Aug 19, 2025 Bluffton Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee

SO YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN COMPARED TO THE SAME QUARTER LAST CALENDAR YEAR, REVENUES ARE DOWN ABOUT FOUR AND A 5%, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025, THEY ARE UP AROUND 5%.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT YOU THINK NATALIE,

[V. FINANCIAL REPORT]

WE HAVE ALL OUR RULES AND PUT THE INITIAL $25,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND DESIGNATED TO OUR DMO LAPSED A FEW GRANTS.

AND AFTER ALL THAT, WE HAVE AROUND $657,000 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION.

WE HAVE SEVEN APPLICANTS HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR A TOTAL REQUEST OF 275,500.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? ANYTHING? THANK YOU.

UM, KIND OF SPEEDY JUST BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH IT AS FAST AS WE CAN.

UM,

[VI.1. Grant Application Q&A: Michael C. Riley High School Alumni Association - Project Face-Lift ]

OLD BUSINESS, UH, NC RILEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WAS UP FOR THEIRS LAST QUARTER AND NOAH WAS HERE.

DO WE WANT TO START WITH THAT OR OPEN BUSINESS IF YOU WANT IT.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

MY NAME IS MURRAY CHRISTOPHER, REPRESENTING THE MICHAEL SC VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

IF YOU WERE GIVEN A HANDOUT INITIALLY, IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE HANDOUT AT THE FRONT OF THE PICTURE THAT IS ON IT.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS PHASES ONE AND TWO OF THE PROJECT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE REAR OF THE PROJECT, YOU WOULD SEE CHAIN LINK FENCES AROUND THE TWO SIDES AND THE, THE BACK OF THE GARDEN, THAT IS WHAT PHASE THREE IS GOING TO REPLACE THOSE CHANNELING FENCES AND ADD THE WR IRON FENCE COMMENSURATE WITH THE ONES THAT ARE IN FRONT.

SO BASICALLY WHAT THIS PRO PROJECT FACELIFT IS GOING TO DO IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO REPEAT WHAT'S ON THE FRONT OF THAT COVER AND THE BACK SO THAT ANYONE THAT'S VISITING, VISITING THE GARDEN WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE GARDEN FROM THE PARK INSTEAD OF COMING ALL THE WAY AROUND TO GET INTO THE PARK, INTO THE GARDEN THROUGH THE FRONT ENTRANCE.

AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE, UM, THE BACK OF THE PAGE, OUR BUDGET FOR THE MICHAELS REVISED PHASE TWO PROJECT FACELIFT PHASE THREE, PHASE THREE COVERS THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT CHAIN LINK FENCE AND EXTENSION OF THE FENCE ABOUT FOUR FEET FROM THE BACK OF WHERE IT'S NOW INTO THE PARK ITSELF.

AND THIS, THESE ARE THE COSTS THAT WE, ESTIMATED COSTS THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED FOR, TO MAKE THAT PROJECT HAPPEN.

ALREADY TO YES, WE HAVE PERMISSION TO FORM THE DE COUNTY REC TO MOVE THAT FENCE AND TO REPLACE IT WITH CHANNELING WITH THE WR IRON FENCE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SO I MIGHT START, SO Y'ALL HAVE PERMISSION

[00:05:01]

WHAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING UPDATED FROM YOUR LAST, FROM LAST MEETING? YES.

IT'S BEEN UPDATED.

IT'S AT THE BOTTOM, THE BOTTOM NUMBER ON THAT 37,002 50.

THE NEW APPLICATION WASN'T SUBMITTED.

SO THEIR LAST APPLICATION WAS REQUESTING $20,000.

THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE FIRST APPLICATION WAS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A COST FOR CONSTRUCTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND LABOR COST, WHICH IS A $10,000 AMOUNT, THAT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT WAS SUBMITTED LAST TIME.

AND SO YOU, YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO GRAB THE EXTRA FOUR FEET FROM RACK? YES.

YOU, YOU'VE GOT BUILDING PER PERMITS TO DO WE HAVEN'T DONE, NO, SIR.

WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF THAT OF YET.

ALL RIGHT.

AND SO FORGIVE ME, I, THIS IS OVER THERE, BUT I'M OVER THERE ALL THE TIME ACTUALLY.

BUT IN THERE, THERE LIKE A GREAT BIG LIVE OAK TREE RIGHT THERE.

SEVERAL THERE.

SEVERAL LIVE OAK TREES.

AND THEY'RE WITHIN THE, THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROJECT YES.

WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR PROPOSED AREA.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO CAPTURE THOSE.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE YOUR DRAWING SHOWS LOOKS LIKE CRATE MURDERS, NOT BIG LIVE OAK TREES.

WELL, THEY, THEY WERE REPRESENT THE LIVE OAK TREES BECAUSE WE HAD A SURVEY DONE TO LOCATE THOSE TREES.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES.

IT'S GOING TO YES SIR.

THEY'RE IN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THEY'RE IN THE BOUNDARIES CURRENTLY, BUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH THE SAME WR IRON FENCE THAT'S IN THE FRONT OF THE, OF THE GARDEN.

I JUST, AND I HAD IN MY MIND, I'M VISUALLY TRYING TO SEE HOW YOU CAPTURE AROUND THESE LIVE OAKS IN THE EXISTING FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IS THEY'RE BIG.

WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE, WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY REC AND WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO TRIM SOME OF THE LIVE OAKS BECAUSE THE LIMBS WERE HANGING OVER THE, INTO THE FENCE.

AND THEY DID THAT FOR US DURING THIS PAST SUMMER.

ALRIGHT.

SO WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO DO ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST TWO PHASES AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO DO THAT.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE PERMIT FROM NO SIR.

DID THE NEW CONSTRUCTION? NO, WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT AS OF YET.

CAN WE PROVIDE FUNDING SUBJECT TO GETTING THE PERMIT? THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD, YEAH.

I'M SORRY TO TAKE UP THAT.

NO, YOU'RE FINE.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY TOURISTS COME TO YOUR LITTLE AREA? NO, WE HAVE NOT.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT AS OF YET.

HOW ABOUT ALUMNI? HOW MANY ALUMNI STILL LIVE WITHIN THE AREA? YEAH, QUITE A FEW.

ARE QUITE A FEW.

BUT YOUR ALUMNI, YOU HAD LAST YEAR, VERY LITTLE KIDS.

UM, WAS THERE, DID ANYBODY CAPTURE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE WHO WERE ON THAT LIST AGAIN? I, I THINK WE DO.

WE HAVE TICKET SOLD SO WE HAVE THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE 'EM? NO, I DON'T HAVE 'EM WITH ME.

NO, I KNEW THAT.

I THINK IT RAIN IN YOUR HOT THE CALL.

IT DID.

YES IT DID.

WE DID HAVE, WE DID, WE HAD A FEW SHOWERS THAT WERE YOU THERE? YES, SIR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS THEN WE ARE DOING, INITIALLY IT WAS A $20,000 REQUEST.

NOW IT'S 37, 2 50 37.

TWO 50.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, MAY I ASK HELP FROM THIS, FROM STAFF? SO MY UNDERSTANDING INCORRECTLY, THE, THE APPLICATION'S FOR 20,000 AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS 20,000.

[00:10:02]

IF YOU WANT TO DO THE 37, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT A NEW APPLICATION IN.

SO I GUESS THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION BECAUSE WE, YOUR APPLICATION THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT LAST QUARTER WAS FOR 20,000.

JUST WANNA KEEP IT AND KEEP GOING.

KEEP GOING.

ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

UM, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION REQUEST OF $20,000 SUBJECT TO GETTING FINAL PERMITS FROM THE APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS FOR THE PARTY.

I SECOND THE MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

I DO.

SO MY CONCERN IS THE JUROR, 'CAUSE MOST THINGS ARE ON A PERCENTAGE OF T DOES THAT MATTER OR IS THIS DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THIS IS OR IS A PERCENTAGE NOT APPLICABLE TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS, BUT THE 50 50 MATCH CLASS CLAUSE STILL HAS TO BE TOWARDS CHURCH THOUGH.

