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STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council DA TE: June 16, 2022
FROM: Gabe Codding, Director of Marketing
SUBJECT: Greater Palm Springs (GPS) Tourism Foundation Matching Grant
SPECIFIC REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
A. Authorize the City Manager and Director of Marketing to apply for the GPS Tourism Grant on behalf of the City of Rancho Mirage; and
B. Authorize the City Manager and Director of Marketing to allocate $100,000 from the City's operating budget in fiscal year 2021/2022 to match eligible grant money and distribute per the guidelines of the grant application to the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert.
JUSTIFICATION OR INFORMATION
Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) is the regional tourism organization for the Coachella Valley.
VGPS recently launched the first ever Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation (GPSTF) Tourism Grant. This grant was created to partner with cities for either new or enhanced tourism experiences . The City of Rancho Mirage is eligible for $100,000 in matching funds.
Guidelines for the matching funds require they are used to enhance the visitor experience and support VGPS destination pillars of Arts & Culture, Health and Wellness or Outdoor Adventure.
The Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation is testing this matching grant this year to see how effectively it is utilized by eligible cities. The official Tourism Grant application is attached to this staff report.
Staff has reviewed the application and is recommending that the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert (CDMOD) be the recipient of Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation Grant money. The CDMOD has recently completed a successful $150,000 matching campaign provided by the City of Rancho Mirage. In addition, Palm Desert just awarded the museum $150,000 at their last council meeting. Their targeted opening date is December 2022 and previous visitor stats confirm almost 60% of their 85,000 annual visitors come from out of the area. The museum will feature all new exhibits and will be an enhanced amenity for residents and visiting families. The GPSTF grant will be another positive step in getting the iconic museum back open.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Grant Application
AGENDA ITEM#
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ATTACHMENT 1
GRANT APPLICATION
(SEE ATTACHED)
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GPS Tourism Grant
City of Rancho Mirage
Thank you for your interest in requesting a GPS Tourism Grant from the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation (GPSTF). The following guidelines outline the approval process and criteria for the grant approval. All requests must be accompanied by the following application form for review by the GPSTF Board of Directors and Tourism Grant Committee, pending final approval.
About the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation
The tourism and hospitality industry serves as the primary economic driver of the Greater Palm Springs community, employing one out of every five residents. A primary goal of the Tourism Foundation is to :
• Provide scholarship opportunities to local students
• Develop funding sources to support Foundation programs and services • Foster passion for and excellence of service at every level Foundation stewardship, coupled with the crucial support of Visit Greater Palm Springs (Visit GPS) partners and the community at large, helps drive a robust year-round tourism economy with a thriving workforce and unequaled customer service that advances quality of life in the destination for residents and visitors alike. In 2019 , more than 53,000 jobs were sustained by 14 . l million visitors who spent $5.9 billion in Greater Palm Springs.
About Visit Greater Palm Springs
Visit GPS is the official tourism organization for the entire Coachella Valley, providing sales , marketing and promotional efforts targeted to potential leisure and convention group markets. Visit GPS serves more than 3,200 business partners throughout the region that includes the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells , La Quinta and Indio.
Tourism is the number one industry in Greater Palm Springs , generating a total economic impact of $7 .5 billion in the region and contributing an estimated $687 million in state and local taxes (equivalent to $4,031 in tax savings for every local household), and $517.8 million in federal taxes. One in five jobs is sustained by the tourism industry, as the destination welcomes an estimated 7.7 million day and 6.4 million overnight visitors each year. www.visitqreaterpalmsprinqs.com .
70100 Highway l l l I Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 I 760.969 .1301 visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/foundation
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About the GPS Tourism Grant
The purpose of the grant program is to stimulate the development of new tourism experiences and the enhancement of existing tourism experiences in Greater Palm Springs .
The City of Rancho Mirage is eligible for a grant of SJ 00,000. Please note that the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation is a financial contributor only and is in no way considered a promoter or co-sponsor, and therefore will not be responsible for any debts incurred related to the event, attraction or vi sitor enhancement.
