Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Atax Grants Awards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ATAX advisory committee backs grants to farmers market, theater and holiday events; debates museum operating support
Summary
The Bluffton ATAX advisory committee recommended awards totaling multiple grants — including $55,300 for the Farmers Market and $42,008.01 for May River Theater — and approved smaller event grants. Members also debated whether ATAX money should fund operational costs for museums and cultural facilities and agreed to raise the issue with town council.
The ATAX advisory committee in Bluffton voted on Nov. 19 to recommend funding several local events and cultural organizations while opening a broader discussion about whether accommodations-tax dollars should pay museums’ operating costs.
The committee recommended $55,300 for the Farmers Market of Bluffton to support advertising and outreach and approved $42,008.01 for May River Theater’s 2025 marketing campaign. It also approved event grants including $25,100 for New Bluffton Worship’s Christmas Eve “Under the Stars” service and $27,000 for the Society of Bluffton Artists’ expanded marketing. The committee recommended $2,830 for Congregation Beth Yam’s Hanukkah/menorah‑lighting event. Each measure passed by a voice vote of committee members.
Why it matters: ATAX allocations — drawn from the town’s accommodations taxes — are intended to promote tourism and visitor spending. Committee members said their recommendations aim to drive visitors to Old Town Bluffton and support community festivals and arts attractions that generate economic activity.
What the committee did: Staff noted the quarter’s available ATAX balance was just under $700,000 and said state law requires a 15% allocation of quarterly receipts to the town capital-improvement program (CIP) for affordable housing; that amounted to $36,735 for this quarter. Six applicants requested a combined $196,916 from the quarter’s funds.
Representatives of funded groups described the events and marketing plans. The Farmers Market representative said the market runs year-round on Thursdays with about 40 vendors and is “strictly a farmer’s market” focused on food and plants. May River Theater said it is expanding its season and adding performances and digital marketing to reach a broader regional audience. New Bluffton Worship said its free, outdoor Christmas Eve gathering draws roughly 1,500–2,000 attendees and requested production and marketing help. Janet Kelly, president of Congregation Beth Yam, said the synagogue collected ZIP codes from 236 attendees last year and expects the Dec. 29 menorah lighting to be a community draw.
On eligibility and reductions: The committee reduced one applicant’s request to remove line items it judged ineligible — for example, a committee member said volunteer T‑shirts "don't normally would fall under purview of what we would fund." Staff and members reminded applicants that certain production or security line items may already be handled by the town or law enforcement and should not be duplicated in grant budgets.
Next steps: The advisory committee’s recommendations will move to the town council for final approval under the established schedule; staff outlined the application and meeting calendar for 2025. Committee members also flagged several items for follow-up, including requests for clearer applicant reporting and internal score‑sheet refinements so council can see why recommendations were made.
The committee adjourned after adopting the 2025 application deadlines and meeting schedule.
