Citrus County tourist board OKs $5,000 fair grant and $80,000 toward 3 Sisters Springs improvements

The Citrus County Tourist Development Council unanimously approved two grants at its Jan. 14 meeting: $5,000 to the Citrus County Fair Association for special-event marketing, and an $80,000 contribution to the Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge for improvements at 3 Sisters Springs.

Katrina Letourneau, who identified herself as a member of the Citrus County Fair Association board, told the council the 2026 fair is set for March 23–29 and that the event’s advertising budget is $17,530. She said the fair typically blocks about 25 motel rooms for seven nights (roughly 175 room nights) and provides agricultural, educational and cultural programs for local students and families. “We provide scholarship opportunities, and we also provide the community with agricultural, educational, and cultural pursuits,” Letourneau said.

Board members moved quickly to approve the request. The motion to award $5,000 passed unanimously.

The council then heard from Jerry Mulligan of the Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, who asked TDC for an $80,000 contribution to a $400,000 project to build two viewing platforms, an observation platform and a small fishing pier at 3 Sisters Springs. Mulligan said the project is part of the refuge’s previously agreed management plan and that partners already have pledged roughly $300,000: $200,000 from the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge Service, $25,000 from the Friends group, $25,000 from the city of Crystal River, $5,000 from Pete’s Pier and $1,000 from a hotel management company. He said Ecopile, a Homosassa business, has pledged donated materials valued at about $20,300 (approximate).

Mulligan emphasized accessibility and education goals, saying the platforms will be ADA accessible and that one objective is to provide hands-on fishing experiences for students through partnerships with local education groups. “We’re building these viewing platforms so that they can climb up and see the manatee from a specific height,” Mulligan said.

Following brief discussion about funding and fundraising timelines, the council recorded a motion to approve the TDC contribution; the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps outlined by staff include finalizing the project budget and continuing fundraising outreach to agencies and private donors. Mulligan told the board he would continue seeking additional grants and agency support to reach the $400,000 total.