[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6197318,"mediaKeyId","3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37","parentId",3853473,"title","TDC backs county marketing plan for 2025'26; seeks budget packaging with two-year county request","audioSeconds",952,"startMs",4578000,"endMs",5530000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37&start=4578&end=5530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37/thumbnail_4578000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197318/Manatee-County/Florida/TDC-backs-county-marketing-plan-for-202526-seeks-budget-packaging-with-two-year-county-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197318-d949cd55496f1e28dd9121185aa380ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937674&Signature=EdC-kfWxt2kicWJEiVApUvBR0bvPU2CVooPJxEW3WnFN6wSa6T9b~pVcNRLvo3ncAwkmMwVNGX3FBAkXP-vZ~y~fw2gfjaoNGjSt~XC1KdOISJ5plcD-1tBCr~BHTFStZ0r9bEhEvQtUvfA4DrmH7B2qiBS0if6FCAsBi8TQmx7e6x2VsYWnGk4eig7b1SiM~r-Pmh29yrYEVo4cWLFQ1B50HIypBi9CWPI0xjVAWuOp9Qf5KeOizWgDwtGW9--HnjgLpA43MacWAwnfYLYFvc4d-D6KPFV4QOBcN-51z8bQdJpabcOjq288H51fwfj17ntRaRoNXEPGEYR6BcU12g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Manatee County, FL ","date","2025-06-17T03:13:16Z","article","Elliot Falcone, Manatee County tourism director, presented the county's marketing and promotions approach for 2025'26 and asked the Tourist Development Council to recommend that the plan be packaged with the county's department budget for approval in the September county budget process.

Falcone described a two-year county budget process and said the tourism team keeps campaign tactics broad in public presentations to avoid revealing tactical playbooks to competing destinations. He noted the county is targeting higher-income households (roughly $122,000 household income threshold used for digital buys), focusing on established feeder markets (New York, Pittsburgh) and developing secondary markets supported by the growing Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ).

Falcone highlighted recent air-service gains, including a new daily nonstop to Miami (SRQ) starting Nov. 1, and said targeted digital and public-relations campaigns are being used to penetrate new feeder markets that are immature for the destination. He emphasized the importance of maintaining marketing during and after adverse events; the county's early markets work helped correct inaccurate national reporting after last year's storms and mitigated a sharper visitation decline. Falcone said first-time visitors account for roughly 34'35% of arrivals, a performance metric the department tracks.

The TDC voted unanimously to recommend that the marketing and promotions budget be packaged with the department budget for Board of County Commissioners consideration as part of the two-year budget process. Falcone and TDC members said they will continue to monitor air service, market performance and return-on-investment metrics as the budget moves to the Board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tourist Development Council - 6-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","Manatee County tourism staff presented the 2025'26 marketing and promotions plan and the TDC voted unanimously to recommend packaging the plan with the county department budget for Board consideration in the two-year budget process.","taxTitle","Manatee County, Florida","taxId",12476,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197322,"BAM Fest drew 13,000 visitors; TDC recommends up to $100,000 per year for two years",515,4210000,4725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37&start=4210&end=4725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37/thumbnail_4210000.jpg","/articles/6197322/Manatee-County/Florida/BAM-Fest-drew-13000-visitors-TDC-recommends-up-to-100000-per-year-for-two-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197322-2b0d55205abbe31efd429a0afa98ead9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937674&Signature=QTFQIlxXmzxKIYApoJN3M2eAqqpqfy5jPmwXjqktQvLy2iL6AYtuIsmaV5j55ZwfEuEweSYJTX7vz80HQqqbnbN0PKvot7cpvqtPOu0aWgkCLo4xyk~PW6ZoZRjzOM2Khs7NF~v5xSz3ifUt1yzcridx01ULERikN-LJww3E~rKuw19ohjHTq-51VhdmdRPNLcdZatBtjga36MLo2cB8iq3EKiIMOC0z5sKIzgYVaSOOlsPVhMvPZJykhzv8d-9pzgWF4wBOrYm-tgfp36cyDDNHgGPARWtNJWDhaNPepanfZLBCQOJ8xxU-vBKJITucJjOBHdOeelMvlPMr~winfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Karen Corbin, executive director of Realize Bradenton, presented results from the city's April BAM (Bradenton Arts & Music) festival and requested continued TDC support for the event as it scales.

Corbin said the event activated more than a mile of the Riverwalk and brought more than 13,000 attendees. She reported Realize Bradenton showcased 58 individual visual artists, compensated 14 musicians and bands, partnered with nine community and cultural organizations, employed 125 volunteers and used services from 27 local companies.

