Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism, Grant/Executive Board meetings were held Thursday at Historic Franklin School.

Members present: President, Matthew Woods, Frank Balak, Taylor Barnes, Paulette Ritter, Tena Lawrence.

Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund

Ex-Officio Member:  Corry Shevlin representing the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation.

At the Grant Board meeting, requests were made by:

Hockey Day ND, Pure Skills USA

Buffalo City Tournament Association

Classic Car Club Winter Wheels Show

UJ Basketball Shootout

Jamestown Rural Fire Department/Knights of Columbus Fishing Tournament.

Jamestown Tennis Association request, Indoor Tennis Tournament.

The Buffalo City Tournament Association’s request for Pool Tournament Funding was tabled to next month’s meeting, pending additional information.

 

With Hockey Day ND, Pure Skills USA, Nick Bruns  said  the organization is requesting $10,000  toward marketing costs, for the three days of outdoor activities at the University of Jamestown campus, January 17, 18, 19, 2020, with teams participating from across North Dakota.  Many levels of play will be offered to pique fan interests including high school and college games.  The event is planned for the University of Jamestown’s Allen Field.

Other sources of funding include….First Community Credit Union at $25,000, Central Sales at $10,000,

Hugo’s $10,000, Cavendish $5,000.  A grant from Ottertail Power Company is pending.

With the estimated 3,000 in attendance, the economic impact is put at $550,000.

The board unanimously approved granting the full $10,000 with the stipulation that the dollars will all be used for marketing the event.

 

The Jamestown Classic Car Club represented by Jack Meikle, requested $5,000 for the Winter Wheels Car Show on Saturday January  25, 2020, at the Jamestown Civic Center.

Other sources of income are, Public admission fees of $8, $6 and $2, vehicle fee of $25 each, the vendor fee of $40, to $75, plus undetermined donation amounts.

The estimated attendance is between 950 and 1,350, with an economic impact of $100,000 to $120,000.

The group is working to bring the 1966 Batmobile back to Jamestown in 2020.

The board voted unanimously to grant $2,000.

 

With the University of Jamestown UJ Basketball Shootout,  $5,000 was requested for the event, to be held December 27, 28, 2019, at Both the UJ Harold Newman Arena, and Jamestown High School’s Jerry Meyer Arena.

Jamestown Men’s and Women’s Basketball applied for the grant.  Spokesperson, Thad Sanky said 950 are expected to visit Jamestown during the Shootout days, representing Class “B” high schools in the region, with an economic impact of $132,500.

He pointed out that in past years the majority of teams participating were from farther than 50 miles from Jamestown, and 61 percent were spectators, traveling over 50 miles to Jamestown.

The board voted 4-0 to recommend funding the full amount of $5,000.  Tena Lawrence declared a conflict of interest in voting, due to her affiliation with the University of Jamestown.  Her abstention was allowed by the board

 

The Jamestown Rural Fire Department requested $4,000 for February 15, 2020 Ice Fishing Tournament at

at Jamestown Reservoir.  Travis Lemieux said, the funding would be used for advertising costs.

The economic impact is estimated at $87,500.   He said the Jamestown Civic Center is being rented for an after tournament event, including entertainment.

The board voted to recommend the full $4,000 request, citing continued growth with the event and bringing participants from outside Stutsman County.

 

The Jamestown Tennis Association represented by Eric Watne requested $2,500 for an indoor tennis tournament, “Burst the Bubble,”  sanctioned by the USTA, November 1-3 at Two Rivers Activity Center.

Other funding sources include, $600 from registrations, and $500 from sponsorships.

The estimated economic impact is $12,500, with the goal of having 32 participants in the men’s and women’s flights.  He said participants in the past have come from as far away as Rapid City, South Dakota, and areas of Minnesota.

The board voted unanimously to approve $1,000 for marketing the event, only.

At the Executive Board Meeting:

Tena Lawrence’s abstention on the UJ Shootout voting was the only conflict.

The Financial Report was given by Taylor Barnes, and approved.

 

With the Tourism Report – Searle Swedlund said the next Grant meeting will hear requests for the Promotion Capital Construction Fund, grant requests, with the next applications due by October 1.

He noted that the Stutsman County Museum’s new sidewalk project has been completed, and features Stutsman County historical mentions, stamped into the concrete.

Swedlund added that the 2020 NAIA National Women’s Wresting Tournament will return to Jamestown in March 2020.

He said it’s likely that dollars will need to be expended in 2020 toward major refurbishing of the World’s Largest Buffalo monument.

Ex-Officio Reports:

Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, Business Development Director, Corry Shevlin said  the Airport Business Park development is about 95 percent complete, adding the JSDC will go before the Jamestown City Council’s Finance and Legal Committee, on Tuesday, September 24, with funding requests.

Under New Business, discussion was held on the CD Renewal, as the board asked Swedlund to “shop around,” for the best rate, with the renewal due in November this year.

The Executive Director’s Annual job performance, Review Process was re-explained to the board members, consisting of a voting scale of efficiencies, with the outcome at the Annual Review meeting.