Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met Tuesday afternoon via the Zoom virtual platform to observe social distancing.  Board members attending included:  President, Matthew Woods, Frank Balak , Tena Lawrence, and Paulette Ritter.

Tourism Executive Director, Searle Swedlund, Taylor Barnes.

Ex Officio members in attendance:  Pam Phillips, City Council, Corey Shevland JSDC, and Emily Bivens.

Rod Wilhelm: Represented the Stutsman County Fair Association.

During the GRANT BOARD MEETING

A grant request was heard on behalf of:

Frontier Village for $1,000,  concerning a Four Movie Night Movie Night at the amphitheater in July and August 2020.  The request go towards advertising, license fees, equipment, AV equipment and DVDs.

Allison Limke  Jen Nannega  developed the presentation.

The board vote to grant, $1000.

 

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Give, Get, Grow promotion request was made by Chamber Executive, Emily Bivens who  requested $3,000 for The Give, Get Grow, promotion.

She said it concerns the Chamber and the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC) and area supporters teaming up to help local business members through the negative effects their businesses may have experienced these past months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of hardest hit businesses related to tourism.   The target audience is within 50 miles of Jamestown, and promotes local spending.  Any Jamestown and Stutsman County business can participate, and can contact the Chamber office at 701-252-4830.   Donations have already begun rolling in. So far, Otter Tail Power Company has contributed $1,500, Bank Forward has given $500, and R.M. Stoudt has donated $250.

The campaign starts August 17, 2020 and runs through August 31.  The promotion will include a radiothon, and follow up promotion to sell gift cards, gift certificates from participating merchants, and local citizens and businesses.  The goal is to inject much needed cash flow into the Jamestown and Stutsman County businesses.

After the August 17 Radiothon, the promotion continues on social media.  Gift cards and Gift Certificates  can be ordered on line, calling 605-225-2860, or E-Mail.

After August 31 the Chamber will contact all businesses with the total number of gift cards purchased for their establishment and will arrange pick up and payment of those cards by check through the Chamber Office.   Sponsor participation opportunities available a various dollar levels.

Addition funding is anticipated to be $25,000 matching funds, plus local spending of $25,000 for a total of $50,000 in local economic impact, I3G Media $7,266, Chamber $4,100, JSDC $5,000, to marching fund, pending, local businesses matching dollars.

The Marketing Budget is $14,400.

The board voted to grant the $3,000, using tourism operating funds.

Rod Wilhelm spoke about the previous tourism grant funding, sign request, by the Stutsman County  Fair Association, who said $1265.73, addition funds are needed, to replace a pole of the sign previously advertising Grabinger Marine, at 27th Street NW, to 33rd Street SE, along Highway 281 North, now advertising events and activities at the fairgrounds.

Tourism previously grant $1700 for the sign costs.

The Board voted to grant the additional funds of $1,265.73.

Previously,  Rod Wilhelm said, the Fair Board has been given permission by land owner Dave Glinz, and John Grabinger, to acquire the sign at the west by Highway 281 North. Newman Signs has indicated that the Sign is NDDOT approved. The sign previously advertised the former Grabinger Marine business.

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING:

President Matthew Woods, presided.

Declaration of Conflict of Interest:  Matt Woods, asked if his managing Holiday Inn Express hotel is a conflict being a Chamber member, for the Chamber’s request. The board agreed that he has no conflict.

The Financial Report was given by Searle Swedlund.

 

During the Tourism Report by Searle Swedlund, he said, tourism will budget for 2021, as reasonably as possible.

He added that Tourism will fund the Frontier Village Stage Coach advertising sign.

He said during a walk through with the North Dakota Insurance Fund representative last week, the Village’s insurance carrier, he noted a list of improvements that need to be performed on site, concerning liability issues.

He pointed out, painting buildings is also on the list, and equipment replacement, is needed such as lawnmowers.

President Matthew Woods, indicated that funds need to be set aside, to initiate projects.

Searle said volunteers are needed to support work on some of the buildings, to preserve especially the older buildings and address safety issues.  He said a priority list needs to be established.

He said a new Frontier Village Board needs to be established, as indicated in talks with the city.  No official action was taken at Tuesday’s meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Proposed New Event Grant Guidelines were reviewed.

Those areas include:

Guidelines discussed for:

Tournaments, Races and Competitions.

New Events and Event Enhancements.

Event Marketing Grants, For Annual Events.

Also addressed is advertising, and equipment funding request guidelines.

The grant request process was also discussed.