May 19, 2026 Bluffton Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee

FOR THE QUARTER THAT JUST ENDED MARCH 31ST, OUR COLLECTIONS WERE JUST SHY OF $190,000, WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THE SAME QUARTER AS LAST YEAR.

WE HAD A FAIRLY LARGE BALANCE FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS AND THEN TWO QUARTERS WORTH OF LAPSED GRANTS THAT WE'VE ALSO ADDED BACK INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, BECAUSE YOU'LL RECALL LAST QUARTER, WE DID NOT REPORT ANY LAPSE GRANTS.

WE HAD LOTS OF PENDING REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS AND FINAL REPORTS, SO WE JUST WAITED TILL WE HAD ALL THOSE FINALIZED.

SO WE'VE NOW ADDED THOSE IN TO THE LAPSE GRANTS, WHICH LEADS US A REMAINING BALANCE OF JUST OVER $517,000 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION.

AND THIS QUARTER WE HAVE SIX APPLICATIONS TOTALING JUST OVER $155,000 IN REQUESTS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T, WERE THERE ANY FAIL, LIKE JUST ABSOLUTELY FAILED APPLICATIONS.

THEY DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY AT ALL? OR IS IT MORE JUST LIKE ESTIMATES? A COMBINATION OF MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BUDGET OR EXPENSES TAX THEY THOUGHT, OR SOME INELIGIBLE EXPENSES, JUST VARIOUS REASONS WHY.

OKAY, COOL.

[VII.1. Presentation of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce's Bluffton Marketing Plan for the FY2026-2027 Budget as the Town's Designated Marketing Organization (DMO) ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ARIANA PERISE.

I OVERSEE THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU FOR THE HILTON ISLAND WELCOME CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SHARE OUR, UM, THOUGHTS AROUND FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

UM, WE HAVE PREPARED A, UH, SHORT PRESENTATION REGARDING THE PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

UM, SO PLEASE STOP ME ALONG THE WAY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT WE'LL START WITH A RECAP OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN 25 AND THEN LOOK AT 25 26 TOGETHER.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY WITH THIS? MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY.

IT IS IN ALL AAA OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

OH, PERFECT.

SO TO REVIEW THE AGENDA, WE'RE GONNA JUST LOOK BACK AT 25, UM, A YEAR IN REVIEW BASED ON SOME KEY METRICS.

WE'RE GONNA JUST REVIEW KIND OF OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, KIND OF HOW WE APPROACH TOURISM FOR THE DESTINATION, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THE PLAN ITSELF FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, 27.

SO, YEAR IN REVIEW, WE JUST DID A QUICK SNAPSHOT, UM, OF HOW, UM, THE DOLLARS WORKED REALLY HARD IN THE OUTMARKET, AGAIN, CHARGED WITH PROMOTING THE DESTINATION 50 MILES OR FURTHER.

SO IF YOU LOOK, UM, WE'RE GONNA READ THIS, YOUR RIGHT TO LEFT OR IF YOUR SCREEN LEFT TO RIGHT.

VACATION PLANNER, WE PRODUCED 30,000 OF THOSE, UM, BOOKS AND OF JUST, UM, AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2025, WE HAD FULFILLED 27,505.

AS YOU REMEMBER THAT BOOK, UM, WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR DESTINATION MARKETING PIECE OFFLINE PIECE THAT WORKS VERY HARD.

WE TAKE THAT TO MULTIPLE, UM, EFFORTS THAT WE DO IN THE OUTMARKET TO PROMOTE THE DESTINATION, BUT IT ALSO IS FULFILLED AT ALL THE SOUTH CAROLINA WELCOME CENTERS AT BOTH AIRPORTS, SAVANNAH HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL, AS WELL AS THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.

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UM, THAT IS A REQUESTED AMOUNT, AND WE SEND THOSE OUT AND FULFILL THOSE.

IT IS ALSO TAKEN TO EVERY TRADE SHOW THAT WE ATTEND.

IT IS AL ALSO GIVEN TO ALL MEDIA THAT WE, UM, HAVE IN MARKET OR WE SEND TO THEM, UM, FOR EXPOSURE FOR THE BRAND.

IN ADDITION, UM, ANYONE THAT CALLS EMAILS OR COMES INTO OUR OFFICES, BOTH IN BLUFFTON AND ON HILTON HEAD, WE HAVE THESE BOOKS AVAILABLE AND WE FULFILL THROUGH THE MAIL AS WELL.

THE WEBSITE IS WHAT WE LIKE TO REFER TO AS OUR VIRTUAL FRONT DOOR, AS YOU CAN SEE.

AND THESE ARE METRICS THAT WE'RE DEFINING AS, UM, MEASURES OF SUCCESS TODAY.

BUT AS WE'LL GET INTO IT LATER, THERE'S KIND OF NEW WAYS TO LOOK AT SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO WEBSITE AND THE OVERALL, UM, GOOGLE EFFORTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.

BUT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PAGE VIEWS.

SO WE HAD 325,000 PAGE VIEWS.

UM, AND IN ADDITION WE HAD, SORRY, I CAN'T SEE MY LOOK OVER HERE.

UM, IMPRESSIONS OF OVER 40,000 AND HANDSHAKES OUT TO IS WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE REFERENCING WHEN WE SAY REFERRALS, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT A POINT OF SALE, WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING THE BUSINESS, UM, WITH THE VISITOR.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE HAD OVER 38,000 OF THOSE, UM, REFERRALS CUT TO, UM, OUR BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN OUR AVERAGE TIME ON SITE, WHICH I THINK THIS IS A VERY, UM, EXCITING NUMBER, IS OVER 21 SECONDS.

SO IF YOU'RE 21 SECONDS, YOU KNOW, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE GET ABOUT THREE SECONDS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MARKETING AND BEING IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY WITH THIS DIGITAL, UM, CONSUMPTION.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE DEVICES IN FRONT OF US, UM, AND WE HAVE SECONDS TO HELP INFLUENCE A DECISION.

AND INDIVIDUALS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY'RE LOVING THE CONTENT, THAT THEY'RE INVESTING IN.

THE CONTENT IN 21 SECONDS IS LETTING US KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRIVERS TO THE WEBSITE IS, UM, OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS.

AND COLLECTIVELY, UM, WE HAD OVER 8,000, UM, ALMOST CLEARLY CLOSE TO 9,000 NEW FOLLOWERS.

THAT'S BRINGING US UP TO 64,000 IN TOTAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE CHANNELS CROPS.

JUST REFERENCING MY NOTES HERE, AND, UM, WITH THAT, UM, WE HAVE GROWN, FACEBOOK IS OUR STRONGEST CHANNEL, BUT WE'VE GROWN JUST WITHIN 25 BY 15% OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS.

FACEBOOK, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, IS OUR STRONGEST CHANNEL, BUT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AS ACROSS, UM, INSTAGRAM AND THEN ALSO TIKTOK.

TIKTOK IS, UM, IT'S THERE.

WE HAVE TO BE RELEVANT AND, AND BE IN THAT SPACE.

AND IF WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DESTINATION, SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE DOING IT FOR US.

WE'D RATHER BE AN AUTHORITY, UM, AND, AND, AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE THERE.

PINTEREST IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS YOUTUBE, YOUTUBE SHORTS, AS WELL AS YOUTUBE AS A LONG FORM, UM, ARE EVER-GROWING IN TERMS OF SEARCH ENGINES AND, AND PEOPLE USING IT AS A, A DECIDING FACTOR FOR TRIP PLANNING.

WE CAN TELL YOU THE TOWN OF LOUGHTON IS AMAZING ALL DAY LONG, BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT TO HEAR THAT FROM OUR PARTNERS, UM, WITHIN THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

AND THEY'RE SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS VICE PRESIDENT.

THEY WORK REALLY HARD, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THE EARNED MEDIA, WHICH IS US WORKING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THESE PUBLICATIONS, UM, TO LET THEIR READERSHIP KNOW ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE, UM, IN THIS DESTINATION.

AND SO WE RECEIVED JUST A HANDFUL OF, THESE ARE A SNAPSHOT, BUT MANY MORE.

BUT THESE ARE A GREAT LIST TO BE IN SOUTHERN LIVING'S, 10 BEST FALL GETAWAYS IN THE SOUTH COUNTRY, LIVING 15 UNDER THE RADAR.

SMALL TOWNS WORTH CHECKING OUT THIS SPRING.

EBONY, THE BEST IN BLACK OWNED DINING, TRAVEL, AND LEISURE.

11 BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND COUNTRY LIVING.

THESE ARE AMERICA'S 10 BEST SMALL TOWNS FOR 25.

