Governor Crist Responds To BP Denial For Tourism, Marketing Funds
Governor Charlie Crist has sent a letter to Doug Suttles, Chief Operating Officer for Exploration & Production for BP America Inc, in response to BP’s denial of Florida’s request for additional tourism marketing and advertising funds for local counties affected by the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Dear Mr. Suttles:
I received with disappointment the response to Florida’s request for additional tourism marketing funds for local counties affected by the ongoing effects of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill.
Your letter contained contradictions to previous direction from two high ranking BP representatives, and did not take into account the way that Florida has distributed the $25 million that was provided in May.
The purpose of this letter is to offer additional information on how the original funds were spent, present you with direction that was given to us last month by Mr. Daryl Willis, and provide you with samples of local funding requests that continue to pour into our office. I am confident that once this information is presented, you will be able to provide us with a better answer to our request.
The original request to BP on May 12, 2010 was for nearly $35 million comprised of a $24.75 million for a state-wide media campaign and a $10 million for locally impacted counties. BP denied the local portion of the request, and allocated $25 million to the state on May 17, 2010.
When Lamar McKay came to Tallahassee to notify me of grant, he specifically stated that the money was to be spent by the state for an immediate marketing campaign and if more was needed, we should ask.
As stated in your July 12, 2010 letter, we agree that one of the most effective ways to allocate tourism and marketing funds is to direct them to locally affected communities so that they may tailor advertising to their specific needs.
Accordingly, I decided to distribute nearly half of the $25 million state money to local tourism entities in order to mitigate the damaging affect that this spill has had on our economy. Enclosed is an accounting of the expended funds; as you will see these tourism councils have put great thought and creativity in their plans and we believe they are having a positive effect.
According to the original Memorandum of Understanding with BP, all funds had to be expended by August 18, 2010.
Florida has complied with the terms of the agreement with BP. Unfortunately, oil continues to spill in the Gulf of Mexico which has placed a terrible economic burden on Florida families and businesses.
During a presentation to the Gulf Coast Economic Recovery Task Force held in Pensacola on June 12, 2010, Mr. Daryl Willis was asked how local communities should request additional funding to continue their marketing campaigns.
Willis remarked that local governments could not request additional funds from BP directly, stating that all tourism and marketing request should be “made to Doug Suttles directly by Florida Government officials.’
The presentation that I am referring to is online at http://www.wfsu.org/tfc/oilspilllarchive-0630p1 .php the discussion takes place from 51: 15 to 53:00.
Upon learning of the direction from the head of the BP Claims process, I immediately wrote to you on behalf of local governments seeking additional marketing and advertising dollars as directed by Mr. Willis.
To date, all Northwest Florida Counties have asked for additional funds, as well as a number of local gulf coast counties further down south that did not receive funds from the original distribution. Samples of these requests are included with this letter.
Based on the above information, I respectfully request that you provide the Florida additional marketing dollars to be distributed to local governments as directed by Mr. Daryl Willis, or you provide a written and transparent process for local governments so that they may obtain funding directly from BP.
We are looking for the quickest, most efficient way to provide assistance to impacted counties. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hear from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
Charlie Crist
Topics: 2010, advertising, beaches, BP, British Petroleum, business, coastline, Deepwater Horizon, denial, Doug Suttles, Economy, emergency response, environment, environmental impact, fishing, Florida, Florida seafood products, Governance, government, Governor Charlie Crist, Gulf of Mexico, gulf oil map, loans, moniter, monitor, news, noaa oil spill, Obama Administration, Oil Rig, oil spill, Panhandle, Pensacola, pollution, President Obama, relief wells, tourism, U.S., United States, VISIT FLORIDA marketing campaign, www.visitflorida.com
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