Following the presentation, Tourism Director Elliot Falcone recommended the TDC forward a sponsorship recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for up to $100,000 per year for two years as a pilot period while Realize Bradenton continues private sponsorship development. The TDC discussed budget planning and the desire to avoid ongoing, open-ended sponsorships; Falcone said a two-year pilot would allow the board to assess sustainability and then repurpose funds if the event becomes self-sustaining.

A motion to recommend up to $100,000 per year for two years was made and seconded; the TDC approved the recommendation unanimously. The recommendation will go to the Board of County Commissioners as the TDC works through its two-year budget packaging process.","Realize Bradenton reported attendance, artist and vendor metrics for the inaugural BAM (Bradenton Arts & Music) festival and the TDC voted unanimously to recommend up to $100,000 per year for two years to the county commission to help sustain the event while the organization builds private sponsorship.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197326,"Manatee Players outlines growth: 23,000 tickets sold, partnerships with Pops Orchestra and Disney pilots",1185,2580000,3765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37&start=2580&end=3765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37/thumbnail_2580000.jpg","/articles/6197326/Manatee-County/Florida/Manatee-Players-outlines-growth-23000-tickets-sold-partnerships-with-Pops-Orchestra-and-Disney-pilots","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197326-f7509827b547f82984b2d2881f91282d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937674&Signature=YAQ40zMNo42UveX9XoslLBGdK9F310O6-y361VbyUhPz5wxP3~Oi2SQ9qPtVrAfyA2C72sIS-4cb4AuOh9Rpoj2KkeWtePLtUMtbmekL1uAiPNWPVdaXVDl3XhHqpdI9a~Lrk7Uq-dEWr27M13cfhb95dABp2wVLvBdIQsYCdPDShH8CaoS0BSDe2csuneg~v9R5Cp5p0Sgaxc6X1vTJdET1ToJYhebwcYXKHF6Y-PffQBcbHEXw92iLxDI0mf0VGSP0RfRNOf1JvSpCkM3TuQ-8SLRQdySd-s5iAhIudKEqxT9eu0Zc~uYumt1UVujuHfxofedr-Ueea3ZnAWpBJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Janine Anick, producing artistic director for Manatee Players and the Manatee Performing Arts Center, gave the Tourist Development Council an annual update on the theater conservatory's programs, audience numbers and facility plans.

Anick said the organization dates to 1947 and that the performing arts center now hosts about 190 ticketed events in a typical July-to-June year. She reported more than 23,000 individual tickets sold at the facility this past year and over 49,000 total visits when free and private events are included, putting attendance back at pre-COVID levels from 2019.

Anick described \"action through acting,\" a program that pairs productions with nonprofit partners to highlight social issues, and recounted past partnerships with the Humane Society of Manatee County, Manatee County School Systems and Ross Kemp Institute to support public education on issues including animal welfare, youth homelessness and dementia support. She said those programs generate community referrals and follow-up services from partner agencies.

On facilities and partnerships, Anick said the conservatory is planning a fourth-floor orchestra rehearsal room and music library; the Manatee Pops Orchestra has provided a letter of intent to occupy the space, and the room would also host a planned youth orchestra and provide storage and rehearsal capacity for regional ensembles. Anick said a Sarah Studios site plan had been resubmitted to the City of Bradenton and that the organization hopes to break ground by August at the latest.

Anick also described pilot collaborations: a Disney-authorized senior production of High School Musical, a youth production of Mary Poppins supported by a live youth orchestra, and a filmed January concert that was submitted to a film festival in Italy and won. She said the center is pursuing residency and programming relationships with regional organizations including the Sarasota Ballet and Sarasota Opera for rehearsals and youth camps.

Council members praised the center's outreach and volunteer training, noting volunteers receive training in active shooter response, stop-the-bleed, AED use and basic emergency preparedness. Anick said the center had about 125 volunteers supporting the year's events and that volunteers receive safety training before serving.

