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A resolution appropriating $750,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from Fund #30216 to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation to expand its sponsorship of new and culturally diverse events in Nashville.
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WHEREAS, on June 15, 2021, the Metropolitan Council passed Resolution RS2021-966, a resolution which accepted grant funds for local government support from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP Funds”) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson Count, which was subsequently signed into law by Mayor John Cooper on June 16, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, Resolution RS2021-966 established a COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee ("the Committee") whose role is to collect, consider, and recommend appropriate uses of the ARP Funds as designated by the Metropolitan Council disbursement plan. The Committee will submit its reports and recommendations to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, and the Metropolitan Council not later than June 30, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, there are federal requirements for use of ARP Funds that require that these funds be expended or obligated on or before December 31, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, as part of the FY 21 Governor’s Local Support Grant, Metro awarded $500,000 to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (“NCVC”) to expand its sponsorship of new and culturally diverse events in Metro Nashville; and,
WHEREAS, due to the success of those events, NCVC is requesting an additional $750,000 in ARP Funds to expand tourism opportunities and attract more diverse visitors to the city; and,
WHEREAS, the Committee recognizes that these events have suffered negative economic impacts due to the pandemic and investing in these events will allow them to return to prepandemic status; and,
WHEREAS, the Committee recognizes both the importance of Nashville’s tourism industry and the importance of attracting culturally diverse events to the city; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that this resolution be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council accepts this resolution as a recommendation of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee.
Section 2. That $750,000.00 from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Fund #30216 is hereby appropriated to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation to be used in described in Exhibit A.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the public requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution appropriates $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Nashville Covention and Visitors Corporation (CVC) to expand its sponsorship of new and culturally diverse events in Nashville.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Governor’s Local Support Grant, Metro awarded $500,000 to the CVC to expand its sponsorship of new and culturally diverse events in Nashville. Due to the success of these events, the CVC has requested additional funds to expand tourism opportunities and attract more diverse visitors to the city. These events include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues Festival
• Jazzmania (Nashville Jazz Workshop)
• Native American Pow Wow
• Nashville Pride Festival
• Stellar Awards (Black Gospel)
• Fisk Jubilee Singers Spring Sing
• Gospel Music Association Dove Awards
• Americana Music Awards/Festival
• National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Conference
Fiscal Note: This appropriation, along with the appropriations per Resolution No. RS2021-1260, Resolution No. RS2021-1262, Resolution No. RS2021-1263 and Resolution No. RS2021-1264 would be the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th resolutions appropriating from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARP) Fund for a cumulative total of $59,054,250. The total grant award is $259,810,600 and the first half of this amount was received in July 2021.