Purpose
The GPS Tourism Grant provides matching financial assistance for events, new attractions or enhancement of the visitor experience. The city applying for the grant must match or exceed the amount for which they are applying. The primary purposes of the grants are to :
• Support Greater Palm Springs' destination pillars: Arts & Culture, Health & Wellness and Outdoor Adventure .
o Examples: enhancements of wayfinding, enhancements of hiking trails, new public visitor attractions, special events related to the pillars, e xpanding events to mid-weeknights, etc. SEE EXPER IENCE CASE STUD IES HERE . • Stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing tourism product or events during need periods (i.e., midweek, May -December).
• Enhance a Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID) project, such as meeting spaces, water experiences and overall enhancements that improve the visitor experience.
Grant Consideration
Approval of grants is based on several factors, but the primary considerations include the following:
• The extent to which the project is anticipat ed to enhance the local economy through increased tourism activity;
• The extent to which the project would have a positive impact on the brand identity and vibrancy of the destination;
• The extent to which the project has the potential to be sustainable; and • The extent to which the project provides overall benefit to the region .
Note that the grant may not be used for sales, marketing, or promotions. 70100 Highway 111 I Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 I 760.969.1301 visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/foundation
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GPS Tourism Grant Application Process
Please read the attached information carefully and complete the application according to the following instructions:
1. Complete the application and attach as much background as possible to better acquaint the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation with your application request. Be sure to answer all questions.
2. Allow for application review and approval process, which could take a minimum of 60 days.
3. Submit your completed application and substantiating collateral by email to:
Davis Meyer, Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation
[email protected]
(7 60) 969-1360
4. The Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation Board of Directors and Grant Committee will review your request and issue a recommendation. If your application is missing important information, you will be notified and advised of specific additional information needed.
5. You will be notified of the final decision after the review and approval process is completed. Please allow 60 days for the process to be completed.
Guidelines and Documentation
Any Visit GPS JPA member city is eligible to apply. Riverside County is eligible to apply for projects located in the unincorporated areas of the county within the GPSTBID boundaries.
1. Projects/events must take place within the GPSTBID boundaries to be considered.
2. One city may apply for multiple project/event grants, provided separate applications are submitted for each project/event.
3. Funds will not be granted for existing operation and administrative expenses .
4. Grants will only be made to the JPA member city as follows:
a. 50% in advance of the approved project
b. 50% upon successful conclusion of the project
5. Each applicant form must:
• Be completely be filled out, including but not limited to marking "N/A" or "Not Applicable" for any question deemed not applicable to applicant. • Be signed by the City Manager of the Visit GPS JPA member city. • Be emailed to the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation. • Provide financial information on the use of the requested grant. 70100 Highway 111 I Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 I 760.969.1301 visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/foundation
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6. All funding recipients are required to maintain complete and accurate accounting and project records for the project .
7. If an awarded project/event is not fully completed as presented in the application, any paid funds must be returned to the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation and remaining funds will not be distributed.
8. Any changes to the event or project after the application is approved must be communicated to the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation and may result in reduced or cancelled funding.
(See next page for application.)
70100 Highway 111 I Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 I 760.969.1301 visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/foundation
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Application for GPS Tourism Grant
For grant consideration, this form and authorization must be submitted in full in addition to any supplemental information required to fulfill the requested information.
Date Submitted: ______________ _
Visit Greater PS JPA Member City/County: _______________ _ Contact Person/Title : ________________ _
E-mail : _____________ _
Address: ____________________________ _
Phone: _________ _
Please attach details of your project with the following information:
l . Project description
2. Details on how the GPS Tourism Grant Funds will be utilized for this project 3 . Description of how the project will enhance the visitor experience
4. Accounting: Describe in detail how you will track, evaluate and report the success of your project.
GPS Tourism Grant Application: (Please sign and return with application) I have reviewed the GPS Tourism Grant from the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation . I am in full agreement with the information contained in this application and its attachments as accurate and complete. I further acknowledge that the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation does not assume any liability or responsibility for the ultimate financial profitability of the project for which the funds are awarded . In addition, the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation will not guarantee or be responsible or liable for any debts incurred for such event.
Signature of City Manager
Date: ___________ _
Acceptance By Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation
Signature of Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation Chair, Board of Directors Date: ___________ _
70100 Highway 111 I Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 I 760 .969.1301 visitgreaterpalmsprings .com/foundation