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The Brevard County Commission on Tuesday continued to weigh whether to continue county-funded marketing support for 44 major events, arts and cultural organizations and events, and sports events, under a revamped grant program.
In a unanimous decision in Tuesday, the Board voted to table the vote until after workshops could be conducted to determine if other groups should also be eligible for grants.
The county recently changed the eligibility guidelines for the program requiring events to draw 5,000 out-of-town visitors, up from 1,000. That change eliminated some events that have received funding in the past, such as the Native Rhythms Festival held at Wickham Park this past weekend.
But the commission now wants to hold workshops to give those smaller groups the chance to make the case that they, too, should be eligible for grant money.
The money for the grants comes from Brevard County’s 5% tourist development tax on hotel rooms, vacation rentals and other short-term rentals. Would-be recipients apply through the Tourist Development Council, which passes on a list of eligible programs to the county commission, which has the final say.
Newly elected commissioners will have a say
By delaying a decision Tuesday, the current Board passed the task of allocating the total $805,000 recommended by the advisory Brevard County Tourist Development Council onto a future commission that will be comprised of three new members just chosen by voters in November’s election.
Commissioners Rita Pritchett and John Tobia will step down next week due to term limits to be replaced by Katie Delaney and Kim Adkinson respectively. Commission Chair Jason Steele, finishing his term after being appointed by the governor, will be replaced by Thad Altman. Steele was not present for Tuesday’s meeting, which would have been his last. Commissioner John Tobia on Tuesday said some of the non-profits receiving county money were already flush and not in need of further funding from the public.
Although he supports the new guidelines, John Tobia said “it’s clear there are some holes in it,” adding that some of those issues could be addressed in public workshops. Doug Taylor, director of communications for the Melbourne Art Festival, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting on behalf of the non-profits who would be affected by the decision not to receive funding for local groups. “These events are economic drivers,” he said. “Each event that has been excluded brings between one and two thousand visitors to the area every year.” “These visitors are exactly who we want to attract,” Taylor said. “By supporting these non-profits, you are investing in the very foundation of our community.”Taylor emphasized that the TDC grant funding from hotel room taxes are mandated by voters to be invested into tourism-drawing events like his and others, putting pressure on the Board to approve the grants.
Last year, the Melbourne Art Festival was awarded a $15,000 county cultural grant but did not qualify for a county grant this year because it didn’t meet the new out-of-county visitor target.
Among other changes in the program, the grants now can be used only for out-of-county marketing that is coordinated by the county’s Space Coast Office of Tourism; or for rental of county venues, such as a county park for a sports tournament, in the case of the sports grants.
Previous versions of county arts and sports grant programs allowed for more flexibility in use of the money.
The board also voted that groups who would potentially miss out on funding while workshops were conducted could be reimbursed if they are later determined to be eligible.
Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or [email protected]