WELL THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION SAID THAT, UM, THAT IT MENTIONED 25% TOURIST ATTENDANCE TO YOUR PREVIOUS, UM, EVENT, RIGHT? YES, THAT'S WHAT I READ.

THAT DOES DETERMINE IF IT'S ENOUGH OF A RETRIAL.

OKAY, WELL WE HAVE A MOTION.

SO IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

EVERYBODY CAN TURN IN THEIR SCORE SHEET PLEASE.

I THINK SINCE WE STARTED THIS WAY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS JUST GO AHEAD AND DO THE APPLICATIONS AND THEN WE'LL DO THE ELECTION AT THE END.

IS THAT OKAY? CAN I DO THAT? GONNA SEE IF THEY HAD TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, BUT IT'S NOT ALL THERE.

WELL I CAN JUST, I DON'T KNOW OTHERWISE, OKAY.

WE'LL JUST FOLLOW THE NEW BUSINESS.

SO THE CHAIR IS UP FOR GRABS ANY NOMINATIONS I NOMINATE, UM, THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN, CHRISTIE, UH, PARKER TO UM, ACCEPT THE ELECTION OF CHAIR FOR THIS COMING HERE.

SO ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

[VII.1. Election of Officers: Chair]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? , I'M FINE TO TAKE IT, BUT, BUT IN THAT CASE, I SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK THE CHAIR'S DONE A GREAT JOB AT THE THREE MEETINGS.

I SO THANKS.

KEEP ROLLING.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

KEEP OPPOSED.

A A.

NOW ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR.

[VII.2. Election of Officers: Vice-Chair]

I NOW NEED SAM.

BRIT, .

DO YOU SEE IF SO Y'ALL KNOW, I, I WILL BE ROLLING OFF.

I'LL EVENTUALLY AND REALLY IT, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMEONE TAKE OVER THAT IN, IN MY INSTEAD,

[00:15:01]

BUT I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO CONTINUE DOING IT.

IT JUST KIND OF LIKE GETTING HER TO BE A, A CHAIRPERSON BE WHILE I'M STILL SITTING.

IT JUST HELPS.

SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS A POSITION, PLEASE DON'T FEEL FREE TO ATE YOURSELF.

, DON'T BE LOOKING AWAY.

, IS THERE ANOTHER NOMINATION? IS THERE ANOTHER NOMINATION? I CAN'T DO BOTH.

IT'S ALL YOU, SAM.

ALL RIGHT.

SO I HAVE NO OBJECTION.

CCA, BECAUSE I CAN'T SAY THAT WORD.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE ON THIS BOARD.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[VII.3. Grant Application Q&A: Coastal Conservation Association - Celebrating Conservation Weekend in Bluffton]

HI MARY.

I'M MARY O'NEILL.

UM, I JUST DO THE MARKETING FOR CCA.

I'M ON THAT COMMITTEE.

UM, AND WHAT WE PRESENT AGAIN IS THE PUSH FOR ECOTOURISM TO ATTRACT THAT TYPE OF TOURIST.

AND LAST YEAR IT WAS AMAZING.

WE WENT UP TO 30% TOURIST OVER THE YEAR BEFORE, WHICH WAS JUST 5%.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AREAS, AND I'M REALLY VERY PROUD OF THAT.

UM, SO WE DO A DISPLAY, A DIGITAL DISPLAY AD AND UH, EMAIL, BANNER, UM, OUT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE TOURISTS WERE FROM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM ARE FROM THE AREAS THAT THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT.

SO THAT'S OUR ONE, REALLY CLAIM THE FAME.

UM, WE ALSO OBVIOUSLY DO THE WTOC, THE T THING AND RADIO.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR TOWN, UM, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT KEEPS GOING ON AND ON.

AND COASTAL CONSERVATION IS ONE OF THE WATCHDOGS OF THAT.

JUST TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE RECREATIONAL.

UM, YOU KNOW, FISHERMEN.

SO BESIDES JUST PROTECTING OUR WATERWAYS ANYWAY, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT CCA IS ALL ABOUT.

AND OUR LOCAL CHAPTER KEEPS GROWING AND WE KEEP ATTRACTING NEW MEMBERS AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN .

SO WE'RE REQUESTING 10,000, WHICH IS 100% JUST FOR ADVERTISING.

ANY QUESTIONS? HOW MANY DID WE HAVE AT THE EVENT LAST YEAR? 300.

SORRY.

300 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE ACTUAL EVENT.

HOW MUCH ROOM IS THERE FOR PEOPLE TO BE THERE? WE CAN EXPAND THAT.

UM, I BELIEVE THE SAME.

THE TENT CAN BE EXPANDED.

UM, 'CAUSE I THINK THE DUCKS UNLIMITED EVENT, WHICH IS PART OF THE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR 400 PEOPLE IN MARTIN FAMILY PARK.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RENT A BIGGER TENT.

UM, THE NICE PART, AGAIN, WHILE IT IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF OUR TOWN, IT ATTRACTS PEOPLE, JUST TOURISTS WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL RETURN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF HITS THAT WAY NOW THAT WE'VE MOVED IT TO A PLACE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY SEE.

WE'RE NOT SOME LITTLE SECRET SOCIETY.

UM, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I KNOW YOU'RE SICK OF ME PUSHING ECOTOURISM, BUT I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR TOWN.

UM, HISTORIC TOURISM THAT ALSO.

AND, BUT ANYWAY, AND WE OFFER THAT.

WE SUGGEST LIKE IN ALL THE ADS, UM, WE SUGGEST, YOU KNOW, GO ON SOME OF OUR BOAT EXCURSIONS, UH, TAKE A FISHING EXCURSION, GO TO THE HAYWARD HOUSE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO SELL BLUFFTON TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FOR THAT EVENT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION OF CCA OF 10,000? I SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SCORE SHEETS, PLEASE.

[00:20:10]

NEXT UP

[VII.4. Grant Application Q&A: Society of Bluffton Artists - Getting the Word Out Part 2 ]

SOBER.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I'M KAREN RICHARDS.

I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR THE SOCIETY OF LEFTIN ARTISTS.

UM, WE ARE REQUESTING 40,000 FOR OUR MARKETING FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

WE REQUESTED 27,000 FOR EIGHT MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.

WE WERE MAKING UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, WE ONLY REQUESTED FOR EIGHT MONTHS BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY FOUR MONTHS INTO OUR YEAR.

SO WE ARE MATCHING OUR REQUEST WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH RUNS SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH AUGUST 31ST.

SO WE HAVE INCREASED OUR MARKETING.

UM, WE'VE EXPANDED INTO OTHER PUBLICATIONS.

DIGITAL, I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST, BUT I'M GIVING YOU AN OVERVIEW RIGHT NOW IF YOU'D LIKE.

AND SPEND APPROXIMATELY 3,300 A MONTH ON MARKETING.

NOW WE HAVE A 65% RATE OF ATTENDANCE FROM TOURISTS AND WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING STEADY ON, I WANNA LOOK AT MY FIGURES SO I CAN ON HAVING APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

I'M, I'M GOING FROM MEMORY HERE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER IN THE APPLICATION OF 25,000 FOR, UH, ATTENDANCE FOR THE YEAR, UM, COMING TO OUR GALLERY AND OUR ART SCHOOL.

AND ABOUT 65% OF THAT IS TOURISM.

THEY COME INTO OLD TOWN BLUFFTON FOR AN AFTERNOON.

AND WE ARE PART OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT.

SO SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION HAD DESIGNATED BLUFFTON AS A CULTURAL DISTRICT, ONE OF SIX.

AND SO WE ARE PROMOTING THE FACT THAT WE ARE PART OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND WE'RE PROMOTING BLUFFTON AT THE SAME TIME AS WE ARE PROMOTING OURSELVES.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I AM HERE TONIGHT TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND TO REFINE OUR MARKETING STRATEGIES.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE PLAN ON REFINING OUR MARKETING STRATEGIES IS TO INCLUDE THE FACT THAT WE ARE THAT OLD TOWN.

BLUFFTON IS A CULTURAL DISTRICT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PROMOTING THE OLD TOWN BLUFFTON AS MUCH AS OUR GALLERY.

