Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the ATAX Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ATAX panel recommends $1.3M in tourism grants, proposes a second funding cycle
Summary
The county’s ATAX committee recommended allocations from the $1.3 million state ATAX pot and proposed reopening applications for a second cycle to distribute leftover funds. The committee recommended full funding of a $195,000 request from the Greater Beaufort/Port Royal CVB and set aside $75,000 to help under‑resourced applicants.
Jonathan Sullivan, chair of the county’s state ATAX committee, presented the group’s recommendations to the Finance Committee on Oct. 28, saying the committee had $1.3 million available under the 2% state ATAX collection and that their initial recommendations left about $537,000 unspent.
"This year, we had $1,300,000 to make recommendations... the net difference is about $537,000," Sullivan said, and added that the committee wants to open a second application cycle so additional or new applicants can seek funds. Sullivan said staff plans a workshop in mid‑November for applicants who have not yet participated.
The committee recommended full funding for the Greater Beaufort/Port Royal Convention & Visitors Bureau’s $195,000 request and set aside $75,000 so the CVB can help smaller organizations with marketing that might not otherwise meet timing constraints. Sullivan emphasized the committee’s emphasis on tourism‑generation metrics, detailed budgets and P&L statements in review of each application.
Committee members asked whether previously funded applicants could apply again in a second cycle; Sullivan said yes, and that the committee had asked applicants to break multi‑event requests into distinct proposals to make evaluation easier. Several applicants who applied to the wrong jurisdiction or missed the workshop were told they could reapply during the second cycle if they attend the required workshop.
The Finance Committee voted to forward the ATAX recommendations to County Council for final action; staff said the second cycle would likely be heard by the committee again in January and returned to Council in February.
