Council approves $30,000 in local tourism/hospitality funds for veterans nonprofit concert

Council approved an additional $30,000 in local accommodations and hospitality tax funding for Operation Patriots FOB, a veterans-focused nonprofit that asked for extra advertising support for its May 9 concert. Kimberly Burgess explained the local/state accommodations and hospitality tax processes and said the local hospitality/accommodations funds must be used for tourism-related purposes; organizations applying must submit budgets and later report spending.

J.R. Brown, representing the organization, said the FOB provides peer-to-peer programs on a 268-acre site for veterans, first responders and families and that the concert is their largest fundraiser. He said the organization had 50,000 visits to the facility over five and a half years and that last year 93 cents of every dollar raised supported programming. Brown estimated 4,000 to 5,000 attendees for the May concert and emphasized that many attendees come from neighboring counties, bolstering the tourism rationale for the funding.

Councilmembers asked about talent pricing, how the organization delivers services, and the fund accounting. Staff said the organization previously received $89,600 and the additional $30,000 would come from the local combined accommodations and hospitality tax fund. Burgess provided accounting figures: through Dec. 31, 2025 the county had local accommodations receipts of $121,671 and local hospitality receipts of $378,257 (total $497,928); approved allocations for the fiscal year totaled $986,197 and the county held approximately $1.3 million in carryforward funds from prior years.

Council granted the requested $30,000 by motion. Staff noted organizations must submit a final financial statement showing how funds were used; council retains the right to seek receipts or additional review if necessary.