Background & Intent. At Palm Beach County’s first Economic Summit held in June 1993, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) made a commitment to participate in a joint effort with the County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) to provide incentive assistance to attract unique and year-round businesses, facilities, and/or tourist attractions to Palm Beach County. The result of that joint effort was the creation of the Attraction Incentive Grant Program to help enhance economic growth and job creation in Palm Beach County. The intent was to establish new attractions or expand existing facilities that would generate an increase in the number of visitors and tourists to this County.
Grant Assistance. The County’s Economic Development Office (EDO) coordinates the preparation and completion of a grant agreement endorsed by the TDC for Board consideration. The availability of funding for this grant program is entirely contingent on the annual appropriation of funding by the BCC. The funding allocation, if it occurs, would be on a fiscal year budget basis. The EDO and TDC would be aware whether funding was budgeted by the BCC and if so, whether the funds are uncommitted.
Application Selection Process & Criteria. The business/facility/attraction that is considering filing an Attraction Grant Application must submit the application through the TDC, which will determine the viability of the project and make a recommendation to the EDO. The County Staff Review shall evaluate an application against the criteria set forth below. Under the County Staff Review, added weight may be given to any of the criteria based upon the nature of the particular project proposal, its benefit to a particular area or Development Region, and whether the applicant is a non-profit organization, political subdivision, or a private entity.
- County Staff Review will determine the extent to which the proposed year-round attraction/ project satisfies the following criteria - in particular, (a), (b), (c), (e) and (i):
- Attracts a minimum of 20,000 visitors annually. Desired annual visitors to be detailed in a feasibility study;
- If gated, charges admission to year-round business or facility that creates new local hire, full time jobs (local hire being County residents);
- If non-gated, no charge for admission to year-round business or facility that creates new local hire, full time jobs;
- Generates employment opportunities for residents of Development/Lagging Regions;
- Applicant's initial private investment or expansion investment must be a minimum of $2,000,000;
- Project may qualify for a 10% grant bonus (on grant base amount) upon confirmation that the project site is located within or adjacent to a Development/Lagging Region;
- Results in beneficial economic spin-offs for existing, local businesses and local economy, including producing off-site jobs;
- Produces a significant expenditure of dollars by visitors;
- Maintains a public relations effort outside Palm Beach County to create visitation by tourists who would not normally visit Palm Beach County (new tourist), with promotion involving one or more of below:
- Paid media advertising promoting Palm Beach County facility as a destination.
- Advertising of Palm Beach County facility as a destination on the Internet.
- Trade shows for motorcoach, consumer, and travel agent markets.
- Advertising of Palm Beach County facility as a destination through wholly or partly owned media.
A combination of paid advertising, public relations, or catalog marketing is maintained annually which promotes the attraction and Palm Beach County as a destination (to regions outside) Palm Beach County. These costs to the applicant shall equal at least $50,000 annually, excluding salaries;
- Activities of attraction/business take place in a permanent structure;
- Satisfies one or more goals in the Economic Development Business Plan; and
- Company shall be the applicant.
- Performance (grant agreement commitments) must be completed within the schedule identified in the grant agreement, which is limited to the first three (3) years of operation.
- The site should be under common ownership and/or control, or the respondent must demonstrate the likelihood of and time frame for assembling the site under common ownership and/or control.
- The respondent must be able to obtain the appropriate zoning and land use approval.
- Documentation of other funding sources (if any) must be provided in writing.
- Documentation to substantiate the commitment and ability to continue operations and maintenance beyond the initial expenditure of County funds must be provided.
Through County Staff Review, criteria may be applied to a particular application that differs from the standard criteria set forth above in order to insure compliance with the goals and mandates of the Attraction Incentive Grant Program.
Reimbursement, Feasibility Study & Audit. Program monies will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis as identified in the Eligible Reimbursables Exhibit of the relevant grant agreement.
- Expenses the grantee incurs will be reimbursed only after being paid by the grantee.
- In the event that an organization requests reimbursement prior to completion of all performance as required by the grant agreement, and prior to being operational, the applicant must provide Palm Beach County with a bond, or a clean irrevocable letter of credit, or other security arrangement acceptable to the County.
- The grantee is responsible for the cost of a professional independent audit, to collect and verify all data required by contractual commitments.
- The grantee is also responsible for a feasibility study, done by a firm experienced in the industry applying for a grant.
- The feasibility study must predict the local impact, employment, and general revenue spin-off annually of the facility.
Eligible Expenditures. The expenses that are reimbursable under this program Include the following:
- Payment of Impact Fees and Special Assessments:
- Impact fees assessed by the County include fees for roads, parks, fire-rescue, libraries, law enforcement, and public buildings.
- Impact fees assessed by local governments and special assessments by special districts.
- Land Improvement Costs:
- Off-site land improvement.
- Road improvements.
- Construction of recreational facilities open to the public.
- Reimbursement for any government required dedications.
- Water and sewer connection fees.
- Telecommunication connection fees and costs.
- Infrastructure design and construction plan preparation.
- Drainage facilities in conjunction with new roadway construction or on-site improvements.
- Construction of new curbs, curb cuts, medians, shoulders and sidewalks.
- Relocating utilities to accommodate new roadway construction.
- Facade redevelopment in eligible CRA or DDA designated areas subject to prior approval by all governing bodies.
- Landscaping and road beautification costs.
- All fees and dedications required by entities other than the County subject to prior approval by the Economic Development Office.
- County permitting, licensing, or other approval costs associated with land improvement.
- Environmental Compliance:
- Costs associated with design and installation of equipment needed for compliance with existing federal, state, and local environmental standards.
- Costs associated with asbestos removal.
- Leasehold Improvements:
Costs of improvements to leased property required by expansion or relocation.
- Employee Training:
Costs associated with providing for employee training required by expansion or relocation.
- Relocating Company Assets:
Costs associated with relocation of company assets required by expansion or relocation.
- Project Design Fees:
Technical design fees. This excludes feasibility studies.
Maximum Award. The grant award may not exceed a maximum general guideline of 10% of project capital cost, including reimbursable project design fees. However, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) reserves the right to determine a greater or lesser award.
Ineligible Applications. The Attraction Incentive Grant Program does not apply to applications involving:
- Professional or amateur sports facilities which have received or are eligible for 4th cent TDC funds.
- Facilities which cater primarily to the local market with occasional promotions outside Palm Beach County, such as malls, large retail stores of a local or regional nature.
- Businesses/facilities/attractions that have obtained funds under the Job Growth Incentive Fund Program.
- Hotels.
- Organizations who have received Category B (Cultural) grants funds in the past two years.
Contact Information:
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council (TDC)
Charles Lehmann, Executive Director
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 900, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 233-3130; Fax (561) 683-6957
Palm Beach County Economic Development Office (EDO)
Mary E. McGee, Interim Economic Development Coordinator
301 N. Olive Avenue, 10th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
P.O. Box 1989, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-1989
(561) 355-3624; Fax (561) 355-6017;
memcgee@co.palm-beach.fl.us
(10/29/02)
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