Tourism Dollars at Work – Expanding BEBOT’s Impact Across Tahoe’s Shores
Published By: Katy Jo Caringer, Marketing Director, ECO-CLEAN Solutions
January 10th, 2025
ECO-CLEAN Solutions is excited to kick off our second year as part of the Annual Grant Cycle, funded by the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work Program organized by the North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA). This multi-year program committed $345,000 over 3 years to support our BEBOT tourism impact mitigation project on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.
Image: Kings Beach filled with visitors during a busy summer day in Lake Tahoe. Image by SF Gate.
Tourism Dollars Making a Difference
The TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program reinvests funds generated by visitors to North Lake Tahoe—both day-trippers and overnight guests—to support projects that enhance community vitality, environmental stewardship, and economic health. Thanks to this funding, ECO-CLEAN Solutions deployed BEBOT, the first solar- and battery-powered beach-cleaning robot on the West Coast, to clean over 1 million square feet of shoreline across 20 Tahoe beaches in 2024.
Significant Investments in the North Tahoe Community
The TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program is part of NTCA’s Annual Grant Cycle, which reinvests millions of locally generated funds into projects that benefit residents, businesses, and visitors. For 2024-2025, the NTCA Board approved nearly $7.5 million in funding, unlocking an additional $8.8 million in matching grants for a cumulative investment of over $16 million in the North Tahoe region.
This funding supports impactful projects like:
• Keeping Tahoe Blue Beach Pilot at Kings Beach
• Dollar Creek Trail Grooming
• Revitalizing Watson Cabin (Phase II)
• Tahoe City Gateway Beautification
Additionally, the NTCA Board recommended nearly $7 million in TOT funds for approval by the Placer County Board of Supervisors in January 2025, supporting projects such as the North Tahoe Trail Access Improvement Project, Martis Valley Trail, and a community art and gathering space in Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista.
BEBOT: A Symbol of Stewardship
For visitors enjoying a freshly cleaned beach at Lake Tahoe, BEBOT is more than just a piece of cutting-edge technology—it’s a reminder of the care and effort that goes into preserving these natural spaces.
Jesse Patterson, Chief Strategy Officer at the League to Save Lake Tahoe, captured it perfectly: “I hope people see how much care we put into protecting the beach and are inspired to keep it that way. One piece of trash on the beach is too much trash.”
With ongoing support from the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program, ECO-CLEAN Solutions and its partners will continue to track seasonal litter accumulation, provide data to inform environmental policies, and keep Tahoe’s beaches pristine for generations to come.
Image: BEBOT in action at Kings Beach in North Lake Tahoe in summer of 2024. Photo by: Katy Jo Caringer of ECO-CLEAN Solutions.
Join Us to Celebrate the Impact
Want to learn more about how the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program is benefiting the North Tahoe community? Join the North Tahoe Chamber and NTCA on Thursday, January 23, from 4-6 PM at Sunnyside Restaurant for their Monthly Mixer.
Celebrate the recipients of the Annual Grant Cycle, connect with local business leaders, and hear about the impactful projects funded by tourism dollars—all while enjoying great food and drinks.
RSVP here: https://business.northtahoebusiness.org/ap/Events/Register/mwFelaMumC3Ce
Have a project or event that could benefit the North Shore? The 2025-26 Annual Grant Cycle applications will launch this Summer 2025!
👉 Learn more and apply ➡️ northtahoecommunityalliance.com