Tourism advisory committee tightens timelines, broadens eligible projects to include placemaking and public art

Jennifer Ware, program coordinator in the Economic Development Department, presented proposed updates April 7 to Albany’s Collaborative Tourism Program (CTP) application and process.

Key changes and rationale

Ware told council the recommended revisions seek to clarify application language, set consistent timelines for the application and selection process, and expand project eligibility to include placemaking and publicly owned public‑art projects. She said the tourism advisory committee and prior applicants provided feedback asking for clearer deadlines and eligibility criteria.

A staff drafting error left the word “mural” in the packet; Ware said the committee recommended replacing that specific reference with broader language such as "public art" or "publicly owned art after Gateway Beautification Process." Councilor McLeod suggested the language could read "public art, such as murals or statues," and urged that the Arts Commission — not the tourism committee — should jury art projects if the council wants art selection handled by a specialized body.

Funding and process

Ware said the current budget for CTP is $100,000 per biennium (equating to $50,000 per year). The updated application packet includes specified submission dates and deadlines; councilors emphasized the importance of enforcing those deadlines to keep the process fair to applicants.

Next steps

The tourism advisory committee’s recommendations and the revised application will proceed through the next steps, and staff will provide the updated packet and application deadlines to council and applicants.