The Hilton Head Town Council again put faith in the ability of the Chamber of Commerce to draw people to the island as it handed out its latest round of bed tax grants in February. But it cut back on allocations elsewhere as the town continues its frugality efforts while the economy recovers.
The bed tax money comes from a state 2-percent tax on overnight lodging. It's the town's biggest chance every year to hand out money to events and organizations that will help promote tourism. The allocations act as a barometer for what elected officials see as important in the coming year in terms of attracting visitors and bolstering the island's reputation.
The chamber typically gets the largest chunk of the money, and this year was no exception: it received $300,000, a $2,400 boost from last year. The Coastal Discovery Museum received $165,000, part of a long-term agreement. The Hilton Head Island Concourse d'Elegance and Motoring Festival was awarded $78,000 for advertising what has become the second-largest event on the island after the Heritage. Other organizations saw smaller grants: The Sandbox children's museum got $30,000, a drop of $2,550 from what it received last year, and the Heritage Library received $15,000, down about $8,000 from the previous year. The council also said the library should work with the Coastal Discovery Museum to coordinate its efforts as it works toward opening a historical park on an old mid-island cemetery site. The Heritage Library should also consider moving its physical library into a public library, the council said.
The goal of the grants is to support tourism- and arts-related events and groups to attract visitors to the island.
