Subject:
Title
VSPC Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreement with the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce Inc. in 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 Director of Administrative Services of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) VSPC (Visit St. Pete-Clearwater) Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreement (Special Funding Agreement) with Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce Inc. (Gulfport Chamber) in support of visitor center promotions and staffing assistance.
• Special Funding Agreement for $15,000 provides support to the Gulfport Chamber as it works to resume visitor services after being severely impacted by the 2024 hurricanes.
• Funding is allocated between promotions and visitor center staffing:
o $9,750 - Visitor Center & Chamber Promotions
o $5,250 - 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:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The Special Funding Agreement will provide support to the Gulfport Chamber for visitor center promotions and staffing as it works to resume services following the 2024 hurricanes. The Agreement is retroactive to October 1, 2024, and expires 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.
Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, VSPC worked with the County Attorney to develop an alternative “Special Funding Agreement” for chambers that had been severely impacted. The main goal was to achieve the lowest financial obligation to the County. In addition, the agreement provided for repairs and relocation expenses and removed the 1:1 match requirement for staff reimbursements.
Chambers that are subject to the terms of the Standard Funding Agreement are required to provide deliverables that are customized according to the size of the chamber.
On January 28, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners approved Special Funding Agreements for six chambers of commerce. At that time, it wasn’t known if the Gulfport Chamber would be able to resume operations. It wasn’t until recently that VSPC was notified the Gulfport Chamber had hired staff and was ready to reopen on June 14, 2025.
FY25 Special Funding Agreements:
$171,000 Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 51,000 Greater Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated
$ 15,000 Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce Inc.
$ 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.
________
$447,000 Total
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.
_______
$153,000 Total
Fiscal Impact:
$15,000 Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce Inc.
Support for the Special Funding Agreement is provided through VSPC’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Director of Administrative Services to sign the Special Funding Agreement was delegated by the County Administrator per the memo dated December 2, 2019.
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Chamber Marketing and Visitor Center Special Funding Agreement