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Home My WebLink AboutSisters Area Chamber ProjectDeschutes County Board of County Commissioners Discretionary Grant Program Board Meeting Date: October 6, 2014 Organization: Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Organization Description: Non-profit organization whose purpose is to enhance the economic vitality of Sisters Country through business advocacy, visitor relations, tourism development, and community support. Project Name: Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Technology Upgrades Project Description: Upgrade technology and office equipment through purchase and installation of 2 computers, 1 camera, 1 DVD player, 1 shredder, 2 office chairs. Project Period: October 15-30, 2014 Amount of Request: $3,240.94 Previous Grants: Sisters Chamber of Commerce 7/13/2001 Sisters Chamber of Commerce 9/19/2006 Sisters Chamber of Commerce 6/19/2007 Approved: Declined: $ 195.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 3,000.00 Advertising Visitor Center Leadership Sisters Today's Date: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners PO Box 6005, Bend, OR 97701-6005 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200, Bend, OR Telephone: 541-388-6571 Fax: 541-385-3202 Website: www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION September 22, 2014 Project Beginning Date: Project Name: October 15, 2014 Amount Requested: L$3,240.94 Name of Applicant Organization: Address: Sisters Area Chamber Technology Upgrades Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: October 30, 2014 October 15, 2014 Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce 291 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 430 City & Zip Code: Contact Name(s): Fax #: Sisters, 97759 Judy Trego (541) 549-4253 Email Address: Tax ID #: Telephone #: 93-0729390 (541) 550-6567 judy@sisterscountry.com On a separate sheet(s), please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will positively impact the community. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. 7. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget, SI �,. ERS SISTERS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE To the Board of County Commissioners: RE: Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Discretionary Grant Request 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to enhance the economic vitality of Sisters Country through business advocacy, visitor relations, tourism development and community support. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce represents a larger area known as the Sisters Country. The Sisters Country represents a 15 mile radius from the City of Sisters. The area encompasses three counties, two state road jurisdictions, two national forests, one city, and one unincorporated community. In addition, the outlying resorts and destinations in unincorporated Deschutes County that are represented by the Sisters Country include Black Butte Ranch, Aspen Lakes and to some degree Eagle Crest Resort. The Chamber is led by a 9 member volunteer board of directors. The Chamber staff consists of an Executive Director, two staff members and volunteers who serve the Sisters Area Chamber Visitor's Center. Kelly Cyrus — Vice Chair Ann Richardson — President Owner, Aspen Lakes Managing Director, Sisters Folk Festival 41-549-3660 (Office) 541-815-4546 (Cell) Email: kelly@aspenlakes.com 541-549-4979 (Office) ann@sistersfolkfestival.org Marcy Degregorio — Treasurer Mandy Strasser — Director Washington Federal, Branch Manager Owner, Hop and Bean 541-408-5134 (Cell) (541) 719-1295 541 549-8110 (Office) marcea.degregorio@wafd.com marcea@bendbroadband.com Hopnbean(a,gmail.com 1 Victoria D Graves — Director Partner, Three Creeks Brewery Cell 541-678-2299 (Cell) Pub 541-549-1963 (Pub) Victoria@threecreeksbrewing.com Judy Trego — Executive Director Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 430 Sisters, OR 97759 (541) 549.0251 Scott Huntsman — Director President, Black Butte Ranch 541-848-7049 (Cell) 541-595-1253 (Office) shuntsman@blackbutteranch.com Javier Luna — Director Owner, Los Agaves (541) 549-3594 luna.is@gmail.com Chris Wilder — Director Owner, Sisters Log Furniture (541) 588-0119 (Cell) Email: info(rr7,sisterslogfurniture.com Greg Willitts — Past President Owner, Five Pine Lodge and Conference Center 541-610-5398 (Cell) 541.549.5900 x 102 (Office) Email: gw@fivepinelodge.com The Chamber activities include sponsoring and coordinating 5 special events throughout the year, as well as, supporting and promoting other community events, such as the Sisters Rodeo, Quilt Show, Folk Festivals and many others. These events have a major impact on the Sisters economy. The Chamber also offers networking, educational, and cooperative marketing opportunities, advocacy, and business resources to its members and to the greater Sisters area. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce also provides visitor services to approximately 12,000+ walk-in visitors annually and thousands more who call or contact the Chamber via email for visitor and community information regarding the Sisters area. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. Given our large geographical footprint and our activities it is critical that we upgrade our technology and office equipment. The Chamber is requesting 2 computers, 1 camera that will be used for photographs used in our marketing and promotions campaigns, 1 DVD player to utilize promotional videos inside the Chamber building (Bendbroadband has donated a flat screen T.V), 1 shredder, two office chairs and we are also requesting funds for installation of software and computers by a professional IT consultant/technician. 