There was no formal TDC action associated with the update; the presentation was informational and TDC members indicated interest in supporting the center going forward.","Janine Anick, producing artistic director of the Manatee Players / Manatee Performing Arts Center, briefed the TDC on audience recovery, program expansion, partnerships with the Pops Orchestra, Disney pilot productions, a planned fourth-floor rehearsal room, and education and outreach programs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197331,"Anna Maria mayor seeks county, TDC help to rebuild city pier; TDC recommends up to $2 million",2371,194000,2565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37&start=194&end=2565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853473-1cefcd4dd3e2d402127494c554430b37/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6197331/Manatee-County/Florida/Anna-Maria-mayor-seeks-county-TDC-help-to-rebuild-city-pier-TDC-recommends-up-to-2-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197331-2e0590cca1b8ff88ae8cbbb4bfa3da94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937674&Signature=eBVNiARHcEihyfwxI3dFqDB8BQvzgk2l9f~P1n8BdNXY9FcxCxRc8TpK7XTJ5~QaasgZMijH82udHxbZzLIP5FfqCfAnnSBYJbwv6ciVb9ERzkPj0SMVUvQrircc6PnGrh08gnWUhAIjBrlm6zGvQdbkT1ZOVdNrcjmbJOB515KvmrMnSqLUCX4~wlJAc9GvRhv4ef97LayJo1Or9DQkc9g2MNxvy0itqUKd0nhOhy~QINEZSotGtV-G7w5elV2a0DelHDkERHUYlg2JyTKtOUmQXq1VujdBR0jwp0rxAvcubmBGQMXiCacagVXx7GNK8XtkkdM~Sx~DToUFPkY-uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Short, City of Anna Maria, told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on the council's June meeting that the city needs local assistance to rebuild the Anna Maria City Pier and to preserve the possibility of attaching the county's planned water ferry landing to the pier.

Short said current estimates to rebuild and renovate the pier are \"between 7 and $9,000,000,\" and that the city has completed inspections and soil testing with demolition of the submerged walkway planned to start the week after the meeting. He said the city has spent $223,000 \"related to this project\" to date and also told the TDC that the municipality has about $3,700,000 of costs outstanding with FEMA, for which it has advanced $1,500,000 from reserves.

\"The rebuild of the City pier has to be its own standalone project,\" Short said, adding that Army Corps emergency permits require work to remain within the existing pier footprint. He said his commission prefers a ferry landing attached to the existing pier rather than building a separate second pier.

Manatee County tourism director Elliot Falcone reviewed timing and funding options and urged the TDC to make a near-term recommendation to the county commission so design and debris-removal work can continue while FEMA and the state review the city's claims. Falcone told the council he would recommend an \"up to\" amount be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners to allow cleanup and continued design work to proceed.

After discussion of funding sources and cash-flow constraints — including the fact that FEMA typically reimburses only after expenditures are made and documented — the TDC voted to forward a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for up to $2,000,000 to keep the project moving. Mayor Jean Brown of Bradenton made the motion; the vote was unanimous among members present.

Council members and public participants emphasized cash-flow risk if local money is spent before FEMA and state appropriations are received, and asked that any intergovernmental agreement clarify how future reimbursements will be handled. Short acknowledged the uncertainty: the city has a $1,250,000 state appropriation request in the state budget process but does not know whether that line item will survive the governor's line-item veto. He said FEMA's early figure for the pier is \"around $4,000,000,\" but that FEMA's review and reimbursement process and final award remain unresolved.

TDC members discussed alternatives — building a separate ferry pier versus amending the city pier for ferry service — and noted an engineer's estimate that a new separate pier could be roughly three times more expensive than adding a ferry landing to a rebuilt city pier. Elliott Falcone and others said county staff and local officials would meet to build a capital stack that could include TDC recommendation, county funds, state appropriation (if approved), FEMA reimbursement, and other grants.

The TDC motion recommended an \"up to $2,000,000\" contribution be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners as an initial commitment to allow design and demolition work to continue; the council said it would return in August with an update.

Implementation and next steps noted in the meeting: the city plans demolition to begin soon on underwater walkway sections; short-term work through September is estimated by the city to cost roughly $1.1 million more (design, demo, remediation) with another roughly $2.0 million estimated for October'December, and remainder in calendar 2026 depending on final scope. Officials stressed that any county or TDC assistance should protect the city's right to receive FEMA reimbursements directly to the city when awarded.

","The City of Anna Maria told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council that rebuilding the island's damaged pier will cost an estimated $7'$9 million, and requested local help while FEMA and the state determine disaster funding. The TDC voted unanimously to recommend up to $2 million to the county to keep design and demolition work moving.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

TDC backs county marketing plan for 2025'26; seeks budget packaging with two-year county request

BAM Fest drew 13,000 visitors; TDC recommends up to $100,000 per year for two years

Manatee Players outlines growth: 23,000 tickets sold, partnerships with Pops Orchestra and Disney pilots

Anna Maria mayor seeks county, TDC help to rebuild city pier; TDC recommends up to $2 million