EPHRATA - At least $20,000 in hotel/motel tax money is available for tourism groups this year from the City of Ephrata's hotel/motel tax.

But groups first must apply to be considered by the Ephrata Tourism Commission for the funds by visiting www.ephrata.org/ to download an application.

Click on "Forms, Apps and License" and scroll down to "2011 Tourism Grant Application" to access the paperwork.

Applications must be submitted to Ephrata City Hall by 4:30 p.m., Feb. 25.

Tourism or events selected for funding must fill Ephrata hotels or campgrounds, said Ray Towry, the city's recreation/public relations director.

"The whole idea of this tax is just an investment," he explained. "People come to hotels, they stay. If you demonstrate the money will be used to fill Ephrata hotels, I think it (the application) would be considered."

Past recipients of the funds include Basin Summer Sounds, Babe Ruth Baseball, Sage-N-Sun Festival and the Grant County Historical Society.

The city also used the money legally for advertising endeavors for the city, which Towry said is similar to what the City of Moses Lake and Grant County do.

For more information, call 509-754-6963.