From staff reports
Beaufort County Council unanimously approved nearly $5 million in grants to local organizations and park projects that will help with tourism and activities for visitors and residents, according to a Tuesday news release.
“Local Accommodations Tax (“Local A-Tax”) helps to ensure our County is a great place to live, work and play,” Beaufort County Public Information Officer Chris Ophardt said in the release. “The County Administration would like to thank all those that applied.”
Beaufort County started the Local Accommodation Tax and Local Hospitality Tax application process in October 2021, with the closing of applications on December 31. The applications were reviewed by the Local Accommodation Tax and Local Hospitality Tax Committee for compliance with the local statutes and their individual need and merit.
The Local Accommodation Tax Fund budgeted $2,579,920 to award, and Local Hospitality Tax Fund budgeted $2,396,736 to award for combined total of $4,976,656 available to award for 2022.
List of approved projects include:
Whitehall Park Construction on Lady’s Island – $560,478
Annual Boat Landing Maintenance – $200,000
Burton Wells Pickleball Courts – $200,000 … Note: $140,000 awarded by State ATAX
Daufuskie Island Beach Access and Restrooms – $250,000
Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail – Ribaut Road Crossing – $125,000
Beaufort Executive Airport – Terminal Exterior Rejuvenation – $75,000
Hilton Head Island Airport Air Service Marketing – $30,000
Broad River Fishing Pier – Phase II – $230,000
Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands – Trail Map Brochure Birthday for the Birds 2022 – $1,375 partial award for marketing funds
HHI St. Pat’s Parade Foundation – 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade – $10,000
Daufuskie Island Foundation Daufuskie Day Celebration – $12,600
Sea Turtle Patrol HHI – Sea Turtle Hospitality Event – $5,000
2023 Beaufort Oyster Festival – $20,000 – Full award for marketing, police, fire and security costs. City of Beaufort co-sponsors event and contributes in-kind services.
Pat Conroy Literacy Center – $134,000
Gullah Museum of HHI – Gullah Museum Migrant House Renovation Project – $36,875
First African Baptist Church of Beaufort – Repair and Preservation of Church – $259,480
Tabernacle Baptist Church – Harriet Tubman Statue – $250,000
List of projects that did not receive funding:
Okatie River Park Construction – $615,562
Reason: project deemed not enough of a tourist draw to fund.
Friends of Beaufort County Library – Annual Book Sale – $15,000
Reason: Event at facility owned by another entity. FOBL should pursue funding from the City of Beaufort
Penn Center – Phase II – $1,200,000
Reason: Funds from 2019 Award unspent; ineligible for further funding at this time.
Public Boat Landings Study – $162,966
Reason: Funding a study deemed outside the scope of allowable ATAX/HTAX allocations
Friends of Beaufort County Library Story Walk – $10,000
Reason: All signs will be installed within the City of Beaufort; final sites not yet determined. City of Beaufort has not been approached for ATAX funding
Beaufort Co. Black Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Derby 2022 – $34,700
Travel Professionals of Color Conference – $33,645
Southeast Business Summit – $30,500
Black Moses Freedom Festival – $44,500
Art for Art’s Sake – $17,000
Reason: Reporting incomplete, previous awards unspent; Ineligible for further awards
Port Royal Sound Foundation Research Campus – $442,000
Reason: Reporting incomplete, previous awards unspent; Ineligible for further awards
Wimbee Creek Fishing Pier – $800,000
Reason: Demolition on its own is not an allowable expense.
