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AGENCY REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM Indian River COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2018/2019 A. 'Program Cover Page Agency: Vero Heritage, Inc. Contact Person: Alex Soares Title: Executive Director Address: 2140 14th Avenue Vero Beach, FL 32960 Website Address: veroheritage.org Program Title: Heritage Center & Indian River Citrus Museum Telephone: 772-770-2263 Fax: E -Mail: asoares@veroheritage.org I certify that information contained in this application accurately reflects the activities o#-(ijragency and that the expenditures or portions thereof for which County funds are being requested are not reimbursed by anj_at er ce. Alex Soares, Executive Director Signa ure Print name and title wrier aescnption or theyrogram for wnicn tunding is requested: Grant funds will be used for advertising costs to promote the Heritage Center & Citrus Museum to thousands visitors. The main sources will be advertisement distribution, expanded website interface and maintenance, search engine optimization and special event promotions that are a critical source of revenue for Vero Heritage. This grant also covers a portion of the salary for operations staff, including a part-time staff member who works with visitors at the museum 'and with those utilizing the building for community events. These requests fall under Section (5)(aa)1 in which revenues may be used to extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, maintain, operate or promote museums that are operated by a non- profit organization open to the public. Summary Keport Amount requested from Indian River County for 2018/2019: $ 20,000.00 Total Proposed Program budget for 2018/2019: - $ 159,200.00 Percent of total Program budget: 12.5% Current Funding (2017/2018) $ 13,000.00 Dollar increase / (decrease) in request: $ 7,000.00 Percent increase / decrease in request: 54% it request increased b io or more, orieriy explain wny: Vero Heritage is seeking to increase tourism to not only our location but to Indian River County as a whole. The funding request is to establish virtual reality tours, website expansion and maintenance, and creating web app "beacons" that provide guided tour information. Beacons then provide information on smartphones about the Heritage Center & Citrus Museum The creation of a virtual reality section in the museum will allow a visitor to "stroll" through local groves, particularly during off-season, and include narration as well as current industry conditions. We will coordinate with local groves to link beacons of their own to encourage in-person visits. Research and data support museums that use innovative technology such as this increase online community activity, but also provide outcomes that indicate people are more apt to make in-person visits as a result. We are already providing a 16% increase in visitation from last fiscal year-to-date compared to this year's (1,202 vs. 1,617) in the Citrus Museum alone. Rentals and special events are now booked every weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) from December 2017 -September 2018, in addition to increased weekday events. Re -investing into an engaging online and in-person experience would increase this data and tourism as a whole.