THAT'S A GREAT LIST TO BE A PART OF.

AND THAT LIST CONTINUES TO GROW.

THERE'S A GREAT STORY TO TELL HERE, AND WE'RE SHOUTING IT AGAIN FROM THE ROOFTOPS, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE AS WELL WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW, LIKE, HOW ARE WE APPROACHING TOURISM FOR 26, 27, WHAT ARE THE LEARNINGS THAT WE'VE HAD? UM, FROM 25 AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, WE CONTINUE TO LEAN INTO THE ASSETS AND ATTRIBUTES THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING MAY.

RIVER COASTAL LIFESTYLE, UM, MONTAGE AND LUXURY EXPERIENCES, CULINARY AND DINING CULTURE AND HERITAGE EVENTS AND COMMUNITY.

THOSE REALLY SUMMARIZE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING PULLED TO, BUT IT'S ALSO WHERE WE HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TELL THAT STORY.

AND SO BETWEEN THE TWO, WE REALLY FEEL THAT AS A GREAT, UM, FOUNDATION FOR US TO CONTINUE TELLING THAT MESSAGE.

FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, WE WORKED IN HAND, UH, WITH THE TOWN AND CREATED OUR MISSION AND OUR COMMITMENT FROM THE BRAND STANDPOINT.

AND SO THESE ARE JUST HERE FOR, TO BE REITERATED WITH YOU THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE, UM, WORKED REALLY HARD TO DEFINE HEART OF THE LOW COUNTRY

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AND THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TO WELCOME A WORLD CLASS COMMUNITY, UM, IN TERMS OF EMBRACING NATURE, CULTURE AND ECONOMIC VIBRANCY FOR THE RESIDENTS AND ALSO THE VISITORS IN TERMS OF GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND TACTICS.

WE, AGAIN, HELD HANDS, UM, WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE WERE THE FOUR GOALS THAT WE FELT COULD DRIVE THE TOURISM VISION FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.

THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE GONNA GET US THERE.

SO FROM A GOALS PERSPECTIVE, WE ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGING THEM, WE FOUND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND SO, AND UNDERSTANDING AND OUTREACHING TO THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE TOWN PRIORITIZES HAS TO BE IN THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES AN EFFORT OF COLLABORATION AND, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC DRIVER IS, WHICH IS TOURISM FOR THE DESTINATION AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR IT.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE TALKING TO THE TOWN OFTEN ABOUT WHAT TRENDS ARE COMING IN, WHAT NEEDS PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING, EVEN DOWN TO THE PROPERTY LEVEL, BUT ALSO FROM A RETAIL STANDPOINT, A CULINARY STANDPOINT.

UM, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS REALLY A SHINING STAR WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THOSE AREAS AND, UM, AND THEN SOME.

SO AGAIN, THAT CONSTANT COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOWN, WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE MAKE THESE, UM, EFFORTS GOING INTO EACH FISCAL YEAR.

AND SO IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT A POINT OF SALE, ARE DRIVING, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, UM, OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT THERE'S HEADS AND BEDS, THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF US AS A DESTINATION OF CHOICE WHEN THEY'RE THINKING OF TRAVEL.

AND, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN GOING OUT AND INVESTING IN ALL THE OTHER TOUCH POINTS THAT THEY CAN ENJOY HERE, UM, WHILE VISITING THE OVERALL BUDGET THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR THIS YEAR.

AND THE FORECAST THAT WE'VE, UM, PUT TOGETHER IS $340,000, UM, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, 26, 27, WHERE YOU'LL SEE THAT BREAKDOWN, UM, IS ACROSS MULTIPLE CHANNELS THAT HELP DRIVE THAT MESSAGE OF THE, FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

UM, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT REALLY HEAVILY WEIGHTED TOWARDS, UM, THE DIGITAL, THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL EFFORTS.

UM, I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES OF TALKING ABOUT THE WHY.

UM, YOU'LL SEE THAT CURRENTLY IN TODAY'S DIGITAL SPACE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISRUPTION WHEN IT COMES TO GOOGLE AND HOW YOU'RE BEING SERVED ANY SEARCH QUERY, UM, TODAY VERSUS WHAT IT WAS DONE AND HOW IT WAS SERVED IN YEARS PAST.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LEAN INTO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AN AUTHORITY IN THOSE SPACES.

WHEN WE'RE OUTREACHING AND LOOKING TO PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO TRAVEL, WE'RE NOT JUST CASTING THIS VERY WIDE NET AND LETTING IT FALL WHERE IT MAY, WE'RE VERY, UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S A STRATEGY BEHIND HOW WE'RE DOING THAT.

SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON THAT HELP US DO OUR VISITOR PROFILE STUDY, AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT THAT WE PRODUCE FOR THE TOWN.

AND WE ALSO DO INTERCEPT SURVEYS AT THE DIFFERENT, UM, AND VARIOUS EVENTS THAT ARE HELD HERE IN THE TOWN.

AND COLLECTIVELY WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THE FEMALE BY 62% IS THE DECISION MAKER.

NOW, I SAY THAT, UM, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL KNOW AND CAN EXPERIENCE THAT YES, WE MIGHT HAVE, UM, A FEMALE BEING THE DECISION MAKER, BUT TODAY, UM, TODAY'S EFFORTS ARE REALLY COLLABORATIVE.

SO WHETHER THAT BE FROM A COLLECTIVE, HEY, WE'RE ALL SITTING AROUND A TABLE, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO THIS YEAR? WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO? WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO THIS WEEKEND? UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED IN MORE OF A FAMILY SETTING, BUT THE PERSON WHO'S CLICKING THE BUTTON AND MAKING THE ACTUAL PLAN, UM, SHE IS, UH, THE FEMALE IN THIS, IN THIS SCENARIO, WE ARE SEEKING THAT AFFLUENT TRAVELER, A HUNDRED TO 199, 200,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME WHO HAS AN UNDER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR HIGHER AND HAS THE PROPENSITY TO TRAVEL.

WHEN WE HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, COLLECTIVE EFFORT PULLED TOGETHER, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO ALSO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE VISITING, RIGHT? SO THIS PROFILE REALLY ALLOWS US, THEY HAVE THE INTERESTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR 'CAUSE THEY ALIGN WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

THEY LOVE TO TRAVEL AND THEY LOVE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

SO AGAIN, THIS, THIS PIECE HERE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF HOW WE THEN BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE TYPE OF TRAVEL THAT THEY ARE.

SO WHETHER THEY'RE A FAMILY TRAVELER, THEY LIKE TO DO THINGS ON THE WEEKENDS, IF THEY'RE HERE FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY, THEY'RE CULINARY TRAVELERS, RECREATION ENTHUSIASTS OR SNOWBIRDS.

WE CAN DIVE INTO EACH ONE OF THESE PERSONAS A LITTLE DEEPER TO GIVE THEM DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO

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SHOWCASE HOW WE AND THEY CAN EXPLORE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO REALLY SEE THOSE WORK HARD FOR US BECAUSE WE TRULY HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER IN EACH ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT DOES ALL THAT MEAN AND HOW DO WE APPLY IT? WELL, WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THE STRONG FOUNDATIONS THAT, UH, ELEMENTS THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT, AND WE'RE PUTTING IT THROUGH WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE CONVERSION FOCUSED DIGITAL EFFORT.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE LEANING INTO, UM, THAT WEBSITE REALLY WORKING HARD FOR US.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN ALL OF OUR EFFORTS IS BUILD AWARENESS, DRIVE INTENT, AND THEN ULTIMATELY A CONVERSION.

AND THE CONVERSION FOR US IS VISITING THE WEBSITE AND THEN LEADING TO GO OUT TO ONE OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SO AGAIN, THINK OF THAT AS DEMAND GENERATION AND DEMAND CAPTURE.

AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN TODAY'S DAY IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE OMNIPRESENT.

WE CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE PIECE OUT THERE AT A TIME.

I THINK WE'VE TALKED OFTEN ABOUT HOW CAN WE COLLECTIVELY BE MORE ENGAGED AND ALWAYS ON.

WELL, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIES OF DIFFERENT TOOLS WITHIN YOUR TOOLKIT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S HAPPENING.

SO WHETHER THAT'S EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO EVERYTHING IS ABOUT VIDEO AND IMAGERY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE A TON OF THAT IN OUR ARSENAL AND WE CAN PUT IN PLACE AT ANY TIME.

