The Eatonton-Putnam Tourism, Arts, and Heritage partnership (EPTAH) now has a small fund to help promote tourism in Putnam County.
Last week, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners provided $20,000 of new hotelmotel tax monies for EPTAH’s use in providing matching grants to community groups sponsoring events here.
“This arrangement shows our faith in the work of this organization,” Commission Chairman Billy Webster said. “Paul (County Manager Paul Van Haute) and I will not be making the decisions,” he added, emphasizing a removal of the optics of politics from any decision-making.
Perhaps the most familiar qualifying event is the Pilot Club’s sponsorship of the Dairy Festival, but others could include anything from car shows to concerts. The money, minus a small percentage for administration, can be spent only on tourism and related projects. It cannot be gifted. Plus, the amount cannot be guaranteed year-to-year.
The decisions, mostly expected to amount to a few hundred dollars in matching grants, would be made by a five-member committee, with three EPTAH board members and two non-board members.
Typically, the county annually receives hotelmotel taxes in the $40,000-50,000 range, with 60 percent going to the chamber of commerce and 40 percent to the county. However, last year the county contracted with a company to identify and collect the hotel-motel tax from individuals who rent out vacation homes, principally through AirBnb and VRBO.
EPTAH was established more than a decade ago to coordinate various citizen groups’ efforts. Although individuals and groups may rotate on and off the board, the current version ranges from local hospital, bank, and newspaper representatives to the Board of Education, Goodwill Industries, Georgia Power Lake Management, Putnam Development Authority, Writers Museum and the Eatonton Historical Preservation Commission.