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Tourism Development Authority Regular Meeting

Town of Hillsborough · Tourism Development Authority
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 5:30 pm

Regular meeting Budget and appropriationsGrants and outside fundingArts and public artPublic facilitiesRoads and transportation

Agenda document Full packet Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 3.AApproval of May 21, 2025 Budget Public Hearing Minutes Approved 3-0
  2. Approved 4.ASpecial Project & Partnerships Funding: Tinsel & Traditions Home Tour Approved $5,000, 3-0
  3. Approved 4.BSpecial Project & Partnerships Funding: Uproar Festival of Public Art Approved $5,000, 3-0
  4. Approved 4.CSpecial Project & Partnerships Funding: FlushFest Approved $10,000, 3-0

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Hillsborough's Tourism Development Authority met Sept. 10 to weigh three special-event funding requests worth a combined $20,000: a modernized holiday home tour, the Uproar Festival of Public Art, and FlushFest, a music festival at Eno River Brewery. The authority also discussed whether to help fund an overnight stop for CycleNC's 2026 Mountains to Coast bike tour, which would bring roughly 950 cyclists to town for a night.

Only three of the authority's members were present for the vote.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The authority approved $5,000 for the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough's Tinsel & Traditions Home Tour, $5,000 in additional support for the Uproar Festival of Public Art, and $10,000 for FlushFest, all on a single 3-0 motion after hearing all three presentations. Members also approved the May 21 budget public hearing minutes 3-0.

On CycleNC, staff estimated the cost to the tourism program at $7,000 to $10,000 and raised logistical concerns about lodging, food and staff capacity for hundreds of riders in one night; members said they would support it if staff judged it workable. Staff also reported occupancy tax and food and beverage tax revenues are down, and noted uncertainty over whether the Colonial Inn will reopen its kitchen under new management.

How the votes went

The authority approved the agenda 3-0, the May 21 minutes 3-0, the combined $20,000 in event funding 3-0, and adjournment 3-0. No votes were opposed.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Hillsborough's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (6)

Budget action · 3Minutes approval · 1Discussion item · 1Staff or committee report · 1
  1. 3.A Approval of May 21, 2025 Budget Public Hearing Minutes
    Minutes approval Budget and appropriations
    The authority approved the minutes of its May 21, 2025 budget public hearing meeting as submitted.
    Approved 3-0
  2. 4.A Special Project & Partnerships Funding: Tinsel & Traditions Home Tour
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsGrants and outside funding
    The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough requested funding for a modernized candlelight home tour featuring six historic residences and a multicultural winter-holiday fair, paired with the Chamber of Commerce's tree lighting and holiday parade as a 'Jingle and Joy' weekend. The authority approved $5,000 toward the event's $10,000 budget.
    Approved $5,000, 3-0
  3. 4.B Special Project & Partnerships Funding: Uproar Festival of Public Art
    Budget action Arts and public artBudget and appropriationsGrants and outside fundingPublic facilities
    The Orange County Arts Alliance requested an additional $5,000 after the Uproar Festival of Public Art fell short of budget despite flooding challenges. The festival provided about 60 hotel room nights for 30 artists in 2023, and the town will permanently display two of its sculptures at Town Hall.
    Approved $5,000, 3-0
  4. 4.C Special Project & Partnerships Funding: FlushFest
    Budget action Grants and outside funding
    Organizers requested funding for FlushFest's eighth year, a music festival Oct. 3-4 at Eno River Brewery, Eno House and Nash Street Tavern featuring 17 acts. The authority approved $10,000.
    Approved $10,000, 3-0
  5. 5.A CycleNC 2026 RFP and TDA funding/budget amendment
    Discussion item Budget and appropriationsRoads and transportation
    Staff presented a request to make Hillsborough an overnight stop on CycleNC's 2026 Mountains to Coast bike tour, bringing about 950 cyclists for one night in October 2026 with lodging split between hotels, tent camping at River Park and RV parking at Gold Park. Estimated cost to the tourism program is $7,000 to $10,000; members said they would support it if staff found it workable.
  6. 6.A Tourism Staff Updates
    Staff or committee report Arts and public artPublic facilities
    Staff reported the TDA bought two Uproar sculptures for permanent display at Town Hall, occupancy and food and beverage tax revenues are down, and it is unclear whether the Colonial Inn will fully reopen its kitchen after a change in management.

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