Subject:
Title
Approval of the Tourist Development Council (TDC) FY 2024-25 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application and Scoresheet.
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Fiscal Impact:
FY 2024-25: Program funding of $500,000 collected by the Tourism Development Tax as directed by the Board from Fund 1442.
Dept/Office:
Tourism Development Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners approve the Tourist Development Council FY 2024-25 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet. It is also requested that the Board approve funding of $500,000 for the FY 2024-25 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program applications which shall come before the Board for final approval as the grant application cycle commences.
Additionally, it is requested that the Tourism Development Office Director be authorized to negotiate and sign all necessary grant agreements and related documents upon County Attorney Office, Risk Management and Purchasing Services approval.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
These funds are put in place each fiscal year for projects approved by the TDC Beach Improvement Committee, the Tourist Development Council, and the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners. Reimbursable grant awards are available to support projects that promote and benefit tourism on the Space Coast and promote the health of the Indian River Lagoon. These Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program projects are approved and supported through the Beach Improvement Committee and will serve as safe, world-class projects that promote tourism to the Space Coast, support the health of the Indian River Lagoon and are open and available to both tourists, visitors and the community.
Note: Last year, this grant program was suspended due to the expenditure of all Beach funds in order to repair the South Beaches because of damages from several storms in late 2022 (approximately 90% of these costs will be reimbursed in 2-3 years by FEMA). This fiscal year the Beach fund has partially been replenished due to the Army Corp of Engineers’ ability to access emergency funding and not requesting a local match from us for the Mid-Reach project which allowed $8 million to go back into the fund for future projects. Because of the volatility of the beach fund relative to storms and potential damage, the Beach Improvement Committee and the TDC is recommending only $500,000 be used for the Tourism + Lagoon Grant program in FY 2024-25 and the remaining $500,000 be saved for potential future needs.
The Beach Improvement Committee at their March 21, 2024 meeting, and the Tourist Development Council at their March 27, 2024 meeting, voted unanimously to recommend the Board approve the FY 2024-25 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application, and Scoresheet. A summary of the revisions to the Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application, Guidelines and Scoresheet are:
- Fiscal year date changes on the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application.
- Page 2 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 1.0 Background and Goals “Increased tourism activity.”
- Page 5 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 6.0 Available Funds “The maximum grant award will be $50,000 per project.”
- Page 6-7 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Deletion - 7.0 Eligible Use of Funds - All items referring to grants greater than $50,000.
- Page 7 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Update - 7.0 Eligible Use of Funds - Volunteer labor rate.
- Page 9-10 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 10.0 Terms and Conditions of Grant Awards- Language added for Criminal Background Screening.
- Page 23 Scoresheet of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Clarification - Bonus points for grants beyond $50,000 have been removed and the maximum bonus points was updated to 10.
- Page 24 Exhibit B of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Clarification - A new map has been produced to clearly show the allowable areas for grants.
- Page 25 Exhibit C of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Clarification - A new budget sheet has been inserted to bring consistency to all tourism grants.
- Page 29 Application of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - The IRS determination letter and Sunbiz verification have been added to the required attachments.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please return a memo of the Board’s action to the Tourism Development Office and CAO.