The Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking for another $150,000 dollars to bring more visitors to the twin cities. It’s the first year of a CVB grant program funded by the hotel occupancy tax.
CVB President Shannon Overby told the College Station city council they have only $18,000 available when a second round of grants are considered this Friday. That’s after awarding $110,000 last October.
The College Station council could act as early as March 13 on the CVB’s request for another $110,000, though the final amount is yet to be determined.
Overby says they will ask the Bryan council for $40,000. That’s after the grant committee awarded $33,000 last October.
She says the method of how much goes to each city is based on where visitors stay.
Overby says the combined grant total of $143,000 from last October went to nine organizations that held 15 events that generated an attendance of 73,000 and had an economic impact of $29.5 million dollars.
This Friday, Overby says the grant selection committee will consider proposals from 11 organizations planning 13 events estimated to draw 23,496 participants and generate $9.5 million to the local economy.