WE HAVE OUR DIGITAL ADS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE THOSE THAT ARE HERE VISITING AND TAKING IMAGERY AND VIDEO THEMSELVES, AND WE'RE RESHARING THAT.

AND THAT'S USER GENERATED CONTENT.

THAT'S MORE OF THE ORGANIC STUFF THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR CHANNELS EVERY DAY VERSUS A PAID AD THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SEE 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SEE IT.

AND THAT'S 50 MILES OR FURTHER.

SO THE ORGANIC REALLY HELPS COMPLIMENT THE PAID EFFORTS AND REALLY GETS YOUR, UM, REALLY TIES INTO THE EMOTIONAL PART OF WHY SOMEONE WOULD CHOOSE THE TOWN OF LUPTON TO VISIT.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR COMPETITOR EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WE HAVE THE, UM, TAKEN A REALLY DEEP DIVE INTO OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS.

SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SLIDE, AND ONE THAT WAS NEW FOR OUR PRESENTATION IS WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT DOES THE DESTINATION LOOK LIKE IN THE OUTMARKET.

AND I THINK IT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GEO OR GENERATIVE ENGINE OPTIMIZATION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS IS VERY, VERY NEW.

WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF A NEW EXPERIENCE OF SEARCHING, UM, AS A CONSUMER, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ON GOOGLE TODAY, THE LARGEST SEARCH ENGINE THAT WE HAVE, UM, AVAILABLE THAT WHEN YOU PUT ANYTHING IN AND YOU'RE SAYING, I'D LOVE TO GO SEE THIS EVENT AT THIS TIME AND IN AND AROUND BLUFFTON AND IT'LL PULL IT UP AND IT'S SCRAPED AND SCRAPED AND SCRAPED AND IT PULLS UP ITS OWN ANSWER FOR YOU, WHAT THAT HAS DONE AND THEM TAKING OVER THAT SPACE IS IT HAS ELIMINATED THE CLICK OUT TO THE WEBSITE.

'CAUSE BEFORE IT WOULD QUERY AND LOOK AROUND IN THE BACKEND TO SAY, WHERE ARE ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPENING AND WHO HAS THE BEST, YOU KNOW, SUMMARY OF ALL THAT.

AND IT WOULD PULL UP OUR SITE.

UM, AND YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN THE TOP THREE ON THE FIRST PAGE AND THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST ANYMORE.

UM, SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? SO AGAIN, I'VE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY IT.

UM, THERE'S, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

I AM ALWAYS LEARNING AS WELL, BUT THE OLD WAY WAS AS SIMPLE AS I CAN PUT IT.

A USER WOULD GO TO A GOOGLE SEARCH PLATFORM.

THEY WOULD TYPE IN THINGS TO DO IN BLUFFTON, UM, AND IT WOULD PULL UP OUR VISITOR WEBSITE AND YOU WOULD CLICK ON IT AND YOU WOULD GO OUT TO IT AND YOU WOULD EXPLORE.

TODAY.

UM, YOU'RE SEEING THE USER PUTTING SOMETHING INTO GOOGLE SEARCH, WHICH IS AI GENERATED, AND IT'S AI, THE GOOGLE COMPONENT OF IT IS SCRAPING ALL OF THOSE WEBSITES OUT THERE THAT HAVE ANY BITS OF INFORMATION, UM, ABOUT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND EVENTS.

AND THEN IT PROVIDES ITS SUMMARY AND THAT USER MAY NEVER CLICK AWAY FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT.

THEY MAY CLICK WRITE DIRECT TO A SITE OR THEY MIGHT JUST TAKE THAT SUMMARY AND GO FROM THERE.

SO HOW DOES THAT, UH, TRANSLATE INTO WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US GOING FORWARD AS WE THINK ABOUT THE WEBSITE? WELL, WHAT'S IMPORTANT THERE IS WHAT IS IT SCRAPING, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ALLOWS OUR WEBSITE TO SHOW THAT IT IS THE AUTHORITY, RIGHT? IT IS THE AUTHORITY IN EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING SEARCHED.

IT IS THE AUTHORITY IN EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING OFFERED IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE SERVED IN THOSE AI SEARCHES.

AND NOT ONLY JUST ON GOOGLE, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR TOURISM AND TRAVEL INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE, UM, AI PLATFORMS, WHETHER THAT BE CHAT, GBT OR CLAUDE OR THEY'RE USING OTHER FORMS TO GET THEIR INFORMATION.

AND SO THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO AS A DESTINATION AND ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS TO ENSURE THAT GOOGLE AND OTHERS ARE SEEING YOUR SITE AS AN AUTHORITY.

AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK ON THE BACKEND, BUT THE WEBSITE IS STILL EXTREMELY RELEVANT AND VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP, UM, IN PLACE, BUT ALSO KEEP VERY UPDATED IN TERMS OF ALL THE INFORMATION THAT IS ON THERE.

UM, 'CAUSE GOOGLE STARTS TO KEEP TABS,

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WAS THIS CORRECT? WAS THIS ACCURATE? DID THIS GIVE THIS PERSON WHAT THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION? SO AGAIN, I THINK THE IMPORTANT PIECE THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE AWAY FROM HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THE WEBSITE HEALTHY FULL OF CONTENT AND THEN TAKE THE THINGS THAT ARE FEEDING INTO IT, WHICH MIGHT BE SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF A GOOGLE, UM, EXCUSE ME, FROM THE WEBSITE, WHICH WOULD BE A BLOG, AN E-NEWSLETTER, UM, AN ARTICLE THAT'S BEEN PUSHED ONLINE THROUGH A THIRD PARTY LIKE TRAVEL AND LEISURE OR CONDE NAST OR YOUR SOCIAL CONTENT.

THEY ALL FEED INTO THOSE SCRAPES THAT THE AI BOTS ARE DOING AND SERVING UP.

SO AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT JUST THE AUTHORITY IN ONE SPACE, YOU HAVE TO BE THE AUTHORITY IN ALL SPACES.

UM, AND REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE STILL GETTING CREDIT FROM GOOGLE, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM A BEING SERVED AS AN AUTHORITY IN THAT SPACE VERSUS WHAT WE USED TO USE AS AN OLD METRIC, WHICH WOULD BE PAGE VIEW OR HOW OFTEN YOU WERE SEARCHED.

SO AGAIN, THINGS ARE SHIFTING REAL TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF THIS, THAT SEO AND GEO ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE AND ALL OF OUR OTHER ANCILLARY, UM, CONTRIBUTING ASSETS ARE AND ATTRIBUTES REALLY PUSHING TOWARDS BEING THE AUTHORITY AS WELL.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT K KPIS, WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO REPORT AGAINST THE KPIS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS REPORTED AGAINST, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT WE'RE ALSO RESEARCHING AND WORKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH, UM, PARTNERS SUCH AS GOOGLE.

WE'VE ASKED AND BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THEIR BETA TEST, UM, GROUP THAT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT THESE DIFFERENT METRICS OF WHAT WILL BE THE NEW WAY TO REPORT.

UM, SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AI CITATIONS, UM, OR API CALLS, THOSE ARE TWO THAT ARE PROBABLY THE MOST, UM, RELEVANT TODAY AND I WANNA GET THERE AND MAKE SURE I'M ACCURATELY EXPLAINING THOSE.

BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NEW KPIS THAT WE'LL BE ADDING IN AND REPORTING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, IN OUR EFFORTS WHEN WE, UM, SHARE OUR REPORTING WITH YOU, UM, OVER THE QUARTERS THAT WE REPORT OUT.

SO, JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO REPORT OUT ON THAT TO YOU.

THESE ARE JUST THREE, UM, PHRASES THAT WE KEEP WITH OURSELVES IN OUR HIP POCKET.

WE, WE NEED TO BE TECHNICALLY IMPECCABLE.

WE NEED TO BE, UM, THE AUTHORITY OR BUILD DIGITAL CREDIBILITY, AND WE NEED TO BE AI READY ON ALL OF OUR CONTENT.

SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DO YOU HAVE THIS STORY? IS IT IN PLACE? IS IT, BUT IS IT BEING SEEN AS THE AUTHORITY? IS IT NOT ONLY, UM, ACCURATE FROM WHAT WE KNOW TO BE ACCURATE, BUT IS THE AI BOT RECOGNIZING 'CAUSE IT'S WRITTEN IN THE CORRECT WAY FOR IT TO BE WRITTEN AND SCRAPED AND PULLED AND PULLED OUT AS AN AUTHORITATIVE PIECE OF INFORMATION TO BE, TO BE SERVED? SO THERE'S KIND OF A TWO-PRONG APPROACH THERE.

