BENTONVILLE -- The Advertising and Promotion Commission approved $57,500 to help pay for eight events that should bring tourism dollars to the city at its meeting Thursday.
The commission grants money three times a year -- in March, July and October -- to applicants whose events draw people to Bentonville from outside a 50-mile radius. The money comes from a 2 percent tax on hotel and motel rooms and a 1 percent tax on restaurants and prepared food.
Allotted money
The Advertising and Promotion Commission allots $100,000 a year to give to events showing promise of bringing tourism dollars to the city. There was already $19,000 given from the 2017 budget for events next year. Another $56,250 was earmarked at Thursday’s meeting for events next year.
Source: Staff Report
The largest amount awarded was $14,350 to the University of Arkansas at Monticello for its Bentonville NCAA Division II Eight State Softball Classic Tournament, which will be held at Bentonville High School and Memorial Park on Feb. 17.
Thirty-one NCAA Division II softball teams will be in the city for four to five days with their parents and fans, according to the request for funding application. The money will be used for umpire fees.
The event is anticipated to have a $137,000 economic impact, according to Visit Bentonville estimates.
Commissioners also awarded $3,400 to the University of Arkansas at Monticello for its Bentonville NCAA Division II Softball Challenge, which will be held Feb. 11. Eight teams will compete for two to three days, according to the application.
Visit Bentonville staff work to get events in December, January, February and August as they are the slowest months, said Kalene Griffith, Visit Bentonville president and CEO.
"That's a big deal for us to add events in February when it's not the busiest time of year for us," she said.
There was also $11,500 awarded to the NCAA Division II Great American Conference Softball Championship, which will be held in May, and $3,500 awarded to the NCAA Division II Great American Conference Tennis Championship, which will be held in April.
Made Hoops will receive $10,000 for its The Warmup Tournament, which gets national exposure through ESPN Radio. Elite players from around the country will come to compete in the April event, according to the request for funding application.
Adams Pro Golf Tour will be given $10,000 in addition $5,000 they were awarded in July. The organization requested $15,000 initially, but didn't have a location, time or nonprofit partner confirmed when requesting the money earlier this year.
The tournament will be in May at the Bella Vista Highlands Golf Club, and a nonprofit partner should be confirmed within the next 60 days, Gary DeSerrano, with the tour, informed commissioners by conference call.
Commissioners also gave $3,500 to Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf to help support its biennial conference held in June.
AR Hoops was also awarded $2,500 for its Crabtree Invitational and Holiday Hoop Festival on Nov. 26 this year. The money will come out of the 2016 budget. The other requests will come out of the 2017 budget.
NW News on 10/28/2016