Davis County tourism staff cleared to solicit in-kind donations for events

Deputy Director Jessica Merrill presented a request at the Feb. 17 work session for the Davis County Tourism program to solicit in-kind donations—such as gift cards and local products—to use as giveaways and baskets at county events, including the "Antelope by Moonlight" bike ride scheduled for July 31.

Merrill said sponsorships that require contracts are handled separately, but smaller donated items are commonly accepted and distributed at events; she emphasized that donated items are used at public events and are not kept in-house. Commissioners asked about tracking and accountability for donated items; Merrill said most items are tracked but acknowledged not every small item can be logged. Commissioner Lorene Kamalu praised the initiative's promotion of local businesses, and Chief Deputy Civil Attorney Neal Geddes said he will work with Merrill to prepare a formal request for approval at a Commission Meeting so the County's policy requirements are satisfied.

Next steps: staff from Community & Economic Development and the County Attorney's Office will prepare and present a formal policy request and any required procedural language at a future Commission Meeting.