Subject:
Title
Approval of the Tourist Development Council (TDC) FY 2023-2024 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet.
End
Fiscal Impact:
FY 2023-2024: Program funding of $1,000,000 collected by the Tourism Development Tax as directed by the Board
Dept/Office:
Tourism Development Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners approve the Tourist Development Council FY 2023-2024 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet. It is also requested that the Board approve funding of the FY 2023-2024 Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program applications which shall come before the Board for final funding 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.
End
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.
The Beach Improvement Committee at their March 14, 2023 meeting, and the Tourist Development Council at their March 22, 2023 meeting, voted unanimously to recommended the Board approve the FY 2023-2024 TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Funding, Guidelines, Application and Committee Scoresheet. A summary of the revisions to the Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application, Guidelines and Scoresheet are:
-Page 3 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 1.0 Introduction and Background “Grant projects must take place in the area outlined in the Indian River Lagoon Watershed Map provided as Exhibit (B).“
-Page 4 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 4.0 Application Process and Key Dates - Grants have been extended to two years and give the Director of the TDO the ability to grant a one-year extension.
-Page 6 and 7 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Clarification - 7.0 Eligible Use of Funds - Matching Funds Requirements and Bonus Points have been clarified.
-Page 9 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 10.0 Terms and Conditions of Grant Awards - An applicant may not submit more than 1 (one) application per project and the Director of the TDO has the ability to grant a one-year extension.
-Page 9 of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Addition - 11.0 Reporting Requirements - Grant recipients will provide TDO with a mid-project and a final report to show how the grant funding was expended, and how the overall project has operated during the term of the grant.
-Page 20 Fiscal year date change on the Score Sheet of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines.
-Page 20 Score Sheet of the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Guidelines - Clarification - Requests must achieve a minimum of 75% of standard points (78.75) to be considered for funding, excluding bonus points. (Maximum 105 points, 78.75 equals a qualifying score of 75%)
-Fiscal year date changes on the TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application.
-TDC Tourism + Lagoon Grant Program Application - Addition - Question 6, “Describe your project.”
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please return a memo of the Board’s action to the Tourism Development Office and CAO.