Subject:
Title
VSPC Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreements with six local Chambers of Commerce for support of visitor center promotions and assistance with visitor center staffing during Fiscal Year 2025.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) VSPC (Visit St. Pete-Clearwater) Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreements (Special Funding Agreements) in support of six local chambers for visitor center promotions and assistance with staffing.
• Special Funding Agreements totaling $432,000 support six chambers in their efforts to resume visitor services after being severely impacted by the recent hurricanes.
• Funding is based on a formula and is allocated between promotions and visitor center staffing:
o $280,800 - Visitor Center & Chamber Promotions
o $151,200 - Visitor Center Staffing
• A total of $600,000 has been approved for distribution between 13 participating chambers of commerce for providing visitor services during FY25.
• Special Funding Agreements are retroactively effective October 1, 2024.
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Strategic Plan:
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.6 Support a vibrant community with recreation, arts, and culture to attract residents and visitors
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
The Special Funding Agreements will provide $432,000 in support to six chambers of commerce for visitor center promotions and staffing during FY25. The Agreements retroactively commence on October 1, 2024, and expire on September 30, 2025.
Background/Explanation:
The purpose of this program is to support chambers as an extension of the VSPC’s sales, marketing and visitor experience departments and programs while coordinating a unified voice for the travel, tourism and hospitality stakeholders throughout the County. A total of $600,000 has been approved for chamber funding in FY25.
During FY24, VSPC worked with Crossroads Consulting Services LLC and chambers to develop a new more equitable chamber funding formula that would be utilized to determine funding allocations between 13 participating chambers of commerce beginning in FY25. Visitor metrics, which are reported by the chambers and a requirement of the funding agreements, were also updated during this process. The FY25 VSPC Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Standard Funding Agreement (Standard Funding Agreement) is the outcome from these discussions.
Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, VSPC worked with the County Attorney to develop an alternative “Special Funding Agreement” for six chambers that had been severely impacted.
The Special Funding Agreements include the following modifications:
1. Reduced chamber deliverables to achieve the lowest financial obligation
2. Addition of repairs and relocation expenditures
3. Removed 1:1 match requirement for staffing reimbursement
4. Removed reporting criteria related to distribution of visitor and business guides
All other chambers are subject to the terms of the Standard Funding Agreement which include deliverables that are customized according to the size of each chamber.
FY25 Special Funding Agreements:
$171,000 Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 51,000 Greater Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated
$ 60,000 St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 72,000 Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 39,000 The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 39,000 Treasure Island & Madiera Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
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$432,000 Total
Fiscal Impact:
Total Expenditure: $432,000
Support for Special Funding Agreements is provided through VSPC’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign the Special Agreements is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreements:
Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Treasure Island & Madiera Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc.