Oconee County commission recommends $70,000 in accommodations-tax grants to local events and venues

The Oconee County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Commission voted unanimously Feb. 27 to recommend $70,000 in accommodations-tax grants across local festivals, arts groups and event venues during its grant-review cycle.

Commission staff said 13 applications requested $93,044 in total; staff determined $91,007.49 was eligible and recommended using up to $70,000 from available ATAX balances. "We have 13 total applications this time. There was $93,044 in total request. After after I reviewed them ... eligible dollar amount of $91,007.49, and we're recommending utilizing up to $70,000," the county staffer stated during the meeting.

The recommendation allocates award amounts to a mix of events and organizations the commission said are intended to support tourism impact and local quality-of-life programming. The commission filled out and approved allocations in one round of votes that commissioners described as following past practice: place an initial dollar recommendation for every applicant, then adjust as needed…