Visit St. Pete Clearwater staff asked the advisory panel to recommend $65,000 in elite-event funding for a joint package that includes the MLK parade and the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival.

Craig Campbell, director of community engagement for Visit St. Pete Clearwater, said the prior recommended organizer (Advantage Village Academy) was replaced through the city’s RFP process by the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival. The new organizer submitted a joint application on Nov. 3 requesting the same $65,000 level. Staff cited combined estimates of 15,000 attendees, roughly 1,200 room nights and more than $1 million in projected economic impact for the two events together.

Board members had no further substantive questions about the application packet; staff noted the organizer has engaged a CPA and is amending tax filings to reflect larger event activity. The board moved, seconded and voted unanimously to recommend $65,000 in funding for the joint event package.

What’s next: staff will complete any outstanding application paperwork and advance the funding recommendation through the usual approval process.