Agenda Item Name:
Title
Approval of Visit Gainesville, Alachua County Small Cities and Towns Tourism Grant Program
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Presenter:
Jessica Hurov, (352) 374-5260
Description: Request Approval of Visit Gainesville, Alachua County Small Cities and Towns Tourism Grant Program, and approve budget amendment for funding
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Visit Gainesville, Alachua County Small Cities and Towns Tourism Grant Program application and Resolution as presented. Make the legislative factual determination that the activities funded with Tourist Development Taxes revenue via the Visit Gainesville, Alachua County grant programs serve a public purpose and are primarily related to promoting and advertising tourism in Alachua County. Authorize staff to review applications and for the County Manager to approve funding award requests. Approve the attached budget amendment to reallocate budget from Tourist Development Tax (TDT) reserves to the grant expenditure account line.
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Prior Board Motions:
Click or tap here to enter text.Commissioner Prizzia moved to refer to staff to develop a tourism grant program for the smaller economically distressed municipalities for a $10,000 limit. The motion carried 4-0.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$80,000 in funding for the grant program is available in the Visit Gainesville, Alachua County budget and is fully funded by Tourist Development Tax collections. This year’s programs will be funded using TDT reserves but this program will be included and funded in the FY24 budget.
Fund 005 receives 15% of 1 % of the TDT tax; this is where most of the other tourism grant programs are funded (billboard advertising, meeting advantage grants, and local sports.) Account#: 005.45.4530.552.81.02
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Strategic Guide:
strategic guide
N/A
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Background:
The Commission has requested staff create a pilot program for a Small Cities and Towns Tourism Grant Program, providing up to $10,000 to each of Alachua County’s small cities and towns to aid in the operations and promotions of events that have as one of their main purposes the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists.
Staff presented the concept of the program to City Managers in February 2023 and received supportive feedback for the program concept. A draft resolution and funding support application were subsequently drafted as attached and have been provided to City Managers.
In accordance with §125.0104, Florida Statutes, the County has allocated a portion of Tourist Development Tax to create and fund the Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant Program, Local Sports Destination Enhancement Grant Program, Meeting Advantage Program (Conference Grants), and Event Sponsorships, the purpose of which is to promote, advertise and support activities, services, venues, and events that have as one of their main purposes the attraction of tourists to Alachua County. All funding awards provided by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County are reimbursement only for allowable expenses, including out-of-county advertising.
Fund 005 has sufficient budget in TDT reserves and approving this budget amendment will reallocate a portion of those reserves to be used for this new program. This program will be built into the FY24 budget, like the other grant programs within that fund.