Subject:
Title
Amendment to the Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater Chamber Visitor Center Funding Agreements with local Chambers of Commerce for funding support in Fiscal Year 2021.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Amendment to the Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater Chamber Visitor Center Funding Agreements (Chamber Agreements) with local Chambers of Commerce for funding support in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.
• The Amendment will extend the current Chamber Agreements for one additional year to September 30, 2021.
• Chamber funding in FY21 remains at $500,000.00.
• The extension will provide the Convention and Visitors Bureau time to develop a solid funding formula and contract deliverables for the FY22-FY23 Chamber Agreements.
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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 Amendment is for a one-year extension of the current Chamber Agreements while chambers continue to recover from the effects of the worldwide pandemic. The CVB will use this time to work with chambers on the development of a more equitable funding formula and deliverables for the next two-year Chamber Agreement, which will begin October 1, 2021. The Chamber Agreements provide $500,000 in funding support to chambers for visitor center staffing and promotions.
Background/Explanation:
The CVB originally planned to implement a new two-year Chamber Agreement for FY21-FY22. Due to the worldwide pandemic, the CVB decided to keep the current agreements in place for one additional year as chambers continue to recover from the pandemic. The Amendments retroactively commence on October 1, 2020, and are in effect until September 30, 2021.
On December 10, 2019, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved the First Amendment to the Chamber Agreement with the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (Clearwater Chamber) to reallocate funding due a merger with the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
On July 21, 2020, the Board approved an Amendment to the Chamber Agreements that increased total chamber funding from $320,944 to $500,000. Although the CVB budgeted $500,000 to support chambers in FY20 and FY21, due to rounding, the total amount allocated was $499,999.
The July 2020 Amendment was the Second Amendment for the Clearwater Chamber and this action will be the Third Amendment for that chamber.
Chamber Funding Allocations:
$ 30,568 Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$163,746 Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 15,511 Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 10,496 Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 51,569 Greater Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated
$ 6,845 Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 6,845 Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 28,743 Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 49,269 St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 66,145 Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 38,784 The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 6,845 Treasure Island and Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 24,633 Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
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$499,999 FY21 Total VSPC Chamber Visitor Center Funding Agreements
In exchange for this support, the chambers will provide the CVB with a $500 annual credit toward chamber events, inform the CVB of community updates, distribute promotional materials, provide bi-annual reports of tourism/visitor center metrics, and more as detailed in the Chamber Agreements.
The CVB will work with the chambers during FY21 to develop and finalize a new funding formula and contract deliverables, which will take effect when the new Agreement begins on October 1, 2021.
Fiscal Impact:
$499,999 Total FY21 funding allocation to chambers
Support for the Amendments in the amount of $499,999 is provided through 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 the Amendments is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Steve Hayes, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Second Amendments:
Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated
Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Treasure Island and Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Third Amendment:
Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.