WE USED TO FOCUS ON OUR GALLERY AND OUR ART SCHOOL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING A FOCUS INTO THE ACTUAL OLD TOWN AS A PLACE TO COME TO.

SPONSORED BY THE AD, SPONSORED BY UM, THE SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS.

SO THAT'S OUR FUTURE PLANS.

ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR 32 YEAR MARK.

THAT'S AWESOME.

YES, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT.

I ALSO JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.

UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, SOBAS APPLICATION WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE APPLICATION WE'VE EVER HAD.

UM, 'CAUSE IT HAD EVERY AD THAT YOU LIKE, BIG AD THAT YOU DID.

AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

I MEAN, YOU GOT TO SEE WHAT YOU DID AND SAW WHERE YOU SPENT YOUR MONEY AND WHAT YOU DID.

MM-HMM .

AND SINCE Y'ALL ARE THE ARTIST, IT WAS FANTASTIC JUST TO THANK YOU PUT OUT THERE.

I LOVED THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION BY SILVA, UH, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO $40,000 IN COSTS UNDER A GRAND SECOND.

I SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION.

THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WOULD'VE IS SOME OF THE NUMBERS DON'T SEEM TO JIVE A LITTLE BIT.

SO ON THE BACK OF THE FORM, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 51% OF THE GALLERY VISITORS ARE FROM OUT OF THE AREA.

I GUESS THAT COULD BE.

AND YOU, I THINK THE NUMBER YOU USED WAS 65% OF THOSE NUMBERS.

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.

I DON'T HAVE A PRINTED COPY OF THE APPLICATION AND I AM GOING FROM MEMORY, SO YOUR NUMBERS ARE BETTER.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN 65% IN THE PAST IF IT'S GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

IT DOES MENTION THAT IN YOUR APPLICATION, APPROXIMATELY 65% OF OUR GALLERY VISITORS INDICATE THAT THERE ARE VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE.

PERFECT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY HI.

AND I JUST WANNA PUT IT ON THERE THAT I NEED TO REFUSE MYSELF ON THIS 'CAUSE I'M THE TREASURER OF DUCKS UNLIMITED, AND SINCE WE'RE PARTNERING I CAN'T.

ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.

[00:25:42]

NEXT UP IS SEAFOOD

[VII.5. Grant Application Q&A: Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival Inc. - Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival ]

UH, SO, UH, DOUBLE NEXT WOULD BE THE, UH, APPLICATION ORDER STORY VESSEL IN 2025 R.

AND AGAIN, I'M MARY O'NEAL.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

I THINK I HAVE BEEN NOW FOR 16 YEARS.

UM, WE'RE 21 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR AND WE'RE SUPER PROUD THAT WE STILL EXIST.

UM, WE ARE REQUESTING THE SAME REQUEST I THINK WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, $80,000 TO PROMOTE THE EVENT, WHICH STARTS ON OCTOBER 10TH THIS YEAR.

AND THAT IS THE DUCK'S UNLIMITED BANQUET THAT FRIDAY NIGHT.

THEN SATURDAY NIGHT IS A SUPPER SOIREE SUNDAY KICKS OFF THE, UM, LOCAL ART SHOW THROUGHOUT, UM, OLD TOWN.

IT IS THE BLESSING OF THE FLEET AND THEN THE FIRST OYSTER FEST OF THE SEASON.

UM, AND THEN DURING THE WEEK WE HAVE THE BOAT EXCURSIONS.

WE HAVE THE OYSTER FARM, UH, EXCURSION.

UH, THAT'S TWO TIMES A WEEK.

WE HAVE OUR AUTHOR NIGHT, WHICH IS, UM, IT'S A HISTORY AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PANEL OF LOCAL HISTORIANS, UM, TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, UM, IN BLUFFTON AS WAY BACK.

AND AS IT'S CHANGING TODAY, UM, MONDAY NIGHT WE GO OUT TO WADDELL AGAIN FOR, AGAIN, I'M GONNA PUSH, IT'S ANOTHER ECOTOURIST, UH, TYPE OF ATTRACTION SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL RESOURCE IN OUR TOWN, UM, THAT THAT'S WHY HALF OUR RESIDENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

UM, 'CAUSE THEY DO TONS OF RESEARCH, WHICH AGAIN, IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO OUR TOWN BECAUSE OUR TOWN IS RIGHT ON THE MAY RIVER OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

WE HAVE A FEW OTHER RIVERS COMING.

BUT, UM, THAT TO ME IS OUR, AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE MISSION AS A SEAFOOD FESTIVAL.

THURSDAY NIGHT, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE, UM, HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON, UH, SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN MARTIN PARK.

AND THEN FRIDAY THIS YEAR WE DO HAVE BLUFFTON SELF-HELP AGAIN, HAS JOINED US FOR THEIR, UH, SIP AND SEAFOOD EVENT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON ANOTHER EVENT FOR THAT NIGHT, WHICH WILL BE, UM, A GULLAH EVENT AND WE'RE HOPING IT WILL BE, UM, AT THE GULLAH MUSEUM.

SO AGAIN, AS A TOURIST, I WOULD BE SUPER INTERESTED IN COMING TO THAT.

AND THEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE OUR BIG STREET FEST.

LAST YEAR WE ATTRACTED, AND AGAIN, WE TAKE ZIP CODES ON THE SHUTTLES.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO NOT TAKE THE SHUTTLES.

SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SNEAK THROUGH THE LINE AND WE DON'T GET THEIR ZIP CODE, BUT IT WAS 46,000 OR 46% AND AROUND 25,000 ATTENDEES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISM, THOUGH WE HAVE DEFINITELY NOTICED IN OUR TOWN THERE'S A DIP.

THERE'S NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WALKING OUR STREETS LATELY.

SO, UM, DEFINITELY WHAT WAS JUST PRESENTED BY SOBA, THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY REAL THING.

SO I'M HOPING WE CAN KEEP ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO COME AND CHECK US OUT 'CAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO COME.

AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO LEAVE.

OH, YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME SAY THAT.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, OH, AND I DID BRING, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE SAW THEM, BUT, UM, OUR SOUTHERN LIVING AD IS IN THE, UM, THE, THE ISSUE THAT JUST CAME OUT.

AND AGAIN, WE GET ALL THOSE LEADS FROM THAT, AND THEN WE DO FOLLOW UP EMAILS FOR THAT.

AND THEN WE START OFF NEXT YEAR WITH THOSE LEADS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AS I SAVE THE DATE TYPE OF THING.

THIS YEAR THEY ALSO GAVE US A BONUS, WHICH WAS, IT WAS ALL DIGITAL AND THAT WAS IN AUGUST.

WE DIDN'T PAY FOR THAT.

AND I NOTICED THE OTHER DAY IN THAT AUGUST ISSUE IN THE TRAVEL SECTION, THEY ACTUALLY LISTED US AGAIN.

SO THAT WAS ALL FREE.

[00:30:01]

THAT WAS VERY NICE.

ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU TRACK LIKE, UH, ATTENDANCE? I KNOW IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY.

UH, YEAH, WE, WE TRACK ATTENDANCE THROUGH THE SHUTTLES AND THEN WE THEORETICALLY KIND OF DO IT AS PEOPLE COME IN THE ENTRANCE AND TOTAL 25,000, WE'RE STILL GUESS GUESSTIMATING THAT AND 40% OF THAT 25 IS ESTIMATE 46%.

AND THAT'S REALLY JUST THAT THE WEEKEND.

I MEAN, WHEN WE TRACK, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, UM, THE WADDELL THING LAST YEAR THERE WERE MORE TOURISTS THERE THAN LOCALS.

UM, AUTHOR NIGHT, AGAIN, AS SOON AS WE DO HISTORY LAST YEAR WE HAD YELLOW, UM, AUTHORS THAT'S TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE, UM, IN OUR AREA, YOU KNOW, STARTING IN LIKE THE 18 HUNDREDS.

AND SO PEOPLE, TOURISTS LIKE THAT, THEY LOVE TO COME, UM, AND HEAR ABOUT OUR TOWN.

