Subject:
Title
VSPC Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Standard 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 Standard Funding Agreements (Funding Agreements) in support of six local chambers for visitor center promotions and assistance with staffing.
• Funding Agreements totaling $153,000 support six chambers during FY25.
• Funding is based on a formula and is allocated between promotions and visitor center staffing:
o $99,450 - Visitor Center & Chamber Promotions
o $53,550 - 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.
• 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 Funding Agreements will provide $153,000 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 is the result of these discussions. Funding Agreement deliverables will vary from year to year and are customized according to the size of each chamber.
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. Agreements totaling $432,000 were processed for these chambers.
To date, an agreement with the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has yet to be processed. The CVB anticipates this agreement will be put forth in the near future.
FY25 Standard Funding Agreements:
$15,000 Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$15,000 Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$15,000 Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$15,000 Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$54,000 Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$39,000 Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
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$153,000 Total
Fiscal Impact:
Total Expenditure: $153,000
Support for Standard 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 Standard Funding Agreements:
Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inc.