VISIT BLUFFTON.ORG WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A VISUAL, UM, REPRESENTATION OF, UM, THIS WONDERFUL DESTINATION.

BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA SERVE AGAIN, IS THAT CONTENT HUB WHERE WE'RE GONNA SERVE ALL OF OUR CONTENT, UM, AND BE THE RECEIVERS OF ALL THOSE THAT ARE COMING IN FROM THOSE, UM, SECONDARY TOUCH POINTS INTO THE WEBSITE.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STRATEGY AND THE PERSONALIZATION, SO WE WON'T GO INTO TOO MUCH, UM, DETAIL HERE, BUT AGAIN, WE JUST ARE CONTINUALLY, UM, MAKING THAT EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE INFORMATION ON THERE CAN BE A PERSONALIZED EFFORT, ONE-TO-ONE COMMUNICATION.

'CAUSE WE'RE SPEAKING TO THOSE THAT HAVE PICKED BLUFFTON FOR THE REASONS THAT WE SHOWED IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA MEANS TO GEO AND WHY THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

AGAIN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW THOSE PLATFORMS. AS WE'VE SAID, FACEBOOK IS THE NUMBER ONE, UM, FOR THIS DESTINATION.

UM, HOWEVER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THINGS SUCH AS TIKTOK AND YOUTUBE, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT BEING BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE SUNSET IS CAPTURED AND IT'S PUT UP REAL TIME.

THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GETTING THE MOST ENGAGEMENT, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE ADS THAT WILL BE HELPING SERVE THAT EFFORT AS WELL.

SOME OF THE GOALS SURROUNDING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IS AGAIN TO SHOWCASE, UM, AROUND THE BRAND PILLARS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDERS, CAPITALIZING TOP PERFORMING CONTENT TYPES, AND FURTHER GENERATE THE DESTINATION AWARENESS AND KEY MARKETS.

SO EVERYTHING, AGAIN, IS GOING BACK TO BEING AI DRIVEN TOOLS, UM, THAT WILL SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.

WE MENTIONED HOW TOP OF MIND, UM, PUBLIC RELATIONS HAS BEEN FOR THE DESTINATION.

AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO THOSE EARNED EFFORTS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE NOT, UM, OUTRIGHTLY BY ANY MEANS PAYING FOR.

THOSE ARE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BEING BUILT WITH EDITORS

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AND THEIR TEAMS TO SAY THESE ARE THE TOP THINGS HAPPENING IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UM, WITHIN THE DIFFERENT SEASONS AND TIMEFRAMES.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THOSE MESSAGES TOP OF MIND AND THAT WE HAVE, UM, CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM THE EDITORIAL SIDE THAT IS SAYING THAT BLUFFTON IS THE PLACE TO BE.

I THINK THERE'S SUCH A GREAT STORY TO TELL FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, WHETHER IT BE FROM CULINARY, UM, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH EVENTS, JUST THE OVERALL, UM, MAY RIVER STORY, THE HISTORY, THE CULTURE.

SO AGAIN, AT ANY TOUCH POINT, UM, YOU HAVE REALLY A, A STORY THAT WE'RE SHOUTING AND I THINK IT'S REALLY BEEN SEEN, UM, IS BEING WELL RECEIVED NEWS MEDIA CAN TENDS TO BE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THIS, UM, PAST YEAR IN 25 THAT ALLOWED US TO WORK WITH CONDE NAST TRAVELER AND IT WAS A VIDEO AND WE WENT THAT WAY AND IT, UM, MAYOR LAER TUMOR IN IT.

IT HAD SOME OTHER, UM, THOSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT WERE SHOWCASED AND IT WAS WHERE LOCALS WANT TO EAT, RIGHT? ONE CHEF TALKING TO ANOTHER CHEF AND JUST REALLY TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW THIS COMMUNITY REALLY WORKS TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE LOCAL COMPONENT THAT I THINK PEOPLE REALLY TIED INTO AND IT'S, AND IT DID REALLY WELL.

SO WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SEEK THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE IDEAS.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM WITHIN THE BUDGET TOO, TO SAY, WELL, LET'S SHIFT A LITTLE DOWN HERE SO WE CAN DO SOME MORE VIDEOS THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

OR WE COULD DO PHOTOGRAPHY, DEPENDS IF WE WANT TO OWN THE ASSET OR IF WE WANT IT TO, TO LIVE THROUGH THOSE CHANNELS, MEETINGS AND GROUP SALES.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR HOTEL PARTNERS, UM, AND LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN FILL THE NEED TIMEFRAMES.

UM, AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN THOSE, UM, ARENAS AND WE, WE LOOK TO BRING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIFE.

UM, WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MONTAGE, THE OLD TOWN BLUFFTON IN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE SELECT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL THAT THEY HAVE MEETING SPACE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HO HOST DIFFERENT SPORTS GROUPS AND OTHER, UM, SMALLER GROUPS THAT MIGHT BE IN TOWN.

SO AGAIN, WE KIND OF THINK OF IT ON BOTH SIDES, UM, AND MEET THOSE NEEDS, UH, REGARDING MEETINGS AND GROUPS, WEDDINGS, REUNIONS, TOP MARKETS CONTRIBUTING.

AGAIN, WE SEE THIS TO GROW.

WE SEE THIS TO, UM, IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

UM, BUT RIGHT NOW OUR TOP MARKETS THAT ARE FEEDING INTO OUR VISITATION HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ARE ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, CHARLESTON, JACKSONVILLE, RALEIGH, DUR, ORLANDO, ORLANDO AND TAMPA.

UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW THAT, UM, OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASED ACCESS INTO SAVANNAH HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE OF A FLY VERSUS A DRIVE OPPORTUNITY.

UM, SO AGAIN, WE TRY TO REACH ON BOTH OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THAT WE CAN TO FILL THOSE NEED TIMEFRAMES.

AND AGAIN, JUST REITERATING THOSE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES, CUSTOMIZABLE, UM, VERY ONE-TO-ONE WHEN IT COMES TO WHY SHOULD I VISIT, WHY SHOULD MY FAMILY VISIT? WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS TREND OF, UM, I GET THAT OTHERS MAY VISIT, BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE IT SPECIAL FOR ME? AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY LEANING INTO ITINERARIES AND THOSE ITINERARIES CAN BE INSTANTLY DOWNLOADABLE AND THEN FROM THE DOWNLOAD THEY CAN GO RIGHT INTO PURCHASE.

UM, AND THAT IS WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS.

THOSE, AGAIN, AREN'T PURCHASED ON OUR SITE, BUT THEY COULD BE BOOKABLE, I SHOULD SAY, UM, UM, ON OUR PARTNER SITE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT COMES FROM BUILDING STRONG CONTENT AND CONTENT THAT DRIVES ACTION.

UM, SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE MAY RIVER, OBVIOUSLY STANDING OUT AND THEN HISTORIC DISTRICT GU, CULTURAL HERITAGE EXPERIENCES, CHEF LED LOW COUNTRY DINNERS AND OYSTER ROASTS.

AGAIN, BEING OUT ON THE MAY RIVER WITH KAYAKING, BOATING, ECO TOURS AND ART IS VERY, VERY, THAT WHOLE ARTISAN WALK AND HOW WE CAN DO MORE ART, UM, POPUPS AND ART GALLERY EXPOSURES, THOSE ARE REALLY, REALLY BIG.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE GO BACK TO THE BOOK, THE BOOK HERE AS WELL.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT, BUT I BROUGHT AN EXAMPLE.

SO THIS WAS, THIS IS OUR CURRENT ONE.

UM, AND THIS IS SHOWCASING, UM, THE PARK RIGHT OUTSIDE THE NEW WELCOME CENTER, WHICH WE LOVE AND IT'S BEEN DOING REALLY WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS, UM, I CHALLENGED THE TEAM THIS YEAR TO DO SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

SO WE DID A PIECE THAT IS REMOVABLE AND IT HIGHLIGHTS, IT'S CALLED THE BLUFF AND RAMBLE.

AND IT GIVES YOU 10 SPOTS THAT YOU CAN EXPLORE IN THE DOWNTOWN AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, FAMILY FRIENDLY AND YOU START AT THE WELCOME CENTER AND YOU END AT THE WELCOME CENTER.

AND WHEN YOU COMPLETE THIS, YOU GET A LITTLE STICKER, BUT YOU CAN TEAR THIS OUT.

THEY HAVE EXTRAS ON HAND IF THERE'S MULTIPLE, UM, CHILDREN IN A PARTY OR OTHERS THAT WANT ONE.

UM, AND IT'S DONE SO WELL FOR US.

IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE, UM, THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING IT FOR THE UPCOMING ESTO AWARDS.

UM, SO I WILL KEEP YOU, UM, UP TO DATE ON HOW WE PERFORM

[00:30:01]

THERE, BUT IT WAS SUBMITTED AND THAT'S PART OF THE US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION.

AND WITH THAT THEY HAVE THIS AWARD OPPORTUNITY.

SO HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS YOU'LL HEAR THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE AWARD TO GO UP WITH THIS, WHICH WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

SO WHAT'S THE NEXT VERSION OF THIS? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT CULINARY SCENE, WE HAVE GREAT HISTORY SCENE, WE HAVE GREAT, YOU KNOW, EVENTS SCENE, SO JUST YOU CAN REALLY TAKE THIS AND EXPAND, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS HAS DONE REALLY WELL AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE WELCOME CENTER ON THAT.

AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE A STICKER? SO THEY ALL GET STICK WITH ME AT THE END OF THE DAY.

IT COMES BACK TO, UH, THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM.

AND AGAIN, I THINK THE, THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLKIT REALLY HELP DIFFERENTIATE OUR EFFORTS IN COMPARISON, UM, TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THIS IS HOW WE CAN HELP AND COMPLIMENT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVENTS HERE WITHIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

SO WE MAINTAIN, UM, AN ONGOING EFFORT OF THINK BLUFFTON.ORG.

THIS IS A FULL ACCESS, NO PASSWORD NEEDED.

YOU CAN ACCESS ALL OF THE MARKETING PLANS, ALL OF THE, UM, ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORTS YOU CAN ACCESS 10 YEARS OF OUR AUDITS.

UM, YOU CAN SEE SO MUCH OF THAT EFFORT GOES INTO THAT ANNUAL AND, AND UM, ONGOING BASIS WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING AND PLANNING.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

SO THAT DOES EXIST.

WE USE, UM, TOOLS SUCH AS KEY DATA THAT TRACKS THE LODGING OCCUPANCY THAT WE REPORT OUT ON WHEN IT COMES TO OCCUPANCY REVPAR, UM, AN A DR AND THEN I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND WHAT THEY DO IS REALLY HELP US MEET TWO NEEDS.

ONE, THEY HELP US, UM, ENSURE A VISITOR PROFILE STUDY THAT WE PRODUCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE TOWN, WHICH THEN ALLOWS US TO TURN INTO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT.

AND THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT IS THE IMPACT OF, UH, TOURISM TO BLUFFTON FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER TO HAVE, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT TOURISM IS DOING.

UH, OUR TOWN IS PRODUCING, UM, ON BEHALF OF, YOU KNOW, SOUTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.

AND SO HAVING THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND LOOKING BACK AND COMPARING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO SEE WHO'S COMING AND WHO'S VISITING AND IF THERE'S ANY, UM, CHANGES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE ATTRACTING PEOPLE FROM.

UM, AND THEN THE LAST IS THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S, UH, GEOFENCING TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE TWO PLATFORMS. ONE IS PLACER AI AND ONE IS TICO.

AND ONE JUST ALLOWS A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE ACTUAL, UM, LOCATION VERSUS KIND OF A BROADER SWAP.

UM, SO I'M GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO PLACER AI, WHICH WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU HAD AN EVENT OR AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN A SECTION OF THE TOWN, WE CAN HONE IN ON THAT AREA AND TELL YOU WHO HAS, UM, WHO HAS BEEN THERE.

AND THEY CAN TELL YOU IF IT'S A LOCAL OR IF IT'S A VISITOR AND THAT'S DEEMED BY YOUR PHONE.

SO IF YOU ALLOWED, UM, THE PERMISSIONS FOR SOMEONE FOR THE TRACKING, THAT'S HOW THEY'RE ACCESSING THAT INFORMATION.

UM, BUT IT REALLY HAS BEEN INSIGHTFUL WHEN, ESPECIALLY FROM AN ATEX PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT DID THIS, UM, EVENT GARNER? DID IT EVENT UM, GARNER MORE LOCALS OR DID IT GARNER MORE, UM, VISITORS? AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WE'D LIKE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU AND THIS, UM, AND ALL THE REQUESTERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN HAVE, PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION, UM, WHEN THEY'RE REQUESTING THEIR FUNDS AND OR AS A WRAP UP REPORT WHEN THEY'RE ASKED TO PRODUCE THAT DETAIL, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

AM I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DOING.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO LOOK IT UP.

SO , WHICH ONE ON THE, ON THE BLUFFTON THINK PLACER.

OH THE PLACER AI.

AND YOU KNOW PLACER AI, IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND I'LL SEND YOU SOME LINKS UM, THROUGH, IS THAT OKAY IF I SEND THEM AND WE CAN PASS THEM ON? UM, IT ACTUALLY STARTED OUT AS A REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY PIECE AND IT WAS TO LIKE, IS THIS AREA A GOOD PLACE TO PUT MY RETAIL STORE? UM, AND THEN D OS HEARD ABOUT IT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCESS IT AND IT REALLY DOES GIVE YOU THAT TRANS, YOU KNOW, WHO'S WALKING BY THIS AREA AND IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

SO YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL COUNCIL.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE A AYE.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO USE THE ING ORGANIZATION NEXT SECOND TO RECOMMEND THEIR MARKETING PLAN TO TOWN COUNCIL ACCEPTED TO RE TO RECOMMEND THEIR MARKETING PLAN TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SURE.

RECOMMEND THEIR PLAN AS PRESENTED TO COUNTY ACCEPT ANY DISCUSSION? NOPE.

[00:35:01]

ANY OPPOSED? ALL FARMER'S MARKET?

[VII.2. Grant Application Q&A: Farmer's Market of Bluffton - Facilities Support ]

HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

KIM BILL JACK WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET AND TONIGHT IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST.

SOMETHING THAT HAS TRANSPIRED BETWEEN THE TIME THAT WE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION AND DID OUR PRESENTATION LAST YEAR FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR WOULD BE THE CHARGE FOR MARTIN FAMILY PARK.

SO TONIGHT I'M ONLY HERE ASKING FOR THE $9,375 IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE FOR THIS YEAR FOR THE RENTAL OF THE PARK.

IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN AN IN KIND DONATION TO THE MARKET, BUT NOW WE'RE BEING CHARGED FOR THE TOWN.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR THAT AND, AND THAT REQUEST ONLY REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST OF THE FACILITIES.

IT'S JUST THE RENTAL FEE THAT THE TOWN CHARGES US.

YES, THAT WAS WHEN THE NEXT CHANGE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

I THINK IT WENT THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR AND THEN WE WERE ON A CALENDAR YEAR.

SO IT KIND OF SKIPPED US BETWEEN THE TIME WE PROPOSED THIS BACK IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.

ANY QUESTION I MOVE THAT WE, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST OF 9,003 $75, UH, ADDITION TO THE FARMER'S MARKET.

SECOND QUESTION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[VII.3. Grant Application Q&A: Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra - 2026 Bluffton Concerts ]

I'M ALAN JORDAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BUILDING COMPANY ORCHESTRA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR BLUFFTON CONCERTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE SUCCESSES THAT WE ENJOYED DURING LAST YEAR'S OCTOBER OUTDOOR AND NOVEMBER HOLIDAY CONCERTS HAVE MOTIVATED US TO PERPETUATE OUR PROGRAM IN 2026.

I AM EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKING DEFINITIONS IN THE BLUFFTON AT TAX APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS, SPECIFICALLY CONFUSING THEM WITH OTHER ATAC GRANT DEFINITIONS AND UNDERREPORTING OUR REACH.

LAST WEEK I PROVIDED UPDATED STATISTICS THAT STRENGTHEN THE HHS O'S CASE FOR SUPPORT.

IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THAT REPORT, I HAVE HARD COPIES.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT OUR 2024 OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE WAS MOVED INDOORS DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES AND THAT IMPACTED ALL THE FIGURES THAT YEAR.

WE'RE COUNTING ON THE ARTS AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL TO DELIVER CLEAR WARM WEATHER THIS OCTOBER.

I WILL REITERATE MY PUBLIC COMMENTS YET REGARDING, UH, NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR BROADCAST ADVERTISING MADE AT YOUR FEBRUARY 17TH MEETING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO USE 20% OF ADVERTISING COPY FOR SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION.

THEREFORE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO NOT INCLUDE TELEVISION ADVERTISING FOR OUR 2026 CONCERTS BACK IN 2021.

ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE PROCLAIMED THAT OUR OUTDOOR CONCERT WAS, AND I WILL PARAPHRASE SOME OF THE BEST EVER SPENT AT TAX MONEY.

WE CONTINUE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT STANDARD AND HOPE THIS COMMITTEE AND THE BLUFFING COMMUNITY FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT HHSO EVENTS EVERY YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

DID EVERYBODY GET A COPY OF THAT REPORT? OKAY, GOOD.

HE DID.

THE, WHEN YOU GOT TO DO YOUR COMMENT, UM, YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO IF YOU'RE GONNA DISCONTINUE BROADCAST MEDIA AS FAR AS YOUR AT TAX GRANT, BUT IT IS CALCULATED INTO THE ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO US.

HAS THAT BEEN REFLECTED AS THE CHANGE? I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE, UH, THE DOCUMENT.

UH, WE'VE SHIFTED OVER TO DIGITAL ADVERTISING MORE, UH, PRINT MEDIA, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I WANNA ACTUALLY MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THAT TOO.

'CAUSE I WASN'T HERE

[00:40:01]

UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU WERE TO DO A VIDEO AND YOU PUT LIKE AT THE BOTTOM OF IT AND DIDN'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY SAY IT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, JUST A, A BRIEF THING SAYING, YOU KNOW, AND PUT THE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ON IT, YOU'D STILL GET, WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE PUT THE, THE REQUIRED VISUALS ON THAT, BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THEY HAD TO BE IN THE COPY.

IT HAS TO BE AUDIO.

IT CAN'T TAG NO, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AUDIO.

RIGHT.

TAGLINE IS CHRISTIE THE SCRUB, A VISUAL ON IT CAN BE DONE VISUAL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE WORDS IN IT.

DO IT A FLASH ON THE BOTTOM THAT WILL SUFFICE THE QUALIFICATIONS.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY.

OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT HAD TO BE PART OF THE, THE SPOKEN, YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH, SO SOMETIMES THAT TAKES SO MUCH OF THAT TIME.

A 32ND AD, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM.

RIGHT? YEAH.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, CLARIFY THAT.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OCTOBER 15TH? NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

IT IS A GREAT EVENT.

UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION, I MOTION TO, UH, ACCEPT THE APPLICATION AS IT IS AND TO, UH, APPROVE THE GRANT FOR, UH, $46,818.

SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? NO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? GREAT, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, BUFORT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE, THE PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT.

OKAY, SO

[VII.4. Grant Application Q&A: Beaufort Water Search & Rescue - Purchase of Replacement Boat ]

BUT, UM, I I COULD BE WRONG, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SEEN FOR US, CORRECT? HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN THIS APPLICATION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO, MY PRESENTATION I THINK MIGHT SHED A LITTLE BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAN WHAT I'VE PREVIOUSLY DONE.

BUT HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN THE APPLICATION FROM, FROM THE PREVIOUS, FROM THE, FROM THE LAST TIME YOU PRESENTED IT? I THINK THERE'S A LOT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL ON IT.

SO THE APPLICATION HAS CHANGED FROM THE LAST ONE? YES.

I I JUST DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING CHANGED.

OH, OKAY.

EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT CHANGED PLEASE ALL.

SO ANYWAY, UM, REQUESTED $21,875, WHICH IS 50% OF THE $43,750 PROJECT COST WILL FUND THE ACQUISITION OF A REPLACEMENT 23 FOOT CENTER CONSOLE BOAT FOR BEAUFORT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE, AND OUR ALL VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THIS VESSEL WILL MAINTAIN RELIABLE, DEDICATED ON WATER SEARCH, RESCUE RECOVERY, AND SAFETY PATROL CAPABILITIES FOCUSED ON BLUFFTON KEY TOURISM WATERWAYS, INCLUDING THE MAY RIVER CABO SOUND, AND ASSOCIATED MARSHES, MARSHES AND BOAT RAMPS.

THE CURRENT VESSEL HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS SERVICE LIFE DUE TO AGE AND WEAR.

REPLACING IT ENSURES UNINTERRUPTED 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAY A WEEK EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SAFETY SUPPORT FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS, KAYAKERS AND VISITORS ENJOYING THE BLUFF AND WATERWAYS.

THIS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS TOURISM BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENHANCES VISITOR CONFIDENCE AND ENABLES SAFE PARTICIPATION IN WATER-BASED RECREATION AND LOCAL EVENTS.

THIS REQUEST COMPLIES WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CODE 6 4 10 SUBSECTION FOUR B AS A TOURISM RELATED EXPENDITURE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES FOR CIVIC AND CULTURE ACTIVITIES.

BOAT SERVICE IS MOBILE AS A MOBILE SAFETY SUPPORT FOR EVENTS AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO WATERWAYS.

ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT PROMOTE TOURISM AND ENLARGE ITS ECONOMIC BENEFITS BY ENHANCING THE TOWN'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND PROVIDE FOR TOURISTS THROUGH IMPROVED WATERWAY SAFETY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

LOFTON ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS ANNUALLY WHO ENGAGE IN BOATING, KAYAKING, FISHING, PADDLE SPORTS, AND WATERFRONT ACT WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES ALONG THE MAY RIVER AND KYLE BUG SOUND.

RELIABLE WATER RESCUE AND SAFETY PATROLS DIRECTLY ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE BY REDUCING RISKS DURING PEAK RECREATIONAL PERIODS AND SUPPORTING SAFE ACCESS TO BLUFF IN'S, NATURAL

[00:45:01]

AND CULTURAL AMENITIES.

BY MAINTAINING THIS CRITICAL ACCESS, E-W-S-A-R HELPS SUSTAIN BLUFFTON APPEAL AS A SAFE FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATION FOR WATER-BASED TOURISM.

THIS ENCOURAGES LONGER STAYS, REPEAT VISITATION IN POSITIVE WORD OF MOUTH, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORTS OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, LOCAL DINING AND RETAIL SPENDING WITHIN TOWN LIMITS.

THIS REPLACEMENT ALSO ENABLES SAFETY COVERAGE FOR EVENTS AND PUBLIC USE OF BLUFFTON AREA WATERWAYS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF TOURISM IN THE TOWN.

WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1975 WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL ON-WATER SEARCH, RESCUE AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

WE OPERATE WITH NO PAID STAFF.

MAINTAIN STRICT FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH DEDICATED GRANTS, GRANT AC ACCOUNTS, TRANSPARENT BUDGETING AND TIMELY REPORTING.

IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2,200 MAN HOURS ACROSS APPRO APPROXIMATELY 97 MISSIONS.

NEARLY 40 40% OF THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO BLUFFTON, SPECIFICALLY MANY INVOLVING RECREATIONAL BOATERS AND VISITORS IN LOW COUNTRY.

WE WORK UNDER THE DIRECT DIRECTION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND MAINTAIN STRONG OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE US COAST GUARD, SOUTH CAROLINA DNR, MARINE PATROL, BLUFFTON TOWN POLICE, AND LOCAL FIRE RESCUE AGENCIES.

FOR THIS PROJECT, WE WILL PROVIDE A 50% MATCH OF THE 21 8 75 THROUGH OUR RESERVES, COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND PRIOR GRANT CARRYOVER.

ALL EXPENDITURES WILL OCCUR IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ATEX GUIDELINES WITH PRIMARY BENEFIT FOCUSED ON AND TOWN LIMITS AND SURROUNDING WATERWAYS USED BY TOWN VISITORS.

WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED PREVIOUS AAX FUNDED EQUIPMENT AND PATROL SUPPORT WITH FULL DOCUMENTATION AND REIMBURSEMENT COMPLAINTS.

SO, UM, I'M GONNA GO BACK.

UM, THIS IS THE SAME APPLICATION THAT WE HAD LAST TIME AND IN MY OPINION, AND I'LL ASK STAFF THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TURNED DOWN SO I CAN'T ASK TO DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN TURNED DOWN.

WE MAYBE SO YOU WOULD STILL TAKE A VOTE? OKAY.

SO WE WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND THEN.

IS THERE ANY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IS THIS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS? I THINK IT WAS VERY SIMILAR.

I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A CERTAINLY A VALID, UM, NEED AND USE CASE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT FUNDING IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME.

I, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, REVERT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND THE DECLARATION OF THOSE GRANTS PER THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION FOR THE BUFORT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE REPLACEMENT ABOVE OF 20 1008 75.

HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL, SORRY.

OKAY, YOU'RE PRESENTING

[VII.5. Grant Application Q&A: Beaufort Water Search & Rescue - FY2026 BWSAR Marketing Campaign ]

AGAIN.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM ON THE SECOND PART.

