Okaloosa County BOCC — January 26, 2017 — I. h. VisitFlorida Grant Application — reading text

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: January 26, 2017 TO: Tourist Development Council FROM: Darrel Jones, Interim Tourist Development Department Director Erika Zambello, Marine Economic & Tourism Development Resource Coord. SUBJECT: Visit Florida Grant Application STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request approval to submit a grant application under Visit Florida’s Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grant Program (CHRN-Marketing) to fund an artificial reef video, and to accept the grant if awarded. BACKGROUND: Visit Florida administers the CHRN-Marketing grant program to publicize the tourism advantages of Florida’s cultural, heritage, rural and nature tourism products. Each grant awarded under the program is limited to $5,000 and must be matched by non-state dollars. Staff proposes applying for $5,000 – matched by $5,000 budgeted for ecotourism promotion in the fifth penny – to create an artificial reef video highlighting the snorkel, dive, and angling opportunities along the Emerald Coast. The video would follow a narration arc that includes definitions of artificial reefs, background on Okaloosa County construction projects, what divers, anglers, and snorkelers can expect to see on their expeditions, and what resources the CVB provides to those looking to get underwater. In addition to underwater landscapes and drone images from above, the video would include footage of launch points, the harbor (where the scuba and snorkel trips depart), beautiful beaches, and interviews. The video would showcase not only options for beginners (including snorkeling and snuba), but also the advantages for advanced divers and underwater photographers. Interviews with local business owners, like charter captains and scuba outfitters, would further showcase the unique fishing and diving community calling the Emerald Coast home. The draft grant application is attached for reference. The application deadline is February 10, 2017. All project/program expenditures must be completed between July 2017 and June 2018. Pursuant to section E.300 of the TDD Manual, the Council shall review and provide a recommendation for all proposed grant agreements requiring Board approval and expenditure of tourist development tax dollars. OPTIONS: Approve or Deny RECOMMENDATION TO BCC: Contingent upon completion of the County coordination process, authorize submission of a $10,000 application ($5,000 grant, $5,000 TDT match) to Visit Florida’s Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grant Program (CHRN-Marketing) for an artificial reef video, and authorize acceptance of the grant if awarded. Application Summary Page 1 of 5 Application Summary of : Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners | Eubanks, Marcella Program Name : Emerald Coast Artificial Reef Video Organization Information Organization Information All applicants must meet eligibility requirements for the grant program. The eligibility questions are used to narrow the grant that an applicant is possibly eligible to receive. *Are you a Non-for-Profit Company? No *Are you a public entity, school district, community college, or Yes university? *Are you a current VISIT FLORIDA Premier Partner? Yes MUST BE to meet eligibility for CHRN grants. *Are you representing a rural community? No Contact Information Contact Information *Applicant Business Name: Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners *Applicant Business Mailing Address: 302 N Wilson Street, Suite 203 *City: Crestview *State: Florida *Zipcode: 32536 *Applicant Business Telephone Number: 850-689-5000 This is the person whom all correspondence will be directed to with regards to this grant throughout the grant period. Applicant Contact Information: *Applicant Contact Name: Marcella B Eubanks *Applicant Contact Person Email: meubanks@okaloosaclerk.com *Applicant Contact Person Telephone: 850-689-5000 Support Documentation Support Documentation Please remember that line 1 of your W-9 form, should match what you list as your legal name on your Minority letter. If you would like checks to be made out to a DBA, please include that on line 2 of your W-9. Download and fill the IRS W-9 Form and upload it back once filled. *Upload the completely filled IRS W-9 Form: W9.pdf Download and fill the Minority Vendor Letter and upload it back once filled. *Upload the completely filled Minority Vendor Letter: Minority Vendor Letter.pdf Project or Program Event Project or Program Event *Program Name: Emerald Coast Artificial Reef Video *Start Date: 7/01/2017 *End Date: 6/15/2018 Timeline for Project/Program/Event to take place. Dates must fall https://visitflorida.communityforce.com/SummaryReport/SummaryReport.aspx?4B534279... 