FREELAND — Skip Smith wasn’t sure what kind of reception he’d get at the Port of South Whidbey meeting on Wednesday.

Smith represents the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour, and he was hoping to get $2,500 to pay for off-island advertising in support of the annual art event.

The port has a lot on its plate these days — negotiations with Langley over the small boat harbor, figuring out how and when to get the floating breakwater to Whidbey from the Port of Bremerton and developing its next six year comprehensive plan.

But through it all, commissioners continue to examine ways to help South Whidbey’s economic health, a mandate they take seriously.

But the port doesn’t give money away to just anyone, not without examining all requests in detail. The studio tour was no exception.

Port commissioner Rolf Seitle had a few concerns over the application Smith had provided.

“I’m not sure you are targeting the right people; the Everett Herald puts stories in for island events all the time,” Seitle noted.

“What about Sunset Magazine? Wouldn’t that be a better place to put ads?” Seitle asked.

Smith said he would definitely pass along Seitle’s comments to his group.

“Your point is well taken and we’ll certainly explore the possibilities,” Smith said.

Commissioners Geoff Tapert and Lynae Slinden had questions in a similar vein, but in the end, they voted unanimously to approve the tour’s request for funds.

“We’re very pleased,” Smith said later. “We did our homework and made sure we met their guidelines. September’s studio tour brings in a lot of people to the island during a slow tourism time and we’re glad the port recognized that.”

Since January 2006 the port has provided largesse to a variety of organizations they believe help the South End economy:

• $6,500 for the Uniquely Whidbey Trade Fair;

• $5,000 for Clinton Days;

• $1,000 for the Whidbey Writer’s Association;

• $3,000 to Washington State University and the Marine Resources Committee to help publish a book on access to the island’s shoreline;

• $6,500 for the Choochokam Festival of the Arts in Langley.

In addition, under their capital improvements budget, the port is paying $10,000 for the decking around the new visitor kiosk at Ken’s Korner, plus $918 for the Freeland Trails project and $1,800 for a business directory kiosk at the Langley marina.

Not everyone gets what they want, however. When Sharon Hart of the Island County Economic Development Council, asked for $5,000 in support of the council’s annual trade fair in Coupeville, commissioners noted the event was not within the port’s boundaries and approved $1,500 instead.

Slinden said the arts are crucial to South Whidbey’s economy.

“These activities are indigenous to our island’s economic health,” she said.