The Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) was started by a tourism committee as part of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce. Growing out of a concern that Knox County would benefit from tourism development, the group sought a lodging excise tax from the Knox County Commissioners in 1990. The tax was levied, and the Visitors Bureau was created. In 1995, the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was created and the organization was then directed by a board independent of the Chamber. The CVB operates with funds generated by the county wide lodging tax, for which it contracts with the Commissioners to provide destination marketing and destination development services for the Knox County area. The CVB's business is managed by a Board of Trustees made up of community business and civic leaders with interest in the county wide tourism development. Each year, a strategic plan and an annual budget are provided to the county. The Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc is incorporated as a not-for-profit Ohio corporation, and is classified as a IRS 501(c)(6) organization where it files the required IRS 990 forms each year.