SO I MEAN, WE TRY TO KEEP CHANGING EVENTS, ADDING EVENTS, BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE A FULL 10 DAYS OF EVENTS, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO, FOR THE TOURISTS TO COME EVEN AT THE BEGINNING WEEKEND.

A LOT OF PE IN THIS YEAR, AGAIN, IT'S UM, COLUMBUS, IT'S THAT LONG WEEKEND.

SO I'M HOPING THE FIRST WEEKEND STARTS OFF WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUET.

AND THEN, UM, THAT SUNDAY, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE ALL THE OPENING EVENTS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH BOTH WEEKENDS AND WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT'S A LONG WEEKEND, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL ATTRACT LOTS OF TOURISTS.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, JUST A COMMENT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED THE, THE ADDITIONAL EVENTS, THE MARKETING, THE SOUTHERN LIVING, THE DIGITAL, UM, I WISH YOU SUCCESS AGAIN THAT 46% EVEN HIGHER, SO, OH, ME TOO.

AND AGAIN, IT'S HARD.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CAPTURING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP IT AT OUR SHOPS, ALL OF THE TOWN, UH, BUSINESSES IN TOWN, WE ALL KEEP RECORDS OF WHO'S COMING INTO OUR SHOP.

AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE WILL GO, YEAH, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK TO US.

SOMETIMES THEY GET OUT THE DOOR BEFORE WE CAN CAPTURE IT.

BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS IS AN, UH, ECONOMIC BOON FOR OUR TOWN.

SO, UM, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES, BUT WE LOVE FOR THEM TO COME AND THEN THEY CAN GO HOME BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON.

AND YET IN THE YEARS PAST, I STILL REMEMBER SOME BUSINESSES COMING UP AFTERWARDS AND SAID, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH YOUR TOWN BECAUSE OF THIS FESTIVAL.

WE'RE GONNA START OUR BUSINESS HERE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE HERE.

AND THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LIMIT.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET TOO BIG.

QUICK QUESTION, DOES THIS HAVE ANY LIMITATION TO OUR $50,000 ? NO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OPERATIONS FOR MUSEUM OR FACILITY.

YEAH, THERE'S NO OPERATE THERE.

REMEMBER, WE ARE 100% VOLUNTEER.

ONE PERSON GETS PAID, IT'S JUST ONE.

MAKING SURE IT WAS CLEAR.

CAN WE GET A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE ARTS AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL FOR THE $80,000 ON THE APPLICATION.

AYE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, STATE AYE.

[VII.6. Grant Application Q&A: Campbell Chapel Community Development Ministry - Historic Campbell Chapel Restoration and Rehabilitation ]

CAPITAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY.

GOOD EVENING, ASK QUESTIONS.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS RON JAMES.

I'M WITH CAMPBELL CHAPEL AND I'M HERE FIRST TO TALK ABOUT THE RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORIC CHAPEL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU.

UH, THIS PROJECT STARTED BY CAMPBELL CHAPEL.

UH, IT'S SET UP A 5 0 1 C3 TO GUIDE ITS EFFORTS, BUT THE PURPOSE IS REALLY TO RESTORE AND REHABILITATE THE HISTORIC CHAPEL IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, TO ITS VISITORS AND MEMBERS.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE ABOUT 1917 OR, UM, 20,017.

UH, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT

[00:35:01]

TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON? WELL, THE HISTORIC CHAPEL HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1853.

IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1874 BY NINE FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

IT WOULD JOIN THE HAYWARD HOUSE AND THE GARVIN GARVEY HOUSE, UH, AS A HIS, AS A HISTORIC ATTRACTION FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

WE VIEW IT AS A CULTURAL HUB FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE VISITORS AND RESIDENTS TO HOST DIALOGUES, LECTURES, DESTINATION WEDDINGS, CONCERTS, AND OTHER EVENTS.

ALREADY WE'RE STARTING TO PICK UP A LOT OF WEB TRAFFIC BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'VE GOT UNDERWAY.

EACH, UH, MONTH WE POST AN UPDATE FOR OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND POST IT ON OUR WEBSITE, AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF HITS FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR CHURCH AND OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY.

FOLLOWING THOSE UPDATES, WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS? UM, WE HAD TWO MAJOR PHASES.

ONE WAS A PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE WHERE WE DID A BUILDING ASSESSMENT AND BUILT ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED.

WE STARTED WITH PHASE ONE LAST YEAR UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT RAN INTO SOME AS ASBESTOS PROBLEMS AND WE NEEDED TO DO FURTHER STABILIZATION.

WE GOT THAT COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2024.

SPILLED A LITTLE BIT INTO 25, BUT THAT'S COMPLETED.

WE'RE NOW IN THE PHASE, UH, TWO AREA WHERE WE'RE DOING SELECTIVE REMOVALS.

THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER.

WE WANT TO PROCEED TO THE THIRD PHASE, UH, SHORTLY, AND THAT'LL GET INTO EXTERIOR EXTERIOR RESTORATION.

FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE INTERIOR, ROUGH, ROUGH ENDS, PLUMBING, ELECTRIC, AND THEN INTERIOR FINISHES AND NEW ADDITIONS WE HOPE TO CONCLUDE BY THE END OF 2026.

LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE DEEPER DIVE IN THE PHASE THAT WE'RE GOING INTO NOW.

WE'RE IN PHASE TWO AND THAT INCLUDES WHAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW.

THAT'S WORK THAT'S UNDERWAY.

WE'VE REMOVED SIDING AND SKIRT BOARDS SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT FRAMING REPAIRS TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION.

WE ARE CREATING MEASURED DRAWINGS FOR OR FOR WINDOWS AND JIB DOORS.

ALSO IN THIS PHASE WILL BE REMOVING A SOCIAL HALL, WHICH WAS NOT BUILT WITH THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.

WE WANT TO GET IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE IN 1853.

WE THEN WANT TO PROCEED QUICKLY INTO PHASE THREE, WHICH IS EXTERIOR RESTORATION.

UH, THAT'S GONNA GET INTO CARPENTRY.

WE'LL WORK ON THE BELL TOWER OF THE CHURCH, THE FRONT PORCH SANCTUARY ROOF.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED ORDERING, UH, UH, DRAWINGS FOR WINDOWS AND JIB DOORS.

I'LL SHOW YOU JUST A COUPLE OF PICTURES REAL QUICKLY TO SHOW YOU THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW, UH, IS THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.

UH, THE SIDING HAS BEEN REMOVED, THE SKIRT PANELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND THERE'S A LONG PANEL RUNNING HORIZONTALLY THROUGH THIS PICTURE.

UM, THAT IS A, A SILL, IT'S PART OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE STRUCTURE.

IF YOU LOOK NEAR THAT ORANGE VERTICAL POST, YOU'LL SEE HOLES THERE.

UH, THOSE HOLES ARE TERMITE DAMAGE AND WATER INTRUSION.

WE HAD TO REMOVE THE VERTICAL POSTS WITH JACKS UNDER THEM OR IS WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO GET THIS, THE REPAIR WORK DONE.

THINK ABOUT CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON A CAR.

YOU GOTTA JACKET IT UP, TAKE THE FLAT OFF AND THEN REPAIR IT.

WE HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

WE HAVE TO JACK THE CHURCH WALLS UP, TAKE THOSE SILLS OUT AND REPAIR THEM.

WE HAVE COMPLETED THIS AS PART OF, UH, THE PHASE TWO PROCESS.

YOU'LL SEE A NEW SILL RUNNING THE, UM, ACROSS THE NORTH WALL OF THE CHURCH.

WE'RE ALSO USING WOOD FROM SOME OF THE CHURCH, UM, THAT WAS NO LONGER, UH, NECESSARY TO BE USED IN THE CHURCH SO THAT, UH, TO, TO, TO STRENGTHEN THE, THE, UH, THE STRUCTURE.

BUT THIS IS, THIS NORTH WALL IS NOW COMPLETED AND WE'VE MOVED TO THE SOUTH WALL.

I'LL GO TO THE INTERIOR REAL QUICKLY.

UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, UM, YOU'LL SEE THE, OR THE, UM, UH, CONTEMPORARY FLOORING, UH, THAT IS BEING REMOVED SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, UH, WE'RE FINDING THE ORIGINAL FLOORING IS STILL GOOD.

THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASSISTING US ARE BEING METICULOUS ABOUT REMOVING NAILS SO THAT WE CAN GAUGE EXACTLY UH, WHAT, WHAT TIME PERIOD THIS FLOOR WAS PUT INTO PLACE, AND VERIFY THE TIMES THAT WE BELIEVE THESE THINGS HAPPENED.

BACK TO THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE PULPIT AREA AND BEHIND IT IS A CHOIR LOFT.

THE CHOIR LOFT WILL HAVE TO COME OUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.

UM, WE'LL THERE'S SOME WORK WE'VE DISCOVERED UNDERNEATH IT, UH, THAT WE WANT TO SALVAGE THOUGH, AND I CAN GET INTO THAT IN THE Q AND A IF YOU LIKE.

COUPLE MORE PIC.

ONE MORE PICTURE.

ONE OR TWO MORE PICTURES.

UH, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE YOU'LL SEE A PEW.

PEWS WERE ACTUALLY BUILT INTO THE WALL AND THEY WERE VERY SMALL IN STATURE.

JUST A COUPLE OF FEET OFF THE FLOOR.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS A JIB DOOR UNDER THE

[00:40:01]

WINDOWS THAT'S PROVIDED ANOTHER WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE CHURCH RATHER THAN COMING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, WHICH WAS AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH.

THESE ARE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT IN OUR ARCHITECTS AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE STORIES THAT THESE WILL TELL, UH, WHERE WE ARE NOW.

THIS IS LOOKING AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH.

UH, WE ARE ABOUT TO START REMOVAL OF THAT STRUCTURE THAT'S ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

THAT WAS A, A FELLOWSHIP HALL THAT WAS ADDED IN 1967.

AGAIN, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SOUTH WALL OF THE CHURCH AND WE'RE ABOUT TO TACKLE THAT.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DAMAGE IN THAT WOOD SILL AS WELL.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.

WE CAN GET AT THAT.

WE BELIEVE YET THIS MONTH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, UH, IN GREEN, OUR COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED AND FUNDING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY RAISED ALREADY.

THE PLANNING CAME FROM A GRANT.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, UH, GRACIOUSLY AWARDED US $140,000 SO THAT WE COULD DO THE PLANNING.

PHASE ONE CAME FROM BLUFFTON, TOWN OF BLUFFTON, TWO GRANTS, $127,000 TO START THE PROCESS THAT WENT TOWARD ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND ANOTHER $20,000 PRESERVATION GRANT.

WE'RE IN PHASE TWO, THAT'S WHY IT'S IN YELLOW.

UH, WE HAVE A $200,000 THAT CAME FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ANOTHER TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

UH, UH, GRANT DOWN AT BLUFFTON GRANT, UH, FOR, FOR PRESERVATION.

UH, THAT'S GONNA GO TOWARD THE WINDOWS AND JIB DOORS, THE DRAWINGS THAT WERE GETTING PUT IN PLACE.

PHASE THREE, WE'VE ATTRACTED A NATIONAL GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SACRED PLACES, $219,000.

WE ALSO HAVE APPLICATIONS IN TO BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO RAISE A MATCH.

THEY REQUIRE $2 FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY PUT IN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED THERE.

PHASE FOUR, WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM CHURCH MEMBERS AND, UH, GIFTS FROM OUR HUNDRED 50TH ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR THAT CAN BE USED IF WE NEED IT FURTHER UP THE LINE, BUT WE'RE HOLDING ONTO IT FOR PHASE FOUR.

UH, WE ARE PURSUING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IS IMPORTANT.

UH, THE REQUEST THAT WE HAVE INTO YOU BECAUSE IF WE ARE AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OF $109,000, IT WILL ALLOW US TO ACCESS 50% OF THE GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SACRED PLACES AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OUR MOMENTUM.

WE ARE PURSUING ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

UH, WE'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS AT THE MELLON FOUNDATION AND WE ARE PURSUING A COUPLE OF OTHER NATIONAL GRANTS.

I'M GONNA STOP THERE AND JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US UP TO THIS POINT.

A GRANT OF 109,000 WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OUR MOMENTUM.

DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE ON WHEN ELSE IS GONNA HAPPEN? YES.

WE'RE TARGETING THE END OF 2026.

FORGIVE ME.

SO THE FIRST TIME Y'ALL CAME FOR AND GAVE Y'ALL THE FIRST BRAND.

IT WAS BROKEN INTO GRANT FOR PHASE, IF YOU WILL.

AT THE BELL TOWER, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.

FOR A CERTAIN PHASE.

UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT WE ORIGINALLY GAVE YOU GRANT FOR SPILL OVER INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT LIKE IT WAS FOR THE, THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND, AND WORK.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BEING FUNDED TO THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH IS SOME CONSTRUCTION.

AND IN THIS PHASE IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE US WHAT WE'RE GIVING YOU A GRANT FOR.

SO WHAT ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE AT ON, ON WHAT WE AWARDED YOU? I CAN SEE THAT YOU HAVEN'T COLLECTED IT WAITING ON SOME COMPLETIONS.

RIGHT.

BUT I DO DISTINCTLY RECALL CALL THAT THE, THE FIRST REQUEST WAS FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PHASE OF THE PROJECT.

WE, WE WANTED TO START REMOVALS AND STABILIZATION, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE RAN INTO THE ASBESTOS PROBLEM.

AND WE COULDN'T PROCEED UNTIL WE GOT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ASBESTOS.

WE GOT SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND TREAT IT, AND THEN WE, WE HAD TO HAVE IT ABATED.

THAT COST US ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO WE DIVERTED, UH, THAT PART OF YOUR GRANT, WHICH WAS $127,000 TO, TO UH, ADDRESS THAT AND THEN TO CONTINUE WITH SOME OF THE SELECTIVE REMOVALS RULES.

AND SO THE, THE, THE, THE CURRENT REQUEST IS FOR $109,000.

AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT NOW GETS INTO PHASE THREE.

THINK ABOUT PHASE TWO, UM, WHICH IS SOME OF THE, UH, CHARTS THAT I JUST SHOWED YOU, THE STABILIZATION, TAKING OUT THE WOOD SEALS, PUTTING IN NEW ONES THAT CAME FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THEY GAVE US A $200,000 GRANT AND YOU GAVE US A 20,000.

THE, THE, UH, YOUR, UH, PRESERVATION OFFICE GAVE US $20,000 THAT TO HELP WITH PLANNING FOR THE WINDOWS AND JIB DOORS.

NOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS PHASE THREE.

AND PHASE THREE SAYS LET'S START, UH, LOOKING

[00:45:01]

UH, LET'S START, UH, PUTTING UP, UH, REPAIR FOR THE FRONT PORCH.

UH, IT SAYS LET'S, UH, WORK ON, UM, STARTING TO DO SOME FINISHING IN PHASE THREE.

UM, UH, I, I CAN, I DIDN'T PUT A CHART IN, BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE AFTER IN PHASE THREE.

SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR A CONTINUATION OF OUR GRANT THAT WE STARTED FOR PHASE ONE.

THIS SPECIFIC GRANT IS FOR PHASE THREE.

WAS THERE EVER PHASE THREE RECOMMENDATION FOR IT? FOR WHAT PHASE WE'RE ACTUALLY IN INITIAL GRANT FROM ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WAS FOR HELP, PHASE ONE AND TWO, THIS WOULD NOW GO TOWARDS PHASE THREE.

ACCORDING TO THE CHART ON THE LAST PAGE OF THAT APPLICATION, THIS IS GONNA BE SPECIFIC TO PHASE THREE.

OKAY? YES.

AND YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I SEE YOUR, YOUR CHART, THERE'S A HUGE SHORTFALL AND COST VERSUS MONEY.

