PUNTA GORDA/ENGLEWOOD BEACH, Fla. (March 28, 2017) – The Charlotte County Tourist Development Council (TDC) is pleased to announce the Charlotte County Event Develop Program (EDP) is now accepting applications for new events taking place in the summer of 2017 and Fiscal Year 2018. The EDP provides funding to assist in the development of new events occurring between May 1 through Sept. 30, 2017 (Summer 2017), and Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018 (Fiscal Year 2018). The primary objectives of EDP are to attract overnight visitors to Charlotte County and promote Charlotte County as a tourism destination. This program is administered through the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau and is funded through Charlotte County’s Tourist Development Tax.
In order to be considered for funding, the event must be new in Charlotte County. Events previously funded by the EDP may apply for second year funding. Funds received pursuant to the Event Development Program may only be used for the purposes authorized in Section 125.0104(5) of the Florida Statutes and specified in the program guidelines. Applications for Charlotte County Event Development Program funding and complete guidelines can be found atwww.pureflorida.com/tdc/edp.
All EDP applications for new events happening in the summer of 2017 (occurring May 1 – Sept. 30, 2017), will be reviewed and voted on by the Charlotte County TDC as they are received. Events occurring in Fiscal Year 2018 (Oct. 1, 2017 – Sept. 30, 2018) will be reviewed and voted on by the Charlotte County TDC during the May 5 meeting.
The number of awards and the amount of each will be dependent upon the availability of designated funds and specific allocations. The maximum single event allocation is $10,000. The total amount available for summer 2017 events is $20,000. The total amount available for events occurring between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018 is $40,000.
Questions regarding the program can be directed to Lorah Steiner, Director of Tourism for Charlotte County at (941) 743-1900 or Lorah.Steiner@charlottecountyfl.gov.
ABOUT PUNTA GORDA / ENGLEWOOD BEACH
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast, Punta Gorda /Englewood Beach is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state’s second largest harbor. Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination, the area offers a pristine unspoiled beauty. In 2014, Port Charlotte was named the top “U.S. Best Value Destination” by Trivago (the world’s largest online hotel search site), and the Charlotte Sports Park, spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was voted “Best Spring Training Facility” by readers of USA TODAY. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Punta Gorda / Englewood Beach has been named one of SAIL magazine’s “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America,” and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” Englewood was named second of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com. The area is served by five airports: The Punta Gorda Airport (PDG) with private and charter air service, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Southwest Florida International Airport, Ft. Myers, (RSW), St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). For more information on visiting Punta Gorda / Englewood Beach visit http://PureFlorida.com or call1-800-652-6090.
CONTACTS:
Jennifer Huber, Tourism Public Relations Manager
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau
(941) 743-1900
Jennifer.Huber@CharlotteCountyFL.gov
Lorah Steiner, Director of Tourism
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau
(941) 743-1900
lorah.steiner@CharlotteCountyFL.gov