HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - A town council in coastal South Carolina is expected to vote on whether to grant a local chamber of commerce $470,000 to help market the area to tourists as it recovers from the effects of the coronavirus.
This isn’t the first time the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has asked for money from the Town of Hilton Head Island, but it is the largest request, The Island Packet reported.
The chamber was allocated $175,000 after Hurricane Dorian, and after Tropical Storm Florence, from the town’s post-disaster advertising budget.
Town Manager Steve Riley had approved those post-disaster funds without going through the council first. This time, the request isn’t as time-sensitive and the council wants to further discuss how the money will be spent, Riley said.
The campaign, called “Save the Summer Campaign - Escape to America’s Favorite Island,” was seeking to spend most of the funds on paid media, social advertising and search engine marketing.
The vote is scheduled for June 16.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.