FOR THE MARKETING.

FOR YOUR MARKETING.

SO WHAT ARE YOU MARKETING? WHAT ARE WE MARKETING? YES SIR.

MARKETING OUR ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION HERE IN LOW COUNTRY TO PROVIDE SAFETY SERVICES, RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TO YOUR, YOUR TOURIST ECONOMY HERE.

I I I'M CONFUSED OF WHAT THE MESSAGE IS AND HOW YOU'RE RELAYING IT TO OUR TOURIST WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS PAPERWORK.

I'VE GOT THE PAPERWORK.

I MEAN THIS BREAKS IT DOWN INTO WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS, UH, ADVERTISING.

ADVERTISING IS GOING TO BE TO, UH, NOT ONLY, UH, LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE AND IF THEY HAVE, UH, INTEREST IN, IN BOATING AND WATER ACTIVITIES, THAT WE ARE A COMPONENT OF THE THE 9 1 1 EMERGENCY SYSTEM HERE.

WE'LL PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT AND GIVE THEM A GOOD LEVEL OF COMFORT.

WE ARE, WE ARE PROVIDING, AS, AS IT SPELLS OUT HERE, THERE'S GONNA BE BROCHURES AND ADVERTISING AND SO ON THAT'S GONNA BE HANDED OUT TO FOLKS AND BROADCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

[00:50:01]

OF OUR SERVICES.

WHERE ARE YOU HANDING IT OUT? THE, THE BROCHURES THAT AT LOCAL AREAS HERE.

UM, BOAT LANDINGS AND, AND GONNA GIVE IT TO OUR OTHER FOLKS WITH DNR.

SO I THINK THAT YOU DO A VERY GOOD JOB AT WHAT YOU DO AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE NEEDED, EXCUSE ME.

UM, I THINK THAT YOU ARE A NEEDED, UM, ENTITY.

UM, MY PERSONAL OPINION, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT OUTLET OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

UM, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING FOR, WHAT YOU DO IS NOT BRINGING TOURISTS TO BLUFFTON.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THAT'S WHAT ALL OUR APPLICANTS ARE DOING.

THEY ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TO BLUFFTON.

PEOPLE DON'T COME TO BLUFFTON TO SEE I'M MORE OF A SERVICE OPPONENT.

YOU ARE, AND THIS IS MORE RELATED TO ENTICING TOURISTS TO COME.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT UNDER THE SECTION GUIDELINE BY THE STATE, I TRULY FEEL RECALL WITHIN THE GUIDELINE YOU PROVIDED THIS, THIS COUNCIL HERE IS PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL HELP TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, A PARK OR A, OR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND EXACTLY.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? I MEAN, THIS IS NOT SO FAR REMOVED FROM THAT AND WE IT IS, IT IS VERY MUCH TOURISTS RELATED.

WE HAVE DEDICATED, WE HAVE 10 MEMBERS DEDICATED DOWN HERE, TWO BOATS.

WE JUST REPLACED ONE OF THE BOATS WITH FUNDING WE GOT FROM DEER CITY THAT I'M JUST, THAT IS JUST TO SHOW OUR, OUR SERIOUSNESS DOWN HERE AND BEING A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND HELP IT.

I, I DON'T DISAGREE THE NEED FOR WHAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE, BUT THE WAY THE APPLICATION READS AND THE USE OF YOUR STUFF ISN'T DEDICATED TO BRINGING IN WHAT WE CALL HEADS AND BEDS.

NO ONE'S GONNA COME HERE BECAUSE YOU EXIST.

YOU'RE GONNA EXIST BECAUSE THEY COME HERE.

SO YOU'RE NOT ADVERTISING TO BRING SOMEBODY ADDITIONALLY TO YOU.

AND, UM, THAT OUR CONCERN THESE FUNDS, IF YOU'RE NOT A PHYSICAL ASSET IN THE TOWN OF TON, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO BRING SOMEONE TO THE PHYSICAL ASSETS OF THE TOWN OF WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS APPROACHED WHAT WE DO.

I I KNOW THIS IS AN UNUSUAL REQUEST.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, SO I I THE BRIDGE, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING YOU LIKE WHAT, HOW, AND WHAT YOUR MESSAGE TO OUR TOURISTS ARE AND NOT EXACTLY.

SO A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF WHAT YOU IDENTIFIED IS SOUTHERN REEFER COUNTY AND, AND NOT SPECIFIC TO BLOCKCHAIN.

THERE'S VERY NARROW AREA FOR OUR WATERWAYS THAT ARE, ARE TAP BLOODED.

UNDERSTOOD.

WE ARE STATIONED HERE IN BLUFF NOW.

WHERE AT? UM, I'M NOT SURE.

THE FIREHOUSE ON BERK CHURCH ROAD.

UH, THANK YOU.

THAT'S LOCATION.

WE HAVE TWO BOATS DEDICATED AND 10 MEMBERS DOWN HERE SPECIFICALLY FOR BLUFF.

AND WE DO SERVE AS COUNTYWIDE.

WE HAVE 30 MEMBERS UP IN PORT ROYAL.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MIKE, DID YOU FINISH YOURS? IT WAS THE ONE I HAD.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CHARTER, YOUR DESTINATION AND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOU DO.

UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S A READ FOR WHAT, WHAT WE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE ADVERTISING WHAT YOU GUYS DO.

I DID GET A GRANT FROM THE COUNTY FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.

NOW THAT WOULD BE COUNTYWIDE WHEN I PROPOSED HERE WAS GONNA BE JUST FOR BLUFFTON, UH, FOCUSED ON THE BLUFFTON AREA.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR FINDING.

I THINK THAT A QUESTION.

THE NEED IS HOW YOU PAY.

ALRIGHT.

MOTION .

UM, OKAY, SO WE, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THE MOTION, SO I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO UH, NOT AWARD THE REQUEST BY THE SEARCH AND RESCUE MARKETING ADVERTISEMENT.

AN ISSUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500.

A SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION?

[00:55:03]

GOOD EVENING TAX COMMITTEE.

JUNETEENTH.

[VII.6. Grant Application Q&A: Bluffton MLK Observance Committee - 11th Annual Juneteenth Festival ]

MY NAME IS ANGELA DOUGLAS AND THIS IS GW GWEN CHAMBERS.

AND WE STAND BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BLUFFTON MLK COMMITTEE AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE UM, 11TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF OUR GRANT APPLICATION THIS YEAR.

THE 11TH ANNUAL EVENT WILL CONSIST OF THREE SEPARATE, UM, CELEBRATIONS WITHIN THE SAME WEEKEND STARTING ON FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH.

UH, FROM FIVE TO 10:00 PM WE WILL HAVE THE FIFTH ANNUAL BLACK FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY FESTIVAL.

AND THIS WILL BE HELD NOW THIS YEAR OUT AT THE NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK.

UM, THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF EVENTS, UM, FAMILY ORIENTED FOR FOOD TRUCKS, UM, VENDORS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE.

AND IT WAS WELL RECEIVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, UM, LOCAL AREA AND BEYOND.

AND THEN MOVING ON TO SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH IS THE LARGER EVENT, WHICH IS THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE HELD AT THE MA DAISY'S CAMPUS.

AND THAT IS LOCATED OFF OF MAY RIVER ROAD AT 1255 MAY RIVER ROAD TO BE EXACT.

AND THAT WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 4:00 PM AND 10:00 PM.

UM, THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE A DRUM CIRCLE, AFRICAN DANCING VENDORS, A KID ZONE, FOOD TRUCKS AND MORE.

SO THIS IS A BIG EVENT AND IT WAS WELL RECEIVED, UM, LAST YEAR AS WELL.

AND ON SUNDAY WE HAVE THE CLOSING EVENT.

UM, JUNE 21ST FROM 11 TO 2:00 PM WILL BE THE JAZZ BRUNCH.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS BRUNCH IN LEBLANC, WHICH IT MEANS ALL WHITE ATTIRE.

SO, UM, AT THIS BRUNCH THEY WILL HAVE A SAXOPHONIST PLAYING JAZZ MUSIC.

UM, IT'S A CATERED BUFFET, UM, FEATURING A MIMOSA BAR.

A DESSERT BAR, UM, COCKTAILS AND MORE.

SO, UM, WE HAVE A FUN FIELD THREE DAY WEEKEND PLAN FOR THIS YEAR'S 11TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL AND IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT, HAVE FUN, BRING THE FAMILY, AND EVERYONE JUST HAS A WONDERFUL TIME.

SO THANK YOU.

AND ALL THOSE TOURISTS? YES.

