Jamestown  (CSi)  The  Jamestown Tourism Grant Executive Advisory Board met Thursday at 11:30-a.m., Virtually Via Zoom.us.  Members present were:   Board President, Tena Lawrence, Pam Phillips, Frank Balak, and Paulette Ritter, along with Ex-Officio members, JSDC Business Development Director, Corry Shevlin, and Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive Emily Bivens.

Tourism Director Searle Swedlund, Board also gave updates.

At the GRANT BOARD MEETING

A grant request was heard from the Jamestown Downtown Association by President, Lynn Lambrecht.

The JDA requested $17,200 for the Downtown Digital Guide, and Tour, this summer.

The budget is $15,000 for a fee to the  “Be more Colorful,”  organization, $1,700 for a 360 camera and equipment, and $500 for additional photography to support the downtown regional.

The goal of the project is to provide a better digital imprint of the downtown region, its historic and artist expressions, and interpretation and folklore related to its past.  It also addresses the question:

“What’s in Jamestown?”

The solution is an attempt to package the story with the navigation, while providing the visitor with detailed, knowledge related to the businesses adjacent to these places.

Future plans will engage businesses and ask them to invest to be part of the tour.

The Board voted to fund $17, 200.   Lynn said the JDA will approach downtown business to assist smaller businesses with a matching dollars toward the digital tour.

 

A request was made from Fort Seward for the Big Guns of the Old West event to be held July 25,26, 2021, as a part of Buffalo Days.

The amount requested  was $975.

The event will include the Gattling Gun demonstration, which typically draws over 200 people.

The event hosts a number of vendors and Civil War era activities.

The gun demonstrations also draws people, with creative programs developed to keep them there.

Marketing will be coordinated with the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, with promotion also from Fort Seward’s additional resources.

The Board Voted unanimously to fund, the full amount.

                                                  

Two Rivers Activity Center,  Director, Amy Walters requested funding for the Meidinger Splash Park,” Splash Bash,”  event on, June 5, 2021.  She said the event is planned with day-long activities and will include family activities, with vendors, and entertainment.  She said the total budget at this time is $10,000 with possibly more added, as other activities may be added.

The board unanimously approved funding $5,000.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

No board members Conflict of Interest were heard.

 

Grant Allocation Report  was presented by Frank Balak, outlining pending grant requests, and grant dollars available the rest of this year.

 

The Tourism Report was given by Searle Swedlund, who said a grant request, last month for Capital Improvement Construction Fund of $5,000 was rescinded to the Jamestown Soccer Club as the organization has indicated other funds toward the previously announced event in Jamestown.  The dollars will return to the Tourism Capital Improvement Fund.

 

Ex-Officio Reports

JSDC’s Corry Shevlin reported on the applications being taken for the Internship program, along with progress on the Greenhouse Project, naming of the Airport Business Park, along with upcoming meetings planned with other officials and entities about the planned Buffalo City Park.

The Chambers, Executive, Emily Bivens, reported that the recent Home & Garden Show was well attending with steady traffic through the Civic Center.  She also updated the April Business of the Month and Customer Service Awards, and the DMV availability of a kiosk, at Cashwise Foods, in Jamestown for license plate tab renewals.