Engage Franklin reports 2024 finances, outlines sports-tourism push and $2,000 community grant pool

Engage Franklin representatives reported to the Franklin Tourism Commission on Monday that 2024 was largely an establishment year, with most revenue from city room tax receipts and a small amount of partnership income, and that the organization is now focusing on sports tourism and modest community grants.

At the meeting, Laura, an Engage Franklin representative, and Brandon, Engage Franklin staff, presented a financial summary and program updates. Laura said the group’s 2024 revenue included $39,192.23 in Franklin room tax receipts and about $2,113 in partnership revenue, for roughly $41,307 total. She told the commission that year-to-date expenditures were about $42,080, producing an operating deficit of about $722.

The statement to the commission emphasized that much of last year’s spending was for start-up costs. Laura said contracting and professional fees were the largest expense category, which included…