Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met by teleconference Thursday.

Those in attendance by phone included, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund and Board Members, President Matt Woods, Taylor Barnes, Tena Lawrence, and Paulette Ritter, and from CSiNewsNow.com, Wayne Byers.

Ex-Officio Member:   Pam Phillips representing the Jamestown City Council.

Those requesting grant funding were:

Jamestown Arts Center..Summer Series, Downtown Arts Market

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce…Buffalo Days

Fort Seward…Big Guns of the Old West, during Buffalo Days

Jamestown Drag Racing Association…For a Tent

Jamestown Downtown Association…Rods & Hogs

Frontier Village…Saloon Paint & Signage

The board for the most part considered the requests based on if each event will be held,  if social distancing regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is still in effect during the date(s) of each event.  The allocations approved may have to be adjusted, if the event(s) are cut short, or not held.

The Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz requested $10,000 for the Downtown Arts Market, planned to be held each Thursday evening this summer, including cultural performances, art education, artisan vendors, and more.  She said 12 dates are set, hopefully starting Jun 4, 2020, through the end of August in conjunction with the UJ Block Party.  Each Arts Market cost $1500 to $2,000.

The calendar will be adjusted depending on the length time the social distancing is in place.

She said $5,000 is anticipated from Business Sponsors, and $2,000 from other donations.

It was suggested that  funding be granted on a per-event basis, based on holding ten events.

The board to grant the full amount to $10,000 to be adjusted if less that 12 events are held, due to any social distancing that may still be in place.

 

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce represented by Executive, Emily Bivens requested $3,650

For 2020 Buffalo Days advertising, and $650 for adverting  the Ft. Seward First U.S. Artillery Regiment  proposal for a Gatlin Gun for   Big Guns of the Old West, during Buffalo Days July 25, 26.

She said the Chamber does not gain financially from Buffalo Days.

Any profits go back into next year’s event.

Emily reiterated that Buffalo Days is scheduled to be held in Jamestown July 25, 26, throughout the city.  She said the Chamber’s additional resources come from the vendors show in the park, estimated at $300.

The Board granted, to fund the $3,650 total, for Buffalo Days, and the Ft. Seward request.

 

Jamestown Drag Racing Association, represented by Mike Trautman, requested $2,500 to purchase a used Anchor Brand metal framed canvas tent for the Drag Races, planned to be held July 11, 12, at Jamestown Regional Airport.

The 2019 local business sponsors funded $10,300.   Racer entry fees accounted for $11,600.  The Drag Races generate a total of $187,500 in local economic impact.

The Drag Races in 2019 were cancelled due to rain and wet grounds.

He added JDRA has the approval of Jamestown Regional Airport to hold the races there, and is still on, awaiting FAA approval.

For the tent request, the request failed due to a lack of a motion by the board.

 

JDRA also requested $7,000 for advertising the event, including media, billboards and posters.

The Board grant the full amount for Marketing.

 

Jamestown Downtown Association, represented by President, Lynn Lambrecht, requested  $1,000  for advertising,  for the  sixth annual, Downtown Rods & Hogs activities this summer, planned for June 13, on First Avenue.  If that date becomes unavailable, due to social distancing still in effect at that time, the event will be suspended until next year.

Additional funding includes:  $2,500 from sponsors, $1,500  from registrations, and $250 from vendors.

Th economic impact is estimated at $62,500.

The Board granted the full amount requested of $1,000.  Lynn said the dollars will not be spent if a decision is made not hold the event.

Frontier Village requested $1,000 for the Saloon Building, Paint & Signage.

Searle Swedlund said the building will be the focus of giving out information to tourists and be where the greeters will be located.  He said the Village will open depending on when the social distancing is  eliminated, and it’s safe for the public.   The typical dates are from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Board granted, the full amount requested, $1,000.

 

Executive Board Meeting

Declaration of Conflict of Interest: None

Taylor Barnes gave the Financial Report.  Searle Swedlund added the finances are able to be sustained at this time.  The effect of social distancing on the hospitality business,  taxes and Motel taxes will be taken into account in the future.  The report was accepted.

Tourism Report:  Director, Searle Swedlund  said that her and Office Manager Allison Limke are working from home, with the Tourism Office closed to the public, but they are accessible by phone.  He said a student from NDSU has been hired to inventory the contents of Frontier Village.  The ownership or loan status of the contents is yet to be determined.  He added, at this point the City of Jamestown owns that property.  He said he’s considering closing the Tourism Office, on the weekends, as a cost savings option, and to direct tourists to the Saloon Building for information, when the Frontier Village is open.

The water trail project will have dollars applied for in a possible grant from Garrison Diversion.

Ex-Officio reports:  Pam Phillips gave a report on the Board of Equalization meeting, with four property owners, requested the city look into to modifying it’s decision on valuations.

She said City Hall is closed to walk ups, but is staffed, and can be reached by phone.  She added the City Council meets virtually in observance of social distances.

 

New Business:

Request for Direction for $1,000 for the Buffalo City Pool Tournament Association represented by Rory Hoffmann.  The tournaments, previously scheduled included, the Third Annual, Buffalo City Shootout,   and Downtowner Tournament.  The Shortcut was rescheduled for April 3, 4, 2020, and postponed until December 11,12, 2020.

The Downtowner Tournament is planned with Cabin Fever Days.

Searle said the previous allocation was $200 short of the full grant amount, and not enough dollars were expended on marketing and advertising.

The Board voted to move the request, for clarification to the full board meeting.

 

Also discussed was the Request for Direction for $4,350, to be allocated from the $5,000 previously allocated, for the  UJ Basketball Shootout, the unused portion of the advertising requirement because of bad weather, that cancelled the event  last December 27, 28, and unused portion of 30 percent, the advertising requirement.   Searle said the marketing dollars expended were also short in using the funding.

To Board Voted to also move the meeting to the full board meeting.