AND ALL OF THE TOURISTS COME FROM FAR AND WIDE.

UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA.

VIRGINIA.

VIRGINIA, JACKSONVILLE.

JEN.

BASED ON REPORTS FROM LAST YEAR.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WE NOT HAVING THE RODEO EVENT THAT REALLY? YEAH, THAT REALLY KICKED IT OFF LAST YEAR.

UM, PERSON WAS BEEN TRAINED, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, JUST NO BOOTS ON NO LINE DANCING? NO, NO LINE DANCING.

COWBOY HAT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO .

I EVEN BOUGHT A NEW

[01:00:01]

YOU KNOW, YOU SHOW UP AND JUST DO A FLASH MOMENT.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE COULD DO THIS.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

Y'ALL COULD COME OUT.

YEAH, WE COULD DO THAT IN A FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY.

OH YEAH, JUST GET IN THE BACK.

YEAH, YEAH.

IT'S OKAY.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HAVE THE HARD QUESTIONS.

OH, OKAY.

SO, UM, SO FRIDAY NIGHT IS, OR THE FRIDAY IS THE, UM, IS THE FOOD TRUCK AND THAT IS FREE.

SATURDAY IS YOUR BIG EVENT.

AND THAT IS FREE.

SUNDAY IS YOUR BRUNCH.

AND THAT'S A TICKETED EVENT.

IT IS NOT ON HERE.

IT'S NOT RECONCILE.

IT'S NOT ON THERE THAT IT'S NOT TICKETED OR NOT, IT'S NOT ON THERE THAT WELL, IT DOESN'T HAVE, IT'S NOT ON ANY OF YOUR REVENUES OR ANYTHING.

OH, GOTCHA.

IT'S NOT ANYWHERE.

IT'S NOT ON ANY, SO WE HAVE TO ADJUST THAT.

IT NORMALLY IS, BUT IT'S NOT.

LIKE NORMALLY, SO YOU HAVE THIS BIG RED NUMBER HERE THAT WON'T BE THAT BIG 'CAUSE YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT IN HERE.

AND I SAW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SOLD OUT LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED.

THE BRUNCH IS A TICKETED EVENT AND IT IS A $50, UM, TICKET FEE FOR THE BOOK.

AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK CAME LAST YEAR TOTAL? UM, SO IT WAS FROM THE SAME HOURS FROM 11 TO TWO AND WE HAD EASILY A LITTLE OVER 150 200.

THERE'S A CAPACITY.

I FORGOT THE CAPACITY FOR THE VENUE, BUT, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS PACKED THE ENTIRE TIME.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK YOU HAD FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND? THE ENTIRE WEEKEND? DID WE NO, WE DIDN'T.

THE PREVIOUS I KNEW IT WAS BETWEEN, IT WAS CLOSE TO ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE MAYBE BECAUSE WE HAD THE LOOSE THE GROUND ONE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS THE KICKOFF AND THAT WAS A LARGE BIT, THE ENTIRE OYSTER FACTORY PARK AREA.

BOTH SIDES WERE COMPLETELY RIGHT.

YEAH, ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WHAT WAS THE OTHER VENUE LAST YEAR? IT'S MY DAISIES THIS YEAR AND THEN IT WAS OYSTER FACTORY PARK.

AND I THINK THEY SWITCHED IT TO THE BARN AT MAIN RIVER BECAUSE OF THE WELL, THE ORDINANCES.

AND THEN THE, THE FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY WAS ACTUALLY AT THE, UM, BUT WALTER PARK, BUT WALTER PARK, BUT IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, SO YEAH.

THE CHANGE VENUE USED, IT'S ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

, IT'S, YOU'RE RIGHT.

NOTICE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS.

I DUNNO, YOU SAW THE FOOD TRUCK EVENT THAT WAS OUT AT THE PARK.

IT WAS, IT WAS CRAZY.

CRAZY.

I, AND THE NEW VENUE FOR, UM, THE BARN, THE RED BARN IS, I FEEL LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

I DON'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN AN EVENT OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR SPEED.

THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING OUT THERE, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.

UM, DID THEY, DID THEY CHARGE YOU FOR THAT? 'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN HERE TOO.

ACTUALLY, I, I CHARGED FOR THAT ALSO.

THEY DID.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS? I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT.

THAT'S ALL.

IT'S 2000.

IT'S, YEAH.

'CAUSE OYSTER IS 1600.

YEAH, IT'S 2000.

SO WE NEED AND WHEN DO YOU, WHEN DOES THIS GO? I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

WHEN DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT UPDATED BY TO YOU? BACK TO YOU AND UPDATED.

THAT'S A STAFF QUESTION I GUESS THIS WEEK.

COUNCIL JUNE 9TH.

SO, OKAY, SO THIS GOTCHA.

GOING CHANGE A COUPLE EXPENSES AND ADD A COUPLE OF , BUT CAN OH YEAH, OF COURSE.

UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? A MOTION THAT TON.

MLK.

ANY RECEIVE? 20,000 FOR THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL.

SECOND THE MOTION.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ARE Y'ALL COMING? OF COURSE, YES.

I'LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH.

CHAIRWOMAN JEN SUMMERFIELD.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

[VII.7. Grant Application Q&A: Historic Bluffton Foundation - FY2027 Heyward House Museum Operations ]

[01:05:05]

HELLO AND GOOD MEETING.

MY NAME IS ANI.

I RUN THE HAYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.

SOMERVILLE IS HERE WITH ME TODAY.

FIELD.

DID I? SOMERVILLE.

IT IS VI SECOND GUESS MYSELF AND THEN I KIND OF FLOP THERE.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

EVERYTHING ALL NIGHT WAITING HERE.

, SORRY.

I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR $50,000 FOR OPERATIONS OF THE MUSEUM.

UH, COMES TO ABOUT 20% OF OUR BUDGET.

IT'S HUGE IN THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

AND FROM THE LAST TIME I STOOD HERE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AND TOLD YOU ABOUT WHAT WE HAD GOING ON, I CAN SAY THAT THE PROGRESS ON THAT IS SUPER SOLID.

UM, WE HAVE GROWN OUR TOURS, WE HAVE GROWN OUR ENGAGEMENT.

LIKE OUR, OUR VISITOR NUMBERS ARE UP BY A PERCENTAGE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AT LEAST.

SO WE'RE DOING IT AND PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US AND THEY'RE SAYING, OH MY GOSH, WE HEARD ABOUT YOU AND WE WANTED TO COME AND VISIT.

UM, WE'VE RECENTLY TAKEN OVER OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IN HOUSE AND THAT'S GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL.

AND THAT'S ALSO IN A EFFORT TO CONSERVE OUR DOLLARS THAT WE ARE SPENDING.

AND SO WE'VE TAKEN IT OVER IN HOUSE.

IT'S GONE VERY, VERY WELL.

WE HAVE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT HIT IN OUR RENTAL VENUE AGAIN BY TRYING TO SAVE DOLLARS.

WE'VE FOREGONE SOME SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES THAT WE HAD THAT HELPED PROMOTE US.

AND SO WE HAVE SEEN A DIP IN THAT REVENUE, BUT WE HAVE ENGAGED THE POST AND COURIER, MUCH LIKE THE CHAMBER WAS TALKING ABOUT A NEW DIGITAL MARKETING PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP WITH THEM.

AND THAT HAS NOT HAD ITS TIME TO SHAKE OUT YET.

AND SO I THINK GIVING IT ITS TIME, WE WILL INCREASE OUR RENTAL REVENUE GIVEN TIME TO GROW THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POST AND COURIER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVEN'T Y'ALL BEEN REIMBURSED ONCE AND GRANT FOR LAST YEAR BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FILED IT YET.

SAM .

I HAVE NOT.

I HAVE NOT FILED FOR REIMBURSEMENT YET.

UM, WITH IT BEING, WE WERE THE WELCOME CENTER LAST YEAR AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST FISCAL YEAR AS NOT THE WELCOME CENTER.

JUST ME AND SHANNON HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE WANTED TO HANDLE IT.

I'M UP TO MY EYES IN IT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE JUNE, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE I CAN MATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE DOLLARS.

I HAVE NO HESITATION ON THAT.

THERE'S NO, BASED ON YOUR BUDGET, THAT THAT'S JUST A SMALL PORTION OF IT.

IT SHOULD BE EASY.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING IF IT HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.

IT HASN'T.

NO.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING BUT WE'VE MADE A PLAN GOING INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT REIMBURSEMENT FLOWING TO GIVE US THOSE DOLLARS TO USE.