Longboat approves one-time increase in Chamber of Commerce grant

The Longboat Key town commission approved a one-time increase in its annual contribution to the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, from $7,500 to $10,000. 

Mayor Ken Schneier suggested the increase to provide additional financial support to the chamber after the chamber lost revenue from membership dues this past year. 

At the commission’s June 9 meeting, Schneier opened the discussion by emphasizing this was his suggestion and the chamber did not come to the town seeking help as extra funding.

“It was entirely my instigation and not by the chamber at all,” Schneier said. “The chamber’s budget was under additional pressure due to the inability of member businesses to pay any or, in some cases, a portion of their dues while the chamber was taking on additional functions to help those businesses and the town in recovery efforts.” 

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization open to businesses on Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Lido Key to become members, advertise and promote local businesses. 

According to Chamber of Commerce President Kim Verreault, the chamber enacted a moratorium on membership dues for three months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton to alleviate financial pressures on local businesses. 

Verreault estimated the chamber experienced a 21.6% revenue loss from not collecting membership dues. In 2024, the chamber collected $42,802 from memberships, but that number dropped to $33,562.50 in 2025.

“The decline reflects the disruption following the hurricanes, but we are stabilizing and trending toward recovery,” Verreault said, adding that the chamber has resumed collecting membership dues. 

The chamber’s 2025 operating budget is $484,425 and 29.9% of the revenue is membership income. 

Another 23.3% of the revenue comes from community events. 

One of the chamber’s main event series, Savor the Sounds, was down 47.1% in net income. Revenue decreased by about $10,685 from 2024 to 2025.

Schneier said in his opening statement that one of the main reasons for bringing this up was hearing about this shortfall and the lower turnout at this year’s events. 

Verreault also said the chamber eliminated the organization's visitor’s guide and visitor’s map projects for 2025 to prevent asking businesses for additional advertising funds. 

With the $10,000, Verreault said one-third of it, or $3,333, would go toward a membership relief fund. This fund would allow the chamber to provide one-year memberships at no cost to businesses still facing financial hardship from the hurricanes. The chamber would review those memberships on a case-by-case basis. 

The remaining $6,667 would be for a “Love LBK – Support Local” marketing and advertising campaign. The chamber would use these funds to produce professional countertop displays for businesses, targeted advertising for day-trippers from Florida markets and more.  

Neighboring counties also subsidise the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce. Sarasota County’s tourism organization, Visit Sarasota County, contributes $4,000 annually and the Manatee County counterpart contributes about $54,000. 

Schneier suggested Sarasota County or the city should be the larger contributor since the Longboat Key Chamber also covers St. Armands and Lido. He said the conversation at the June 9 meeting could be a starting point to talk to those neighboring organizations about chipping in a little more. 

Verreault previously attended the commission’s May 9 meeting for the same matter. At that meeting, commissioners like Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop wanted more information, like the chamber’s annual budget, before approving the increase. 

At the June 9 meeting, Bishop held her stance that taxpayer funds should not always go to outside organizations, but she said she recognizes the value the chamber brings to the community and would vote in favor. 

“If you can assure me that this money is not staying internal to take care of salaries or to take care of mail…that it’s getting out to the larger community of the state and the nation to say ‘We’re open, we’re ready, our beaches look great,” I will do this once,” Bishop said. 

The commission voted 6-0 to approve the one time increase. District 5 Commissioner Sarah Karon was absent.