Subject:
Title
Approval, Re: Tourist Development Council (TDC) FY 2022-2023 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet.
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Fiscal Impact:
FY 2022-2023: Program funding of $1,000,000 (less $60,657 for multi-year commitment for a total of $939,343 available funding) from the TDC Beach Improvement 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 2022-2023 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet.
It is also requested that the Board approve funding of the FY 2022-2023 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program applications which shall come before the Board for final funding approval as the grant application cycle commences.
Further, request that the Board make the legislative findings: (1) the Indian River Lagoon is an estuary with multiple public access points for tourism purposes and a long history of use by tourists, and (2) each project specifically improves, maintains, re-nourishes, restores, protects or assists with erosion control in either the Indian River, the Banana River, or the Mosquito Lagoon (all part of the Indian River Lagoon); and (3) each project is authorized purpose for the expenditure of Tourist Development Tax revenue under section 125.0104(5)(a)5, Florida Statutes and section 102119(4)(a) of the Brevard County Code of Ordinances.
Additionally, it 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. These Tourism + Lagoon Grant projects are verified by the County Attorney's Office to be viable projects to receive support with Tourist Development Tax dollars per State Statute and local ordinance. Reimbursable grant awards are available to support projects that benefit tourism on the Space Coast and promote the health of the Indian River Lagoon. Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program projects are approved and supported through the Beach Improvement Committee plan will serve as safe, world-class projects to support the health of the Indian River Lagoon and promote tourism to the Space Coast and are open and available to tourists, visitors and the community.
The Beach Improvement Committee at their March 29, 2022 meeting, and the Tourist Development Council at their April 27, 2022 meeting, voted unanimously to recommend the Board approve the FY 2022-2023 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet as well as make the necessary legislative findings. A summary of the revisions to the Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application, Guidelines and Scoresheet are:
-Page 6 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 9.0 Terms and Conditions of Grant Awards, #5 & 6
-Fiscal year date changes on pages 1,2,3,5, and 6 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines.
-Fiscal year date changes on pages 1,4, 6 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application.
-Fiscal year date change on page 1 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Scoresheet.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please return a memo of the Board’s action to the Tourism Development Office and CAO.