Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/140592
BUILDING ON THE BEST OF TIMES A Visit Sarasota County trip to Asheville, NC, prompted planning for a new tourism grant program. Photo by Abe Ezekowitz via Wikimedia Commons THE COUNTY'S TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR A NEW GRANT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BRING EVEN MORE VISITORS TO THE AREA, ESPECIALLY IN THE OFF SEASON By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor When Visit Sarasota County President Virgin- more tourists to the community for overnight ia Haley appeared before the members of the stays. county's Tourist Development Council (TDC) The TDC gave its consensus for the initiative last week, she talked of how the May tourism to provide funding for new events as well as figures were the best ever — even exceeding new and improved facilities, but with a recthe numbers for May ommendation that 2012, which were rethe process be flexicord-breakers at that I expect we will see a pretty darn ble in how the dollars time. are allocated. In other good June, [too]. Then Haley began makwords, no set percentVirginia Haley ing her case for a new age should go to either President grants program decapital projects or faVisit Sarasota County signed to bring even cilities each cycle.