Beaufort County committee recommends $332,470 in tourism grant awards, leaves $207,003 unallocated

The Beaufort County ATAX (accommodation and hospitality) committee met April 15 and recommended $332,470 in tourism-related grant awards across arts, festivals, trails and facility repairs, leaving about $207,002.80 unallocated in the current cycle.

Committee members heard presentations from more than a dozen applicants and discussed eligibility, prior reimbursements and how awards should be used (marketing, capital repair, event production). Several members pressed applicants for receipts or proof of prior spending before releasing additional funds. Committee members and staff repeatedly discussed using the County’s visitor‑promotion dollars to seed events that attract out‑of‑county hotel stays rather than cover routine operating costs.

Why it matters: ATAX funding flows from local lodging taxes and is legally constrained to activities that promote tourism or provide visitor facilities. The committee’s recommendations will go to the county finance committee and then to County Council for final approval; several awards were conditioned on specified uses (for example, marketing through the county’s visitor organization).

Most significant recommendations

- Spanish Moss Trail: The committee recommended two awards tied to the Trail —…