Organizations hoping to make investments into tourism have a new financial resource in Langley.

Following the recommendation of Mayor Larry Kwarsick, the City Council decided in a 4-0 vote last week to open up its Tourism Promotion Fund to applicants from the public.

Councilman Hal Seligson was not present at the meeting.

Funded by the hotel-sales tax, the special pot has existed for years but this is the first time the council has made the money competitive, according to City Clerk-Treasurer Debbie Mahler.

In the past, it’s been divvied up among groups such as the chamber of commerce, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, an island-wide tourism promotion organization and other miscellaneous visitor related projects.

As part of the 2013 budget creation process, an application deadline has been set for Nov. 1. Any public or private organization with the demonstrated ability to accomplish the proposed project may  apply.

A total of $15,000 is available.

For more information, call Mahler at 221-4246 ext. 15.