Okeechobee TDC commits $50,000 a year to downtown professional Christmas lights

The Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council voted at its meeting to commit $50,000 this year and $50,000 next year to a professional downtown Christmas‑lighting contract, tourism staff and project organizers said.

The council’s endorsement follows a proposal from a group of private contributors and a company described in meeting materials as a professional lighting designer. The total cost of the proposed two‑year installation is $133,000, and the City Council has already pledged $50,000 for each of the two years, promoters said.

Project backers said the plan covers park tree and lamp‑post wraps, canopies and walk‑through features intended to draw visitors and support downtown businesses. Mr. Frank Irby, identified at the meeting as a local organizer and donor, said private investors already have provided a deposit to secure the contract. “Yes, sir. Of course,” Irby said when asked whether he was involved in organizing the effort.

Tourism staff described a two‑year contract that would let the company install the displays beginning with preparatory work in October, with a public “turn‑on” around Thanksgiving. Staff said the contractor will remove the seasonal infrastructure at the end of the display period each year and replace material annually rather than reuse strings that may fail.

Supporters at the meeting — including representatives of Main Street, the Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce — said the displays would be paired with storefront decorating contests, evening farmer markets and the city’s existing tree‑lighting and parade events to encourage overnight stays.

Opponents and some board members questioned whether the TDC, whose revenues come from tourist development (bed) tax, should be the primary funding source for a downtown beautification effort. Several members recommended coupling the funding with marketing that explicitly encourages festival visitors to book local hotels and to include those lodging options in the event’s promotions. Tourism staff said they would require documentation of advertising and post‑event economic reporting as part of the funding process.

The motion to approve the two‑year $50,000‑per‑year commitment passed on a voice vote.

Community leaders said the project is designed to be more than holiday decoration: organizers described walk‑through features, a tunnel near the Butterfly Garden and plans to produce social‑media marketing and a regional ad buy aimed at drawing visitors from nearby markets.

The council’s approval does not yet represent a final contract; staff said the county will finalize terms and retain evidence of contracted advertising and post‑event reporting before releasing funds.