Walton County’s tourism department presented updates to its marketing event grant program and proposed a new community sponsorship pilot intended to support smaller, locally focused events.

Changes to the marketing event grant program include a new after‑action reporting requirement for applicants to be eligible the following year and caps on large signature events ($25,000) and experience events ($10,000). The board approved those updates.

Staff also proposed a new community sponsorship model to fund smaller local events: up to $2,500 for single‑day events and up to $5,000 for multi‑day events. The tourism director said the pilot would be capped, expected to yield fewer than 20 awards, and would run on the same Oct. 1–Sept. 30 cycle as the marketing grants. Commissioners approved the pilot program concept and asked staff to return with detailed processes and budget alignment.

A separate citizen request for $5,000 (Summit on the Circle) had been recommended by the TDC 4–1, but commissioners debated whether a late award outside the standard application cycle was fair given South vs North Walton TDT restrictions. The motion to make a late award failed due to a lack of sustained second; staff advised the applicant could reapply in the next cycle or be considered if the board establishes a separate sponsorship funding stream with an identified budget.