Beaufort County Council unanimously approved nearly $5 million in grants to local organizations and park projects that will help with tourism and activities for visitors and residents.

“Local Accommodations Tax ("Local A-Tax") helps to ensure our County is a great place to live, work and play,” said Chris Ophardt, Beaufort County Public Information Officer. “The County Administration would like to thank all those that applied."

Beaufort County started the Local Accommodation Tax and Local Hospitality Tax application process in October 2021, with the closing of applications on December 31. The applications were reviewed by the Local Accommodation Tax and Local Hospitality Tax Committee for compliance with the local statutes and their individual need and merit.

The Local Accommodation Tax Fund budgeted $2,579,920 to award, and Local Hospitality Tax Fund budgeted $2,396,736 to award for combined total of $4,976,656 available to award for 2022.

List of approved projects include:

• Whitehall Park Construction on Lady’s Island - $560,478
• Annual Boat Landing Maintenance - $200,000
• Burton Wells Pickleball Courts $200,000
  Note: $140,000 awarded by State ATAX
• Daufuskie Island Beach Access and Restrooms - $250,000
• Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail - Ribaut Road Crossing - $125,000
• Beaufort Executive Airport - Terminal Exterior Rejuvenation - $75,000
• Hilton Head Island Airport Air Service Marketing - $30,000
• Broad River Fishing Pier - Phase II - $230,000
• Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands - Trail Map Brochure Birthday for the Birds 2022 - $1,375 partial award for marketing funds
• HHI St. Pat's Parade Foundation - 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade - $10,000
• Daufuskie Island Foundation Daufuskie Day Celebration - $12,600
• Sea Turtle Patrol HHI - Sea Turtle Hospitality Event $5,000
• 2023 Beaufort Oyster Festival - $20,000 - Full award for marketing, police, fire and security costs. City of Beaufort co-sponsors event and contributes in-kind services.
• Pat Conroy Literacy Center - $134,000
• Gullah Museum of HHI - Gullah Museum Migrant House Renovation Project - $36,875
• First African Baptist Church of Beaufort - Repair and Preservation of Church $259,480
• Tabernacle Baptist Church – Harriet Tubman Statue - $250,000

List of projects that did not receive funding:

• Okatie River Park Construction - $615,562
  Reason: project deemed not enough of a tourist draw to fund.

• Friends of Beaufort County Library - Annual Book Sale - $15,000
  Reason: Event at facility owned by another entity. FOBL should pursue funding from the City of Beaufort

• Penn Center - Phase II - $1,200,000
  Reason: Funds from 2019 Award unspent; ineligible for further funding at this time.
  
  
• Public Boat Landings Study - $162,966
  Reason: Funding a study deemed outside the scope of allowable ATAX/HTAX allocations

• Friends of Beaufort County Library Story Walk - $10,000
  Reason: All signs will be installed within the City of Beaufort; final sites not yet determined. City of Beaufort has not been approached for ATAX funding

• Beaufort Co. Black Chamber of Commerce
  Reason: Reporting incomplete, previous awards unspent; Ineligible for further awards
  
  • Kentucky Derby 2022 - $34,700
  • Travel Professionals of Color Conference - $33,645
  • Southeast Business Summit - $30,500
  • Black Moses Freedom Festival - $44,500
  • Art for Art's Sake - $17,000
    
    
• Port Royal Sound Foundation Research Campus - $442,000
  Reason: Reporting incomplete, previous awards unspent; Ineligible for further awards
  
  
• Wimbee Creek Fishing Pier - $800,000
  Reason: Demolition on its own is not an allowable expense.