ATAX committee approves grants for farmers market, orchestra, Juneteenth and Hayward House; partial award for search-and-rescue marketing

The Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee approved a series of grant disbursements and budget adjustments during its May 19 meeting. After staff reported the ATAX fund balance (just over $517,000), the committee took up several grant requests.

Kim Biljack, representing the Farmers Market, requested an additional $9,375 to cover a newly charged rental fee for Martin Family Park that had previously been provided in-kind. A committee member moved to approve the additional amount and the motion carried.

Alan Jordan, identified as president and CEO of the local community orchestra, presented revised audience-reach statistics and said the organization would not include television ads this year because of sponsorship-recognition requirements; the committee approved the orchestra's ATAX grant of $46,818.

The committee voted to award $20,000 to the Bluffton MLK committee for the eleventh annual Juneteenth weekend (June 18–21), which organizers described as three events over a weekend including a ticketed Sunday jazz brunch. Angela Douglas estimated strong attendance across the weekend and noted out-of-state visitors among attendees.

The Hayward House Museum requested $50,000 (approximately 20% of its operating budget) for operations; Stacy Graziani said visitor numbers have increased and that the museum can match funds where required. The committee approved the $50,000 request.

Separately, the committee debated a marketing request from Beaufort Water Search and Rescue connected to an equipment application. Members said they were concerned the marketing request did not clearly demonstrate it would attract overnight visitors, and they voted to not award the full marketing request but to issue a partial award of $7,500. Several motions were made and carried by voice votes; the meeting minutes do not record roll-call tallies.