Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager

FROM:

Megan Gilliland, Communications Manager

DATE:

January 28, 2016  

RE:

TGT Grant Program Review   

 

In the 2016 budget deliberations, the City Commission set aside $150,000 in Transient Guest Tax (TGT) funds for the purpose of creating a grant program that would allow the city to draw on budgeted funds for requests for support. The TGT Grant Program would fund events and programs that benefit the Lawrence community and/or enhance the visitor experience in Lawrence.  The Transient Guest Tax Fund is supported by a six percent (6%) tax collected on all overnight hotel stays in Lawrence.  The TGT is used to promote tourism and convention promotion in Lawrence.  Charter Ordinance No. 30 states that the TGT fund should be expended for the purposes as the City Commission determines promotes, enhances, maintains, or improves the tourism, visitor, or convention business of the city. 

 

The following goals and guidelines will be used in considering requests for funds from the Transient Guest Tax Grant Program.

 

GOALS

These funds should support events that:

·         demonstrate a measurable community or economic benefit,

·         enhance Lawrence’s character and reputation for tourist activities;

·         attract additional new events or strength existing events;

·         generate additional transient guest tax and sales tax for the community.

 

Staff is recommending that an advisory board of seven (7) members and two (2) staff members be given the task of gathering requests for support and making recommendations to the City Commission for the grant program, which will have two funding cycles each calendar year (February and October).  The advisory board will review the applications and make recommendations for funding to the City Commission for approval and final funding decisions.

 

Proposed timeline:

January 2016 – Stakeholder review of program (eXplore Lawrence, Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, etc.)  

February 9, 2016 – Commission review/approval of program

Mid-February 2016 – Hold an informational meeting for potential funders

March 3, 2016 – Close applications

March 10, 2016 – Advisory committee meets to review applications and make recommendations

March 29, 2016 – City Commission reviews applications and funding recommendations for approval

September 1, 2016 – Begin second solicitation process for grants for approval in late October 2015

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Provide staff guidance for program and make recommendations or changes as necessary.  

 

Staff recommends an advisory board be created and appointed at the February 16, 2016 City Commission comprised of the following representation:

 

2 hotel industry representatives

1 Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission representative 

1 eXplore Lawrence Governing Board member

2 community members (at-large) 

1 City Commission representative

 

Staff for the advisory board includes the City of Lawrence Communications Manager and City of Lawrence Director of Arts & Culture.  The advisory board will meet twice a year to review grant applications and make recommendations to the City Commission for funding approval.  A draft resolution is provided.