The city of Bellingham has issued a request for proposals for the 2012 Tourism Promotion Program.

The program has been rebuilding its reserves after scaling back available grant funding during the last couple of years due to decreased lodging tax revenues. Cities may use lodging tax, the state hotel and motel tax paid by guests spending the night in Bellingham, to fund tourism promotion activities such as radio and display ads, website development and other types of marketing that targets outside visitors to the area.

“Tourism is an important and thriving part of our local economy,” Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said in a press release. The city of Bellingham, with the help of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, strives to award grants to organizations and events that highlight Bellingham as a tourism destination.

Completed applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at Bellingham City Hall. The grant application is available on the city’s website.