NEWBERRY — Newberry County Council approved distributing $37,265.44 for tourism related funds after the Accommodations Tax Committee received a total of $76,490 in requests for funding.
“It should be noted that available funds for this section of distribution is $37,265.44, total amount requested was $76,490. It took quite a bit of calculation to figure an equatable way to divide what funds were available,” said Ernest Shealy, chairman of the Accommodations Tax Committee.
The committee received applications for tourism related funds from Little Mountain Reunion, Party in the Pines, Halloween Carnival Whitmire Jaycees, Prosperity’s Hoppin’, Newberry Community Players, Newberry County Historical & Museum Society, Newberry County Law Enforcement Association, Newberry Opera House, Newberry Visitors Center and South Carolina Bottle and Whitmire Museum.
The distribution was as follows: Little Mountain Reunion ($4,199), Party in the Pines ($1,449), Halloween Carnival Whitmire Jaycees ($699), Prosperity’s Hoppin’ ($1,699), Newberry Community Players ($624), Newberry County Historical & Museum Society ($1,299), Newberry County Law Enforcement Association ($2,699), Newberry Opera House ($12,199.44), Newberry Visitors Center ($8,199) and South Carolina Bottle and Whitmire Museum ($4,199).
The committee also recommended the following proportional distribution of the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 promotion funds: Capital City/Lake Murray, 45 percent, Prosperity Business Association 15 percent and Newberry County Chamber of Commerce 40 percent.
These funds are distributed quarterly upon receipt. Total funding received varies from year to year.
County Council approved both distributions after Councilman Kirksey Koon made a motion and Councilman Bill Waldrop seconded.
Other business
• Michelle Long, executive director of the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce, gave an update to Council on the happenings of the Chamber. This included the upcoming Christmas Tour of Homes and the Young Professional group.
• County Council approved a resolution that renews the existing Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement, which provides advance consent for Newberry County to cooperate with other jurisdictions in the event of a disaster.
• Council approved 6-1, Koon voting against, to pay the Central South Carolina Alliance second quarter invoice in the amount of $18,000.