Spectators watch from the middle of 8th and Massachusetts St. as cyclists competing in the men's pro race streak past during the Tour of Lawrence downtown criterium Sunday afternoon.

Nearly two dozen applications were submitted in the first round of a city grant program aiming to boost tourism-generating events and programs in Lawrence.

Twenty-three applications were received by the March 1 deadline and posted online Tuesday. They include both established events, such as the Free State Festival, Tour of Lawrence and the Olympic Shot Put, and new efforts like “Live on Mass Street,” a downtown concert that Granada owner Mike Logan hopes to establish as an annual event.

Other applications include visual arts and musical events, parades, conferences and history programs.

The city set aside $150,000 in transient guest tax dollars in the 2016 budget to create the grant program.

An advisory board, established last week, will meet Friday afternoon to make recommendations for which events and programs should receive a piece of the funding.

The recommendations will go to the City Commission on March 29.

Going forward, grants will be awarded twice per year, once in February and once in October.