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Klamath County staff proposes $100,000 tourism grant round, recommends $150,000 for economic development cycle
Summary
County staff reviewed balances for tourism and economic development grant funds, proposing a $100,000 tourism award for the current cycle and asking the board to fully allocate a $150,000 economic development grant budget this fiscal year.
Klamath County grants staff reviewed the county’s tourism and economic development reserves and recommended funding levels for the current grant cycle.
Grants staff said the county’s economic development reserve is “around $450,000,” not counting projected video-lottery revenue, and that the budgeted amount for this cycle is $150,000. On tourism, staff said the reserve is about $236,000 after accounting for previously obligated items and that the county expects about $288,000 in transient room tax revenue. "We have over a dozen" applications for the fall economic development cycle, staff said, up from the 1–2 applications the county used to receive.
Because tourism requests historically range from $75,000 to $100,000 per cycle, staff recommended setting this cycle’s tourism allocation at $100,000 and allowing the full $150,000 for economic development this year. Commissioners asked whether to change program rules or to preserve reserves; one suggested dialing back the spring cycle to $75,000 if the $100,000 level is used this fall. The board and staff agreed to proceed with the $100,000 tourism allocation for the current cycle and to revisit strategy before the spring cycle.
The discussion noted longer-term trade-offs: if tourism grants continue at $100,000 per cycle without larger transient room tax growth, reserves would shrink over time. Staff also reminded the board that a previously obligated $150,000 “hub” allocation for demolition (already committed) is not included in the reserves figure.
The board did not take a formal roll-call vote on the funding levels in the transcript; the item concluded with agreement to fund $100,000 for tourism this cycle and to allow the $150,000 economic development budget to be spent this year as presented by staff.
Looking ahead, staff said the tourism cycle was still open through the night of the meeting and that final award decisions would follow the grant review timeline.
