Subject:
Title
Tourism Promotion Agreement with Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation, Inc. for a Fiscal Year 2026 Elite Event.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Tourism Promotion Agreement with Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) for the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, a Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Elite Event.
• Agreement with the Foundation for $75,000.00 supports the Clearwater Jazz Holiday.
• Funding is allocated between sponsorship benefits, and marketing and advertising expenditures and is paid post event:
o $30,000.00 for sponsorship benefits
o Up to the sum of $45,000.00 for pre-event marketing and advertising expenditures.
• FY26 Elite Event funding was recommended by the Tourist Development Council on June 25, 2025, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) on July 22, 2025.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The Tourism Promotion Agreement is for the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, which is scheduled to be held at Coachman Park on October 16-19, 2025. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Background/Explanation:
On July 22, 2025, the Board approved a total of 49 events for the FY26 Elite Event Funding Program (Elite Program) for a maximum (or “up to”) total funding amount of $2,685,000.00.
The County has supported the Clearwater Jazz Holiday through the Elite Program since FY13. According to the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB’s) research firm, the FY24 event resulted in a direct economic impact of over $3.1 million to the County. This year, the CVB will leverage the use of Street Level One LLC and Placer.ai market intelligence data, Destinations International’s Event Impact Calculator, zip codes and ticket data to substantiate the applicants attendance and to estimate economic impact and total room nights, which play an important role in the evaluation of this event for future funding purposes.
Funding for the FY26 Clearwater Jazz Holiday is allocated between sponsorship benefits, and marketing and advertising expenditures which are detailed in Exhibits A and B. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Fiscal Impact:
$75,000.00 Total Cost
Funding to support the Elite Event Funding Program is included in the CVB’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Tourism Promotion Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Tourism Promotion Agreement