FAYETTEVILLE -- The Advertising and Promotion Commission unanimously gave more than 60 percent of the requested money to local events and projects Monday.
The commission gave $96,000 to 18 of the 21 applicants who requested $150,672, following executive director Molly Rawn and her team's proposal. Once in the spring and once in the fall the commission assists projects and events of various organizations using money from the 1 percent hotel, motel and restaurant tax revenue it receives.
Spring funding
The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission twice per year allots sales tax money to projects and events. The following grants were handed out Monday.
• AAO for Summer Event Series: $10,000
• All Sports Productions for Fayetteville Half Marathon: $5,000
• The Art Experience for Puppets in the Park: $3,500
• Arts Live Theatre for Season Advertising: $5,000
• Audrey Harris Vision Foundation for the Neo-Natal Nurses Conference: $2,000
• The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks for tenth birthday: $2,000
• Cattywampus Co-op for Wampus Wonderland: $4,500
• NWA Creative Arts Network for Last Night Fayetteville: $10,000
• Evergreen Cemetery Association for History Comes Alive: $3,000
• Fayetteville Film Festival: $3,000
• Fayetteville Hoops Committee for Bulldog Classic: $10,000
• NWA Center of Equality for NWA Pride: $5,000
• Fayetteville Parks and Recreation for Square to Square: $6,500
• Soldier On Service Dogs for the Dickson Street Slide: $5,000
• The Spark Foundation for the Fayetteville Firefighters Hero Half Marathon: $5,000
• The Community NWA for Banff Mountain Film Festical World Tour: $1,500
• Tri Cycle Farms for Pesto Fest: $5,000
• Walton Arts Center for Voice Jam Festival: $10,000
Total: $96,000
Source: Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission
The spring totals fairly consistently have been lower than in the fall. The commission handed out $104,934 in grants to 37 applicants in fall 2016, about 20 percent of what was requested. It handed out $103,484 in spring 2016, according to the commission.
"Keep in mind, this is not always how much was actually distributed as sometimes groups cancelled events or didn't end up using all of their funds," Rawn said.
Rawn is addressing this issue with a streamlined application process and more defined rubric by which to evaluate the applications she said she hopes will minimize approving money for then-cancelled events.
This year, the committee is also changing how organizations will receive the funding: Approved projects receive a check with 60 percent of the money 30 days out from the event and the rest only after completing an impact report after the event.
The three submissions that didn't get money either didn't fit the commission's goals or hadn't followed through on past projects, she said.
"Does it (the event) reflect positively on the city? Does it bring people to town? Is this potential for growth? Is this unique? Is there a way for us to partner?" she said, referring to some of the guidelines for the decision process.
While the arts was still first in number of organizations that received money, sports and recreation got the largest dollar amount at $41,500.
The sole, self-identified culinary project didn't receive money, though Tri-Cycle Farms got $̶1̶0̶,̶0̶0̶0̶ $5,000* for Pesto Fest.
"Hopefully down the line, we will be able to stir some growth in the culinary events in Fayetteville," said Chrissy Sanderson, committee member and co-owner of Mockingbird Kitchen. "I know there are events out there that didn't apply, so maybe they don't need it or don't know the money is out there. That's something we can work on."
The commission's 2017 budget is $4,210,855.
In other business, the commission interviewed two candidates to fill a vacant commission seat and unanimously elected Todd Martin, who moved to Fayetteville 10 months ago and will open his new restaurant, Southern Food Company on Monday at 3575 W. Wedington Drive.
The commission is still considering use options and hearing outside proposals for the Walker-Stone House at 207 W. Center St. David Kersey presented a proposal to use the building to grow permanent roots for the New Design School near downtown.
The house is a priority, said Hazel Hernandez, Experience Fayetteville director of marketing and communications.
NW News on 05/16/2017
*CORRECTION: Tri-Cycle Farms got $5,000 for Pesto Fest. The amount of money was incorrect in a previous version of this story.