Mendocino County Lodging Association

Policy for Distribution of Partnership Funds

The Business Improvement District ("BID") Ordinance, adopted by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in May 2006 states in part that, "The BID will provide and fund projects, programs and activities that benefit lodging establishments within the District. This includes the promotion of Mendocino County as an overnight destination and the provision for direct visitor services. Assessment funds shall be used exclusively for the foregoing purposes." The District refers to the entire County, including the four cities.

Since the budget adopted by the Mendocino County Lodging Association ("MCLA") provides that a portion of the BID funds shall be devoted to partnership promotions, it is necessary to establish guidelines for the award of such partnership funds in keeping with the BID Ordinance. The MCLA therefore has adopted the following guidelines to help our partners formulate requests for funds:

• Partnerships are created with organizations that provide events and activities that appeal to the traveling public. All activities that help put the County on the map and assist in drawing travelers to the County putting “heads in bed” will be considered. The following are some examples: Wine Tasting and wine events; art exhibitions, art studio tours, theatre, concerts; nature and outdoor experiences, including fishing, whale watching, canoeing, horseback riding, hiking; organic “lifestyles” including gardening/farming (Ecology Action, farmers’ markets, “Mendocino Bounty”) and the Solar Living Center; and, Mushroom, Crab and other festivals that focus on wine, food, art, etc.
• Preferably, Partnership funds must be used to promote the entire County. Specific geographic areas of the County may be awarded minimal funds, up to $1000, for regional events as long as an effort is made to give every region of the County and every City in the County the same opportunity for the promotion of local events. For example, an attempt will be made to have parity between Coastal and Inland areas and between the Northern and Southern parts of the County.
• Partnership funds must enhance MCLA's existing promotional, media and PR campaigns and the overall branding of the County. This includes linking to the www.gomendo.com website, when appropriate, using the “M” branding on any promotional materials and the use of any messaging currently being used in MCLA’s campaign.
• The provision of non-monetary "in-kind" partnership assistance such as free or discounted rooms for events, PR assistance or the direct involvement of MCLA staff will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Nothing contained within this statement impinges on the operations and partnerships undertaken by individual inns on their own.
• No partnership funds will be awarded to any organization or individuals if their principal business is political, ethnic and/or religious advocacy.
• Partnership funds will be considered if they benefit all lodging establishments or as many types and locations of lodging establishments as possible.
• In your response, please state what tangible and/or intangible results you hope to gain from these funds. Include how you will actively seek to achieve these results.
• Funds will be awarded in part based on how the funds will be used to portray Mendocino County as a “premier destination”.
These policies are necessary to ensure the fairness in allocating BID Partnership funds and to ensure the continued promotional activities of MCLA. All requests will receive serious consideration by the MCLA Marketing Committee.

All requests must be in writing addressed to the MCLA Administrator at admin@mcla.info.
Please call 707-964-9010 if you have any questions or for more information.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for a response to your request.

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