BEAUMONT — Several Southeast Texas organizations, most of them based in Beaumont, received Jefferson County Tourism Committee Hotel Occupancy Tax allocations for the fall 2017 grant requests.

The approvals were made at the regular meeting of the Jefferson County Commissioners Court on Monday afternoon in the county courthouse.

The organizations, amount requested and the amount awarded are as follows:

1. City of Beaumont CVB requested $9,600 and was awarded $9,600 for contract renewal for their billboard.
2. Sports Society for American Health requested $13,410 and was awarded $4,910 for various marathons.
3. Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation requested $4,175 and was awarded $2,325 for the 13^th Annual Spindletop Spin Bicycle Ride.
4. Lamar University requested $3,500 and was awarded $3,500 for the 2018 Southland Conference Men & Women’s Tennis.
5. Southeast Texas Baseball Academy requested $18,200 and was awarded $17,000 for baseball tournaments.
6. Port Neches Chamber of Commerce requested $43,034 and was awarded $14,277 for the Port Neches Riverfest.
7. Southeast Texas Arts Council requested $14,000 and was awarded $5,000 for ads and marketing.
8. Clifton Steamboat Museum requested $760 and was awarded $760 for Boy Scout Day.
9. Art Museum of Southeast Texas requested $9,109 and was awarded $3,231 for an exhibit.
10. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce requested $15,000 and was awarded $10,000 for the region.
11. Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum requested $2,000 and was awarded $2,000 for marketing.
12. Top Dog Softball Club requested $500 and was awarded $500 for a softball tournament.
13. Southern Black Softball Association requested $7,500 and was awarded $3,750 for the SBSA All World Tournament.
14. Southern Black Softball Association requested $7,500 and was awarded $3,750 for SBSA Black World.
15. Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs requested $3,883 and was awarded $3,883 for marketing.
16. Lamar State College Port Arthur requested $3,900 and was awarded $3,900 for the 2018 Region XIV Softball Tournament.
17. Port Arthur CVB/Elite Redfish requested $10,000 and was awarded $10,000 for the Elite Redfish Tournament.
18. Jefferson County CVBs requested $61,000 and was awarded $61,000 ongoing for the year.
19. Port Arthur and Beaumont CVBs requested $5,616 and was awarded $5,616 for travel shows.
20. Port Arthur and Beaumont CVBs requested $3,234 and was awarded $3,234 for key chains for trade shows.

The commissioners approved an extension agreement between Tim Richardson, consultant, and the county for his services in seeking BP Deepwater Horizon restoration funding for Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018.

He will be paid $10,500 a month and 126,000 annually.

Funds have been used to combat coastal erosion.

County Judge Jeff Branick said this will be the last year for the BP contract. The county received $45 million for funding projects and they’re expecting another $20 million.

“It’s been a good investment for us,” he said.

Property tax notices are being sent out. Branick, however, estimated there will be diminished numbers for the county due to Tropical Storm Harvey.

“It will be an interesting year,” Branick said.