The Hotel/Motel Tax Reallocation Committee will host a mandatory question and answer session at 4:30 p.m. May 6 at The Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway, for groups interested in applying for funds. A second session is set for 4:30 p.m. May 12 at the same location for those who are unable to attend the earlier meeting.

The funds are available for capital grants to Springfield not-for-profit organizations that promote tourism, recreation, education, and local economy. The application criteria and initial letter of intent form can be downloaded at http://springfieldmo.gov/hotelmoteltax.

Any interested party must have at least one representative from their organization at the session to be eligible to apply. The session will review the history of the tax funds and the application criteria followed by a question and answer session.

The reallocation committee was appointed by City Council to manage the grant award process for the returned tax proceeds from America’s Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, formerly Wonders of Wildlife. The organization terminated its grant agreement in 2011 and agreed to forego receipt of all Hotel-Motel Tax proceeds after the termination date. City Council authorized 60% of the tax funds to be reallocated to entities that qualify to receive said funds under the February 3, 1998, ballot, under the terms and conditions the council adopted in Special Ordinance No. 23448.