2 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce will purchase the computers on October 15, 2014 and have the software, server and connections completed by October 30, 2014. 4. The technology upgrade will positively impact the community allowing us to increase our reach, promote and market Sisters in order to increase economic activity, provide educational information to our local business, and create efficiencies in our visitor center to better serve the thousands of visitor we assist each year. 5. The specific communities that will be impacted by having a more efficient and technology friendly Chamber include the members of the Chamber and the community groups we work with, including the Quilt Show, Rodeo, Sisters Folk Festival and thousands of Sisters Area visitors. 6. The grant funds will be used for technology and office equipment upgrades, included in the request are the funds to hire a local small business to install software, install the computers, and connect them to our new server. Additionally, we are requesting funds for a camera that will allow us to increase marketing and promotions on our website, flyers for events and other ads promoting our region. We respectfully request your approval of this one-time grant request. Should you have any questions regarding this project please do not hesitate to contact Judy Trego at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. Respectfully submitted, o, Executive Director Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Enclosures: Discretionary Grant Program Application Proof of Non-profit status Budget 3 FINANCIAL INFORMATION — BUDGET DETAIL Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Technology/Office Equipment Upgrade AMOUNT TOTAL Amount Requested From Board of County Commissioners in this Proposal: 2 - HP Pavillion -23 ho27C Computers 799.99 1599.98 1 - Panasonic DMC- Z335 Digital Camera 279.99 279.99 2 - Microsoft Office 2013 Professional 172.77 346.00 1 - Sony BDP-BX520 DVD Player 119.99 119.99 2 - Office Chairs 239.99 479.98 1 — Cross cut Shredder 95.00 95.00 IT Consultant/Installation 4 hrs @ 80 320.00 Total Expense: 3240.94 4 (r,err)aI Revenue Service E artment of the Treasury District Director Date: S 6 c. Sisters Are3 Chamber of O vnc rce 330 was=a5r_ St. P.O. Bo: 4C7 Sisters, Or. 977Y) Employer Identification Number. 93--0729330 internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)( i, ) Accounting Period Ending: June 30 Form 990 Required: ® Yes ID No Person to Contact: Joh_.j Sutton Contact Telephone Number: (206) 442-5106 SCAE'0:3i-1 31 Dear Applicant: Based on information supplied, and assuming your operations will be as stated in your application for recognition of exemption, we have determined you are exempt from Federal income tax under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code section indicated above. Unless specifically excepted, you are liable for taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (social security taxes) for each employee to whom you pay $100 or more during a calendar year. And, unless excepted, you are also liable for tax under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act for each employee to whom you pay $50 or more during a calendar quarter if, during the current or preceding calendar year, you had one or more employees at any time in each of 20 calendar weeks or you paid wages of $1,500 or more in any calendar quarter. If you have any questions about excise, employment or other Federal taxes, please address them to this office. If your purposes, character, or method of operation change, please let us know so we can consider the effect of the change on your exempt status. Also, you should inform us of all changer in your name or address. The block checked at the top of this letter shows whether you must file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. If the Yes box is checked, you are only required to file Form 990 if your gross receipts each year are normally more than $10,000. If a return is required, it must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of your annual accounting period, The law provides for a penalty of $10 a day, up to a maximum of $5,000, when a return is filed late, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay. This penalty may also be charged if a return is not complete. So, please make sure your return is complete before you file it. You are not required to file Federal income tax returns unless you are subject to the tax on unrelated business income under section 511 of the Internal Revenue (over) P.O. Box 21224, Seattle, Washington 98111 Letter 948(DO) (3-79) Code. If you are subject to this tax, you must file an income tax return on Form 990-T. In this letter we are not determining whether any of your present or proposed activities are unrelated trade or business as defined in Code section 513, You need an employer identification number even if you have no employees.. If an employer identification number was not entered on your application, a number will be assigned to you and you will be advised of it. Please use that number on all returns you file and in all correspondence with the Internal Revenue Service. Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your exempt status, you should keep it in your permanent records. If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown in the heading of this letter. Sincerely yours, District Director cc: hrt!Ii is Z.T. PL!"w=t Letter 948(DO) (3-79)