Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Chamber Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winston Chamber seeks extension of expired TRT-backed contract as city warns of reduced room-tax revenue
Summary
The Winston Chamber asked the council to extend an expired agreement that provided $1,000 a month from transient room tax funds for tourism activities; staff warned TRT revenue has dropped and said the item will be on a future agenda.
Representatives of the Winston Chamber of Commerce asked the city council on June 15 to extend an expired contract that had provided $1,000 per month of transient room tax (TRT) money to support chamber tourism activities.
Chamber president Theresa DeHolt and vice president Steven Johnson described chamber activities — social-media promotion of local events, tourism brochure distribution, a student newsletter, support for a Regional Main Street program and a First Citizens banquet — and said the chamber currently has about 40 members. Theresa said the chamber had been approved to be part of the Regional Main Street program and described planned activities.
Staff and councilors noted procedural constraints and warned that TRT revenue has dropped since the city lost a hotel; staff said available carryover was roughly $6,800–$7,000 and cautioned that committing $12,000 a year to the chamber would significantly reduce other TRT-funded activities. The city suggested placing the contract discussion on a future agenda for formal consideration.
Council did not make a final funding decision at the meeting; staff said the chamber extension will appear on a future agenda where council can weigh priorities and available TRT funds.
