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TDC approves event grants, $150,000 amphitheater payment and routine items
Summary
At its meeting the Columbia County Tourist Development Council approved multiple event grants totaling $23,500, authorized a $150,000 reserve transfer to fund a previously approved amphitheater grant to the City of Lake City, and approved standard agenda items and financial reports.
The Columbia County Tourist Development Council approved several grant requests and a reserve transfer for a downtown amphitheater project during its meeting.
Grants approved by voice vote included a $2,500 award for the Room 138 Merfolk Festival; $15,000 in sports funding for a multi-day state softball tournament; $2,500 for the Florida Folk Festival; and $3,500 for a May flag-football event called Mayhem in May. Council members said many of the events are repeat programs for the county and that hotels are already taking bookings for some tournaments.
Separately, the council approved a $150,000 payment to the city to fulfill a previously approved grant toward a downtown amphitheater project. City staff said the project is out to bid, with a question-submission deadline in March and a bid opening in April; the city manager described efforts to complete a long-delayed project and thanked the TDC for support.
Other routine approvals included adoption of the meeting agenda, approval of the Jan. 15 minutes and acceptance of the financial reports; each item was approved by voice vote.
Recorded amounts and items approved at the meeting:
- Room 138 Merfolk Festival: $2,500 (motion approved) - Multi-day state softball tournament (sports funding): $15,000 (motion approved) - Florida Folk Festival: $2,500 (motion approved) - Mayhem in May (flag football): $3,500 (motion approved) - Downtown amphitheater payment to City of Lake City: $150,000 (transfer from reserves to pay city; motion approved)
The TDC chair said the council had approved the amphitheater several years earlier and that the city has returned updated bid documents and paperwork required to receive the funds. City staff said they expect the project to move forward and thanked the board for the payment.