UM, SO HOW ARE YOU, HOW ARE YOU GUYS GONNA MAKE UP THE, THE DIFFERENTIAL? I EVEN WITH ALL THE GRANTS COMING THROUGH, IT'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

UH, IF YOU'RE RIGHT, IF WE WERE TO, UH, GET EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED FOR FROM YOU, FROM FROM BUFORD COUNTY PLUS DOLLARS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, WE'D BE SITTING AT ABOUT 1,000,002 OR SO, 1,000,003.

THAT STILL LEAVES ABOUT $800,000.

AND THAT GETS BACK TO THE LIST I SHARED WITH YOU OF PLACES WE'RE GOING TO TO BEGIN RAISING DOLLARS THERE.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED CONTACT THERE, MELLON FOUNDATION, WE'VE ESTABLISHED CONTACT THERE.

WE'LL GO BACK TO THE STATE OF, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, BECAUSE THEY WERE FORTUNATE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET A GRANT FROM THEM IN 2024.

SO WE PLAN ON GOING BACK TO THEM IN 2026.

UH, THERE ARE OTHER NATIONAL GRANTS THAT WE'LL BE PURSUING AS WELL.

THERE'S ONE CALLED THE A-A-C-H-A-F, THAT'S THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTION FUND FOR PRESERVING BLACK CHURCHES.

THEY'VE GOT A PROCESS THAT'S OPENING UP, I BELIEVE THIS FALL WILL BE APPLYING THERE AS WELL TOO.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE PURSUING TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

MY CONCERN IS THAT I, I WAS GETTING THE GRANTS AND YOU RECEIVING ALL THE OTHER GRANTS NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO FINISH THE PROJECT.

SO YOU, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE A MILLION DOLLARS LESS OR MORE SHORT, WHEN IT ALL SAID AND DONE, IS THERE ANY PLAN BY YOUR, BY YOUR CHURCH TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENTIAL? UH, WE'RE GONNA, WE CAN'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, RIGHT? NO.

AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP PURSUING GRANTS.

WE THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR US.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA GO AFTER THAT PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY.

OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN STANDING BEHIND US, UH, AS APPROPRIATE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO RAISE THE DOLLARS THROUGH THE 5 0 1 C3.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HAVE YOU MADE THE FINAL REQUEST FROM THE MONEY THAT YOU GOT LAST YEAR? YOU'RE STILL LIKE $40,000? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, WE GRANT US $127,000 IN MAY.

WE, UH, SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION AND WE, WE WERE REIMBURSED JUST UNDER $87,000.

UH, SO THAT'S STILL, UH, ROUGHLY $40,000 TO GO.

WE'VE INCURRED SOME EXPENSES ALREADY, BUT WE'VE NOT SUBMITTED THOSE TO YOU YET.

'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT ALL BUILT UP.

BY THE TIME WE GET THROUGH PHASE TWO, WHICH WE WANT TO DO IN SEPTEMBER, 1ST OF OCTOBER, WE'LL SUBMIT DOLLARS SO THAT, UH, WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THE, THE TOTAL $127,000.

SO YES, WE WILL COMPLETE IT AND WE WILL CLOSE THAT OFF BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER.

YOU MAKE THAT DEADLINE? YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'D MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR $109,000.

UH, REGARDING THE CHAMP, I'M SORRY, THE CAMPBELL CHAPEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY, THE HISTORIC CAMPBELL CHAPEL RESTORATION REHABILITATION PROJECT.

SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

I'D LIKE TO GO TO A REQUEST FOR THE HUNDRED AND 62ND SOUTH CAROLINA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE A ME CHURCH.

OPPOSED SHEETS?

[00:50:08]

YOU GUYS STAND? YES.

YEAH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

IF YOU WOULD REGISTER PROJECT INTO THIS PHASE, WOULD YOUR REQUEST BEING SPECIFIC TO THE FACE? YEP.

BECAUSE YOU GOT THE OVERALL AT THE BOTTOM WOULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF THING WHERE IT'S ACTUAL PHASE WE WORKING IN.

SO IT HAVE CONVOLUTED IN THERE WILL DO.

LOOKING FORWARD AND THINKING WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

[VII.7. Grant Application Q&A: Campbell Chapel AME Church - 162nd South Carolina Conference of the AME Church]

AND, UH, UH, ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE ARE PASTOR, PASTOR TEMPLE CHURCH AND LUCILLE PANIC, WHO'S BEEN THE LEADER OF, UM, THE LAY LEADER OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING AND LEADING TOGETHER.

I'LL HIT HIGHLIGHTS AND THEY CAN JUMP IN TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.

BRIEFLY, I'LL DESCRIBE WHAT THE EVENT IS, WHO'S COMING, THE IMPACT ON BLUFFTON, HOW WE'RE PREPARING FOR IT AND THE BUDGET.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT HERE AS WELL TOO.

WELL, WHAT IS IT? IT'S THE HUNDRED 62ND SOUTH CAROLINA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE A ME CHURCH.

IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST A ME CONFERENCES IN THE SOUTHEAST.

STARTED 162 YEARS AGO.

UH, OUT OF IT CAME A ME CONFERENCES IN OTHER STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST.

IT IS ONE OF SIX REGIONAL CONFERENCES THAT ARE HELD IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

UH, THIS CONFERENCE, UH, CO WILL COVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR STATE FROM OUR SOUTHERN BORDER UP TO CHARLESTON.

AND IT WILL BRING DELEGATIONS FROM 90 6:00 AM E CHURCHES.

IT'LL BE HAPPENING SEPTEMBER 17TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20TH.

WHAT'S ITS PURPOSE? WELL, IT, UH, HERE THESE CONGREGATIONS COME TOGETHER.

THEY REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW PROGRESS OF THE PRIOR YEAR, SET THE TONE GOING FORWARD, AND LANCE LAUNCH PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING, UH, UM, YEAR.

CAMPBELL CHAPEL, A ME IS SERVING AS THE HOST CHURCH AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2016.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'D LIKE TO DO WELL SO WE CAN GET THEM TO COME BACK MORE OFTEN.

WHO'S COMING AGAIN? IT'S 90 6:00 AM E CHURCHES FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE UP TO CHARLESTON.

WE'RE EXPECTING A THOUSAND GUESTS, ABOUT 800 OF THOSE COMING FROM MORE THAN 50 MILES.

250 OF THOSE WILL BE DELEGATES.

DELEGATES ARE THE CLERGY, UH, PEOPLE FROM MINISTRIES AND LAY LEADERSHIP.

WHY ARE THEY HERE? WELL, THEY'RE HERE TO, UH, GET TRAINING ON BUSINESS AND TRAINING ON HOW TO RUN THEIR OPERATIONS AND CONDUCT WORSHIP SERVICES TRAINING ON MISSION OUTREACH TRAINING, UH, BY SPECIFIC MINISTRY, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN.

CLERGY AND LAY APPOINTMENTS WERE ALSO MADE AT THIS CONFERENCE AND IS DETERMINED.

AND THEN SCHOOL EDUCATION SCHOOL, CHURCH SCHOOL AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS ALSO ADDRESSED AT THIS CONFERENCE.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT BLUFFTON? WELL, ALREADY 150 ROOMS BOOKED OVER THREE NIGHTS AT FOUR DIFFERENT HOTELS.

UH, WE ARE WORKING, UH, TO FIND AT LEAST 10 RESTAURANTS TO OFFER GUEST INCENTIVES TO INCENTIVIZE THE MEMBERS TO COME TO THEIR PARTICULAR RESTAURANTS, WHO WILL HAVE THREE FOOD TRUCKS ON HAND FOR MEALS.

250 DELEGATES WILL ACTUALLY BE SERVED BY THE CHURCH, UH, LUNCHES BY CAMPBELL CHAPEL, A ME ON ITS CAMPUS.

VENDOR TABLES WILL BE SET UP TO HELP PEOPLE PROMOTE THEIR, THEIR SERVICES, UH, FROM OUR REGION AND GUESTS WILL EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUENESS OF HISTORIC BLUFFTON AS THEY ACCESS ITS FOOD AND RETAIL OFFERING.

UH, HOW ARE WE PREPARING? THERE ARE 135 VOLUNTEERS IN THE CHURCH, DONATING SOME 9,410 HOURS.

UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THINGS LIKE SECURING REMOTE PARKING LOCATIONS AND PROVIDING SHUTTLE SERVICES TO AND FROM THE CAMPUS THAT THE CAMP CHAPEL CAMPUS.

WE DON'T HAVE OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH PARKING SPACE TO HANDLE THAT MANY CARS.

WE ARE PROVIDING SECURITY, WORKING WITH LOCAL BLUFFTON AND CONTRACT SECURITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AMPLE SECURITY FOR OUR LOCATIONS.

UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE USING SIGNAGE TO AID IN DIRECTION OF PEOPLE AND RENTAL SERVICES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF TABLES, CHAIRS, AND RESTROOM CAPACITY.

IS THERE? TOTAL EXPENSE BUDGET IS $80,000 OF WHICH 19,600 IS BUDGETED FOR THINGS LIKE LOGISTICS, PARKING, TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY, SECURITY, SIGNAGE, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND A SOUVENIR JOURNAL.

OUR TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET IS 70,300 WITHOUT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON REQUESTS, MAINLY COMING FROM REGISTRATION FEES, VENDOR FEES, SOUVENIR JOURNAL, AND CAMPBELL CHAPELS A CONTRIBUTION OF $808,750.

WE ARE REQUESTING A GRANT OF $10,000 FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE ARE

[00:55:01]

QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU.

GO AHEAD.

YOU'RE HONOR A ROLL.

SO YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, IF I HEARD YOU RIGHT, WAS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA WATER ALL THE WAY UP TO CHARLESTON INTO COLUMBIA.

WHERE WAS THE OTHER PLACE? IN INLAND TO WHERE? THE SOUTH CAROLINA ANNUAL CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES COVER ALL OF THE LOCAL COUNTRY COUNTIES, UH, FROM AIKEN COUNTY ACROSS THE BERKELEY COUNTY, CHARLES COUNTY, AND THAT I 95 9 5 CORRIDOR.

AND THE COUNTIES ARE FROM I 95 TO THE GEORGIA COURSE.

GEORGIA CORRIDOR.

EXCUSE ME.

AND I'M JUST GONNA KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS WHILE I'VE GOT YOU STANDING UP.

AND SO THESE ARE GONNA BE CHURCH DELEGATIONS, CORRECT.

FROM YOUR MEMBER CHURCHES.

SO MY, MY CURIOSITY IS WHAT ARE WE ADVERTISING? THERE'S $9,600 IN YOUR BUDGET.

WE'RE ADVERTISING, BUT IT IS, I FAIL TO SEE WHAT WE'RE ADVERTISING.

OH, WE'RE ADVERTISING THE VARIOUS, UH, SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED ALSO.

UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE TO PATRONIZE THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS IN THIS AREA ON OUR CONFERENCE WEBSITE, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 20 FIVE.COM.

UM, AND THERE'S A LINK WITH ALL OF THE, UH, RESTAURANTS AT AND ALSO, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TOUR ATTRACTIONS WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

SO THERE'S A DEDICATED LINK WEBSITE THAT'S BEEN SET UP AND IT'S GOT THOSE LINKS THAT THE PASTOR'S DESCRIBING WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING CAN CLICK ON AND SEE WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC, BEN.

I THINK WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO THE TOWN IS INCREDIBLE.

I'M JUST, I, WHEN WE THINK OF ADVERTISING, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PUSHING SOMETHING OUT.

WE LOOK AT SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT UP HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT.

IN YOUR CASE, YOU'RE BASICALLY POSTING A LINK TO ALL THE SERVICES THAT BE AVAILABLE TO 'EM.

BUT WE USUALLY THINK OF YOU TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TO BLUFFTON, WHICH IS ALREADY COMING.

RIGHT? SO THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE ANYWAY.

BUT NOW WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE IN BLUFFTON? THAT'S A, TO ME IT'S A, A SEPARATE KIND OF A, A DEAL.

SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT PART OF THE REQUEST.

SOMETHING PURPOSE PURPOSES.

WE DID DO FLYERS AND THINGS THAT WE SENT OUT FOR THE HOTELS.

WE ARE ALSO CREATING FLYERS FOR, UM, FOOD, UM, VENDORS AND RESTAURANTS SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE A HARD COPY, UH, THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.

SO WE ARE CREATING QUIET NORTH SHORE TO PUT IN EACH ONE OF THE DELEGATES BACK SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE THAT.

AND FOR THOSE NON DELEGATES, IT WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.

WE'LL ALSO DO BANNERS NOW WE WILL, WE'RE CREATING A PANEL ON LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONFERENCE AND THINGS GOING IN TOWN.

IS THAT PART OF YOUR UH, PUBLIC RELATIONS, UH, PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS, QUESTIONS.

ANY OTHER? MY QUESTIONS JUST COME TO HOW IT ALL ADDS UP.

I HAVE $9,600.

THAT'S ELIGIBLE.

HUNDRED DIFFERENCE.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

I'M JUST HAVING ADVERTISE, BUT I'M SURE THEY'VE GOT EXPENDITURE.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HAVE WE DONE A, I HAVE ONE MORE FOR THE COMMITTEE.

HAVE WE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS? THIS IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, RIGHT? IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S NOT OPEN TO EVERYBODY.

UM, TO A, TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE.

UM, HAVE WE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE? YES.

MAY I SAY THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE, IT'S FOR, IT'S AN AME CHURCH CONFERENCE.

EVEN THOUGH

[01:00:01]

OUR WORSHIP SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IT IS NOT ONLY, I MEAN THE BUSINESS SESSION, UH, BASICALLY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UM, DELEGATES AND PASTORS WITHIN THE CHURCH, BUT WE DO HAVE WORSHIP SERVICE, WE HAVE ALL OTHER TYPES OF ENTERTAINMENT, NOT ENTERTAINMENT WORSHIP EXPERIENCE THAT, UM, IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OTHER PEOPLE DO COME TO OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

IF I MAY TO GIVE YOU VERY SPECIFIC, WE, WE, WE HOSTED THE DIXIE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP, SOMETHING THROUGH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY THING WHERE THEY WERE ALL TEAMS INTO PLAY WHERE LIKE THE STATE OR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

I'M ALL FOR I THINK TALKING YOU THOSE.

I TRIED.

THAT WASN'T AN EASY ONE.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE, SO WE HAVE CAREFUL PRECEDENCE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A MOTION YET.

UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR TO UH, IDENTIFY THE RIGHT QUESTION.

A MOTION, UH, MOTION, UH, TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE $9,600 OR 10,000.

WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY PROVIDING? THE 10, IT'S UP TO 10,000.

10,000.

WE HAVE HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION, BALD TOUR OF HOMES.

UP TO 10,000 FOR THE CAMPBELL CHURCH.

A ME UH, CAMPBELL CHURCH 162ND SOUTH IN .

OKAY, SO I CAN'T SAY CAROL ON END.

UH, CAROLINA.

A CONFERENCE OF THE A CHURCH HELD SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT ON RECORD THAT LITERALLY $9,600 A THAT AVAILABLE IS WORTH ADVERTISING.

UM, SO THAT IT DOESN'T OVER TO OTHER PARTS.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

I CAN JUST ADD, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE RENTAL, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO USE TO COVER THE YES.

THAT ARE COMING.

IS THAT NOT CONSIDERED IT? SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THE REASON I PUT THAT IN THERE, THE WAY I DID WAS THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE BUT FURTHER REQUEST ON YOUR APPLICATION, UM, SHOULD WE AMEND IT OR JUST LEAVE IT OR TAKE MY PART OUT OR CATEGORIES PRETTY OFTEN DEPENDING ON HOW THE ACTIONS COME IN.

SO I WOULDN'T PUT PARAMETERS AROUND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

GET A LITTLE ANXIOUS LOOK TALKING TO Y'ALL.

OKAY, SO NEXT

[VII.8. Grant Application Q&A: Historic Bluffton Foundation - Fall Tour of Homes]

THIS HAS COME BEFORE US ALMOST ONCE, BUT THEN IT WAS PULLED, SO NOW IT'S BACK UP AGAIN.

SO WE'RE HERE FOR REQUEST OF $6,500.

