by the City of Tacoma or in which the City of Tacoma is a presenting partner (i.e. 4th of July Summer Blast, MOSAIC, Juneteenth Celebration, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, City of Destiny Awards, etc.).

Services Provided

Events designated as Citywide Events shall receive complimentary personnel, services, and equipment from applicable City departments to support the traffic and crowd control and public safety of the event.

Maximum Available Support

Events recognized as Citywide Events are eligible for a maximum special events contribution (City Event Services plus Special Events grant funding) of $40,000 unless the City of Tacoma is a presenting partner of the event.

CITY OF TACOMA SPONSORED EVENT DESIGNATION

Criteria & Services Provided

A City of Tacoma Sponsored Event meets all of the eligibility requirements and is conducted by a nonprofit entity, neighborhood or community-based group, business group (such as chambers of commerce or business improvement areas), federally recognized tribe or tribal nonprofit, or group that does not have a geographic base (such as racial or multicultural groups, LGBTQ+ groups, or a disability community).

Services Provided

Events designated as City of Tacoma Sponsored Events will be provided City-owned equipment on an as-available basis to support the traffic and crowd control and public safety of the event. City-owned equipment will be delivered to and picked up from a single point on the boundaries of the event with the event organizer responsible for setting and striking all equipment in alignment with the traffic control plan.  City of Tacoma Sponsored Events remain responsible for all costs associated with City of Tacoma personnel or other services.

Maximum Available Support

Events recognized as City of Tacoma Sponsored Events are eligible for a maximum special events contribution (City Event Services plus Special Events grant funding) of $25,000 unless the City of Tacoma is a presenting partner of the event.