Subject:
Title
VSPC Chamber Visitor Center Funding Agreements with local Chambers of Commerce for support of visitor center promotions and assistance with visitor center staffing during Fiscal Year 2022.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater (VSPC) Chamber Visitor Center Funding Agreements (Chamber Agreements) with local Chambers of Commerce for funding support in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
• Agreements for the total sum of $500,000 support local chambers of commerce during FY2022.
• Funding levels remain the same while the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) works to complete the Tourism Strategic Plan and develops a funding formula for future agreements.
• Chamber Agreements will be retroactively effective October 1, 2021.
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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 Chamber Agreements provide $500,000 in support to 13 participating chambers of commerce for visitor center promotions and staffing during FY22. The Agreements retroactively commence on October 1, 2021, and expire on September 30, 2022.
Background/Explanation:
The Chamber Agreements provide support to participating chambers for visitor center promotions, as well as provide a one-to-one County match, to assist the chambers with visitor center staffing costs. Chamber funding levels were kept the same for FY22 as the CVB looks to the completion of the Tourism Strategic Plan (TSP) to direct and shape the future of this program. The CVB anticipates the TSP to be completed in early 2022. Additionally, the CVB will continue to work with the chambers to arrive at a more equitable funding formula and deliverables in time to implement the next two-year Chamber Agreement, which will begin October 1, 2022.
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 Tourist Development Council approved the CVB’s budget on April 21, 2021, including $500,000 in support of this program.
FY22 Chamber Funding Allocations:
$ 30,568 Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$163,746 Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
$ 15,512 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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$500,000 Total FY22 Funding
Fiscal Impact:
Total Expenditure: $500,000
Support for the Chamber Agreements in the amount of $500,000 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 Chamber Agreements is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Steve Hayes, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Chamber Agreements:
Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater Clearwater 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.