UM, UM, OKAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MIX UP WAS ON THE ASK FOR THE 65.

UM, ON MY APPLICATION I HAVE $84,000.

I'M SORRY, 8,400.

YEAH, NO, NOT AN EGREGIOUS AMOUNT, BUT I HAVE EIGHT.

RIGHT, BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO 84.

THAT'S MY MISTAKE.

I HAD ADDED ON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER DAY THAT WE CAN SCHEDULE IT TO.

SO I ADDED ON A TENT RENTAL.

THAT'S WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS COMING FROM.

SO WE COULD HAVE ONE OVER THE GROUNDS WHERE WE'RE OUR LAUNCHING POINT.

THAT WAS AN ADDITION.

SO I CAN NOT SPEAK TO THAT OR IF IT'S OKAY, I CAN, I'M CONFUSED.

UM, SO 65 RIGHT FURTHER APPLICATION.

[01:05:01]

THAT'S NOT THAT GENERALLY THEY WOULD BASE IT OFF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED.

OKAY, SO WE'LL SCRATCH THAT, BUT THAT WAS THE DISCREPANCY.

SO I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAD LAST MINUTE KIND OF ADDED ON A TENT RENTAL.

NO WORRIES AT ALL.

UM, SO MY NAME IS NICKY ANI.

I'M HERE FROM THE HISTORIC LEFT AND FOUNDATION.

OUR ASK TODAY OF YOU IS FOR $6,500 AND THAT IS FOR THE TOUR OF HOMES THAT WE WILL BE HAVING ON OCTOBER 4TH OF THIS YEAR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE THIS LOVELY SLIDESHOW MADE UP FOR YOU.

AND SO WE WILL BE SELLING TICKETS TO THIS.

IT WILL BE A MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR US.

SO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH EVENTBRITE AND THAT WILL ALSO HELP US CAPTURE THE TOURIST NUMBERS 'CAUSE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PUT IN THEIR ADDRESSES.

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION AND ITS MISSION.

OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, THE MAY RIVER.

IN OUR ARCHIVES, WE SAFEGUARD BLUFFTON PATH WHILE PROMOTING THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND IDENTITY ESSENTIAL TO OUR FUTURE.

WE HAVE SEVEN EXQUISITE STRUCTURES AND THE HISTORIC HAYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM WHERE VISITORS CAN WALK AROUND THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND VISIT OUR LOCAL MERCHANTS AND RESTAURANTS IF THEY ENJOY A DAY AROUND TOWN.

HERE IS OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE OF THEM HERE TO SUPPORT US TODAY, WHICH IS GREAT.

UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A FAIR BIT OF PROMOTION AND MARKETING AND SO WE HAVE ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIAS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PROMOTING TO HERE.

AND I MEAN THE ISLAND PACKET ALONE HAS 83,000 PEOPLE THAT THAT'S GONNA GET EYES IN FRONT OF AS FAR AS THEIR FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO WE ARE EXPECTING A LOT OF TOURISTS, WHICH IS GREAT, AT LEAST 50% IF NOT MORE.

AND WE'RE HOPING FOR ABOUT 300 TICKETS IN SALES.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING PRINT AND LOCAL MEDIA WITH THE BLUFF AND SUN, LOCAL MERCHANT POSTERS, HILTON HEAD ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND THEN WE'RE DOING TV ON WTOC AND WHHI.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO OUR DIGITAL MARKETER ABOUT PROMOTING IT INTO THE LARGER AREAS GOING UPSTATE INTO GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA AS WELL.

UH, THE DAY OF THE EVENT, THE VISITORS WILL CHECK IN AT THE HAYWARD HOUSE AND THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR BROCHURE, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THEIR TICKET.

UM, THE BROCHURE WILL FEATURE EACH OF THE HOMES, THE SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION IN A LOCAL MAP AND THE LOCAL POINTS OF INTEREST NOT SPECIFIC TO THE TOUR, WILL ALSO BE FEATURED IN THE BROCHURE BECAUSE WE, WE WANTED IT TO BE EARLY ENOUGH WHERE IT WOULD END EARLY ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED TO STAY IN TOWN, GO TO DINNER, POSSIBLY STAY THE NIGHT.

WHY NOT? UM, VISITORS IT, IT WILL BE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR.

WE'LL HAVE DOCENTS AT EACH OF THE HOMES, BUT AS FAR AS THEIR WANDERINGS THROUGH TOWN, THEY'LL BE KIND OF UNS CHAPERONE.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

RIGHT.

UM, SOUTHERN FAIR, OR I'M SORRY, SOUTHERN SPICE WILL BE CATERING ON THE GROUNDS OF THE HAYWARD HOUSE.

WE HAVE A SIGNATURE MOCKTAIL FROM BURN CHURCH DISTILLERY.

UH, SIGNAGE AND VOLUNTEERS WILL BE STATIONED AROUND TOWN TO GIVE VISITORS AROUND THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO GIVE DIRECTIONS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WE WERE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO RENT MARTIN FAMILY PARK FOR STRICTLY PARKING AND SOMEBODY ELSE HAS IT.

IT'S A PRIVATE RENTAL.

SO WE PLAN ON HAVING VOLUNTEERS SORT OF ENCOMPASSING ALL OF OLD TOWN TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT AREAS TO PARK TO WHERE THEY WANNA GET TO AFTER THEY PARK AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

UH, THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS, WE HAVE THE HAYWARD HOUSE, THE PARKS WILL BE OPEN.

SO THE BENEFITS TO THE TOWN IS WE'RE BRINGING IN LOCAL NON-LOCAL VISITORS TO THE AREA.

WE'RE HELPING DRIVE LOCAL BUSINESS EXPOSURE AND REVENUE BY HAVING WALKING ACCESS FROM THE EVENT TO THE REST OF OLD TOWN.

THE EVENT STARTS IN THE MORNING ALLOWING FOR A FULL DAY OF EXPLORING WHAT OLD TOWN BLUFFTON HAS TO OFFER AND HOPEFULLY THE GREATER BLUFFTON AREA AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S WALKING DISTANCE, SO THAT'S GREAT.

UM, PARDON ME.

UH, GIVE MEANINGFUL EDUCATION REGARDING THE AREA AND THE HISTORY.

HIGHLIGHTS THE TOWN LANDMARKS AND ENGAGES VISITORS IN SOCIAL MEDIA RELATED TO BLUFFTON.

THIS PROVIDES SUPPORT IN THE HBF FOR ITS MISSION SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING AND ASKING YOU GUYS FOR MONEY.

HELPFUL IS THE GOAL.

UM, OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR POSTER THAT'S GETTING POSTED AROUND TOWN.

WE'RE ALSO USING IT IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND IF YOU SCAN THE QR CODE, YOU CAN SEE OUR UH, TICKET ON EVENTBRITE ACCESS.

YOU WANNA PASS IT DOWN HERE? ME DOWN.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS?

[01:10:01]

JUST PUT NUMBERS TO YOUR REQUEST.

UHHUH.

AND USING YOUR 50% MM-HMM .

TOURISM.

IT BRINGS YOU RIGHT TO YOUR REQUESTED AMOUNT.

UM, SO ADVERTISEMENT IS, WE DON'T COUNT THAT AGAINST YOU, SO TO SPEAK.

MM-HMM .

YOUR, THE REST OF YOUR REQUEST USING THE 50% RULE BRINGS YOU RIGHT AT THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST.

EXCELLENT.

SO YOU GO TO FINALIZE YOUR PAPERWORK WHEN SHANNON ASK YOU FOR THE NUMBER OF TOURISM.

YEAH, LESS THAN THAT.

PROBABLY RECEIVE LESS FOR THOSE FACILITIES.

I'M HOPING IT'S GONNA BE LIKE 90% TO SO IT'S GONNA NO, I'M KIDDING.

WE'RE HOPEFUL.

WE'RE HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC AROUND HERE.

ANY QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION.

I DO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.

UM, 6,500 FOR THE HISTORIC RELUCTANT FOUNDATION.

ALL TWO OFFENSE.

GLAD I WAIVED BACK AT YOU, SCOTT.

I SECOND THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.