Tourism leaders finalize plan for $1 million from tourism tax to use for lagoon projects

Brevard County's tourism agency has finalized its plan for targeting $1 million in the just-started budget year for Indian River Lagoon-related projects.

The money will come from the county's 5 percent Tourist Development Tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals.

The Brevard County Tourist Development Council voted unanimously last week to split up the money three ways:

• Up to $650,000 would go toward projects that would require at least a 3-1 match of money from other sources, such as the federal, state or a municipal government, an academic institution or another organization. For example, a $100,000 grant would need a $300,000 match from non-county sources.

• Up to $250,000 would go toward projects seeking grants of no more than $50,000 apiece that would not require these matching funds.

• Up to $100,000 would go toward communications efforts related to public awareness about lagoon projects, their status and their importance, as well as the tourism impacts of the lagoon.

More:County commissioners back ban on new conventional septic systems beachside, near lagoon

More:16 arts, cultural programs to share funds from tourism agency's Cultural Marketing Program

Space Coast Office of Tourism Finance Director Stacy DeLano said this effort will work in conjunction with the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and other organizations working on lagoon projects to coordinate efforts.

The Office of Tourism estimates that tourism is a $2.1 billion-a-year industry in Brevard County and the Indian River Lagoon is a $1.3 billion economic asset.

In a parallel effort, the Office of Tourism is working with the Florida Inland Navigation District to help develop a lagoon communications plan for the 2019-20 budget year that would be partially funded by $95,000 from the that state agency.

The application process to seek the $900,000 in project grants opened Monday and will close on Nov. 7. The grants must be for projects that demonstrate a benefit to the health of the Indian River Lagoon and a positive impact to Brevard County tourism, in one of these categories:

• Litter control at shorelines and causeways/entryways.

• Restoration and protection of living shorelines.

• Habitat restoration to support fishing and wildlife viewing.

• Waterway destinations and access for improved and sustainable recreational waterway access.

To be eligible to apply for what's being called the Tourism + Lagoon Competitive Grant Program, applicants must be one of the following:

• A nongovernment, nonprofit, tax-exempt Florida corporation.

•  A local government within Brevard County, including a city, town or the county.

• An academic institution.

Tourist Development Council member Laurilee Thompson, co-owner of Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant in Titusville, said she is proud that the council and the Brevard County Commission approved this new grant program.

"It's all about helping the lagoon," said Thompson, who chairs the Tourist Development Council's Beach Committee.

The money specifically would come from the beach fund, which gets 25 percent of Tourist Development Tax revenue.

Tourist Development Council member Bob Baugher, a hotel owner who chairs the council's Marketing Committee, said it is important to have the 3-1 required match for the larger grants because that's similar to the match the county gets for beach renourishment projects that use the largest share of the money from the beach fund.

The Beach Committee will evaluate and score the grant applications in early December, then present its recommendations to the Tourist Development Council on Dec. 19. Individual grants of more than $100,000 apiece also would need approval of the County Commission.

Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, said he is supportive of the program. A bill that Fine pushed in the 2018 Florida Legislature session helped pave the way for use of Tourist Development Tax money for lagoon-related projects.

"I am very pleased to see the Tourist Development Council had a change of heart on my legislation and has decided to begin implementing it," Fine said. "Dedicating $1 million, or 7 percent of the TDC budget, to repairing the No. 1 tourism asset in the county is a good first step, and I hope they will expand the program moving forward. As one of the co-sponsors of the legislation to create $50 million in recurring state matching funds to save the lagoon, this decision will help me fight for those dollars next session."

Applicants must receive a store of 75 or higher on a scale of 0 to 100 to be eligible to be considered for a grant.

The score sheet includes such factors as project urgency, alignment with the tourism/lagoon mission, benefits to the lagoon and tourism, project readiness, applicant expertise and experience, and participation in a pre-application meeting scheduled for Oct. 8. Applicants will get 10 bonus points for a 3:1 funding match and 20 bonus points for a 4:1 funding match.

To access the online application, go to:

http://LagoonLifeGrants.Application.sgizmo.com/s3/

Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649

or dberman@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @bydaveberman

Facebook:  /dave.berman.54

Support local journalism:  Subscribe at floridatoday.com/subscribe