Beaufort County State 2% ATAX Committee, October 2, 2026, 9:00am

The Beaufort County State 2% ATAX Committee met on October 2, 2026, to review tourism grant applications and develop funding recommendations for County Council. Members discussed marketing and event grants alongside tourism-related facilities and planning projects. They penciled in approximately $958,140 in recommendations, leaving about $641,860 of the roughly $1.6 million available before considering major requests. The committee recommended $600,000 toward the City of Beaufort’s Waterfront Park/prom(en)ade project, whose request was $1 million, and discussed allocating remaining funds to the CVB; the transcript is unclear on the final amount for that allocation. Other recommendations included $60,000 for Beaufort County Parks and Recreation to study a potential sports-tourism complex, conditional on written collaboration with the CVB, and $75,000 toward phase four of Campbell Chapel’s restoration. The committee also recommended grants for tourism promotion, cultural events, and attractions, while declining or reducing some requests. No vendor selections or contract awards were made; these were grant recommendations subject to further County review and approval.

Members emphasized stronger visitor-impact data, clearer marketing budgets, and coordination with the CVB. Some recommendations included conditions, such as Fort Fremont developing plans to be open to the public more often. The committee noted that awarded funds generally must be spent within two years unless an extension is approved. Recommendations were to proceed through the Finance Committee and County Council; the committee also moved approval of the minutes to the end of the meeting and then approved them as presented.