1/19/2017 Application Summary Page 2 of 5 after 7/1/17, and before 6/15/18. The maximum value available for the grant program is CHRN- Marketing Max of $ 5,000 *Grant Amount Requested: 5000. *Are you applying for any No other grants through VISIT FLORIDA? Project/Program/Event Information and Details *Briefly describe the The Emerald Coast has leveraged NRDA and RESTORE funding to build a network of artificial reefs for fishing, divi mission/purpose of the coastline. In addition to concrete rubble reefs, concrete module reefs, and sunken vessels already placed in state an project/program/event in County is building eight snorkel reefs and additional fish havens to create an underwater artificial reef trail to increas which funding is requested overnight visitors–to our county. for the purpose of promoting The artificial reefs soon become a haven for soft corals and schools of fish that are both beautiful and attractive for r tourism in(to) Florida. Be highlighting these ecotourism resources, including the community effort that went into their construction would creat sure you are detailed, clear attract ecotourists to our region (see Collier County for a great example: and concise in describing http://www.paradisecoast.com/media_center/news_releases/documentary_on_collier_county_s_new_artificial_reef_ your mission/purpose for -tv). the project/program/event. If The video would follow a narration arc that includes defining what artificial reefs are background on Okaloosa Count using an upload please type divers, anglers, and snorkelers can expect to see on their expeditions, and what resources the CVB provides to thos "See Attached" in the addition to underwater landscapes and drone images from above, the video would include footage of launch points, response here. (max. 300 snorkel trips depart), beautiful beaches, and interviews. words): In addition, the video would showcase not only options for beginners (including snorkeling and snuba), but also the and underwater photographers. Interviews with local business owners, like charter captains and scuba outfitters, wo fishing and diving community who call the Emerald Coast home. Upload the Mission/Purpose option. *Is this a repeat No project/program/event or extension to a previous project/program/event? *Name the Florida Okaloosa County counties/municipalities involved/impacted by the project /program/event. (max. 20 words) *Describe your The video would draw additional visitors to the region to dive, fish, snorkel, and snuba on the many artificial reefs. T project/program/event’s economic boon not only to hotels and restaurants catering to ecotourists during their stay, but also to the scuba and expected economic impact responsible for ferrying visitors to the farther sites and providing guided tours. (QUOTE FROM DESTIN SNORKEL? in the community. Provide According to 2013 tourism statistics from Visit Florida (“The Northwest Vacation Region”), the average daily expend details on what those day, with 2.7 individuals who stay an average of 4 nights. Given all of the Emerald Coast’s artificial reef resources, f expectations include. If using exploring the different options. Taking into account the five month snorkel/dive season, if the video led to just one ad an upload please type "See day, that would equate to over $50,000 in direct spending. According to the Haas Center’s report on Tourism in Oka Attached" in the response here. approximate x 12.5% multiplier to account for indirect spending and a x 11.7% multiplier for induced spending in Ok The resulting revenue gained is summarized in the table below: Direct Indirect Induced Total Additional group/day $54,675 $6,834 $6,432 $67,941 Moreover, the angling season runs the entire year. If just one additional angling group visits the artificial reef networ to the economy is even higher: Direct Indirect Induced Total Additional group/day $133,043 $16,630 $15,566 $233,180 Taken together, just one additional diving and angling group per day would result in $301,121 additional dollars eve our artificial reef system, displayed artfully in the video, there is every reason to assume these figures are the low en Upload your expected economic impact in the community option. *Detail your strategy for We would use the video as an important component of our ecotourism marketing on both social media and emerald marketing the proposed likes on our Facebook page, over 11,000 followers on Instagram, and over 8,000 followers on Twitter, we could gen project/program/event, by traffic and sharing through our own network. In addition, the video would become part of the ecotourism section of th providing details of your 60,000 visits per month. After watching the video, visitors would merely have to scroll down to see