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43 <br /> 8. What concerns or emerging issues does this board/commission anticipate for <br /> the upcoming year that it plans to address or wishes to bring to the BOCC's <br /> attention? <br /> Funding: <br /> • Sustainable and predictable funding (whether from Occupancy Tax or other sources) <br /> would allow the OCAC to better serve the community, resulting in more visitor <br /> spending and economic impact on our communities. For example, if funding was <br /> available to create a new summer festival (mentioned above), the county would benefit <br /> through increased Occupancy and Sales Tax through hotel stays and visitor spending. <br /> More funding means more programs, which means greater benefit for our community <br /> and economy. <br /> • Outside Agencies: the arts currently receive approximately 3% of the Outside <br /> Agencies budget. These funds are added to the OCAC's annual grant cycle so arts <br /> organizations can apply through an arts-based granting agency. We would like to see <br /> a 10% allocation for the arts for the following reasons: <br /> • The arts are the only sector that delivers a 5-fold bottom line: <br /> o Economy: Arts require audiences. $1 in grants generates $16 spent <br /> locally. <br /> o Education: Arts are critical to student success rates. Our grantees bring <br /> arts into the schools and work with unrepresented and at-risk youth <br /> populations outside of school. <br /> o Community: The arts promote civic engagement and community pride. <br /> Our grantees host local festivals, create public art, and offer arts spaces <br /> for the community to gather and connect. <br /> o Health: Access to the arts is linked to increased health markers in nearly <br /> every population. Our grantees work with veterans, the elderly, and <br /> people who have experienced trauma. <br /> o Culture & Heritage: The arts preserve our traditions and our stories. Our <br /> grantees include neighborhood preservation organizations, historical <br /> organizations, and groups ranging from artist cooperatives to dance <br /> groups to community theater and choirs. <br /> o The arts serve ALL people, especially underrepresented communities. <br /> o FY25 Grant Stats: <br /> 0 87,141 people will be served <br /> o Of the audience-serving grant programs, $1.7M will be spent in local <br /> businesses by their patrons <br /> o This means for every $1 invested, the grantees are leveraging an <br /> additional $16 in economic impact <br /> o Populations served by this year's grantees: <br /> • Low-income youth • Refugees/immigrants <br /> • Justice-involved youth • Housing/food insecure <br /> • Public Schools • Hospital patients <br /> • Disabled Community <br /> • Elderly <br />