FAIRBANKS -- The city of Fairbanks has used a portion of its bed tax to award $270,000 to 25 groups that pledged to promote economic development and tourism.

The city took in about $2.4 million in the first 10 months of this year from a borough-wide tax on hotel and motel rooms.

The rest of the money is reserved for city services and projects.

Groups usually get about half of what they request. Awards are determined by the average of the recommendations made by the five members of the awarding committee.

Among this year's recipients was a group of mechanical engineering students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who want to improve a cold-weather battery for an electric car.

Fairbanks' city council will decide whether to approve the disbursements on Jan. 10.