Tourism committee approves $34K in applications
RED OAK — More than $34,000 in hotel/motel tax dollars was awarded to seven organizations for tourism and recreation events and promotion, pending City Council approval April 7.
With a balance of almost $43,000 collected from the seven percent tax, the Red Oak Tourism and Recreation committee reviewed eight applications, approving seven at last week’s meeting.
The Red Coach Inn submitted two applications, only one of which was approved.
First, Red Coach General Manager Randy Orme spoke about an incentive program at the hotel to bring in more large events with overnight stays.
Requesting $6,000 from the committee, Orme said it can be difficult to bring conventions or even weddings to Red Oak, but if he could offer reduced fees, more people staying in the hotel would generate more tax dollars.
Last year, Orme said two state conventions, Altrusa and the VFW, were held at the Red Coach with great success, and he would like to see more. However, attracting large conventions can be difficult, so he said the incentive would also apply to weddings, which can fill the hotel as well.
Last year, the Red Coach had 11 weddings; this year only three are scheduled.
“With these events, they typically fill up the hotel, that’s the good part and then you get some of that back,” Orme said. “We get that money back probably easier than the others that are applying, because that’s what we do.”
Tourism committee chair Jeanice Lester said there was initial conversation about awarding funds to a for-profit business, like the Red Coach. However in this situation, the application fit the criteria.
“We talked a lot about if a for-profit business can apply, and we decided as long as it’s for the betterment of Red Oak, it didn’t matter,” Lester said. “You just couldn’t use this to fund your operating budget.”
The committee unanimously approved the Red Coach’s application with a caveat that funds will only be given based on invoices received, instead of up front.
The Red Coach’s second application for almost $8,000, however, was denied.
The application was for money to increase the hotel’s advertising. Orme said some of the advertising projects outlined in the application were new ideas, like being featured in different publications and adding a billboard, but others were continuations of advertising already in place.
Committee members Deb Crouse and Angie Britten expressed concern about funding something that’s already part of the business.
“I get concerned about funding something that is already a budget item,” Britten said. “I assume advertising of some kind is a line item. I can see if the incentive program works, wouldn’t there be an increase in budget from an increased number of stays where that could offset the extra advertising costs at some point?”
Orme and Red Coach Inn Assistant Manager Marge Schroeder said while the advertising money could go to the incentive program already approved by the committee, it wasn’t designated for it.
“If we don’t get the name of the Red Coach out there, the hotel/motel tax dollars aren’t there,” Schroeder said.
Ultimately, the committee denied the application due to the hotel/motel tax fund guidelines that state ineligible projects are those already fully funded within the business or organization’s budget.
The committee did, however, approve six other applications.
The Wilson Performing Arts Center will receive $1,500 for its FAMFEST event in August.
The second annual event will feature live entertainment and food for the whole family.
Kara Sherman, Executive Director of the Wilson, said she hopes to grow the event this year, featuring a junk stock event and bigger-name entertainers.
The Red Oak Ambassadors will be awarded $1,750 in hotel/motel tax dollars for the annual fly-in event, which will be called “AirVentures” this year, abandoning the flight breakfast concept Ambassador Beth Vial said hasn’t been as successful as they’d like.
The updated event will take place May 4 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and will include displays from the Offutt Air Force Base Strategic Air Command museum.
Vial said this event is a great way to show off Red Oak from above and will hopefully encourage pilots to come back through the community.
The Montgomery County Fairboard also received funds from the tourism committee. It will be awarded $2,500 for the band following the bull ride event at the county fair.
Last year’s event featured paid admission to see the band; Fairboard President Kerry Confer said this year, admission will be free as an appreciation for all the support in constructing the new livestock barn.
The band, Stampede, is also a bigger name band, according to Confer, and they will be spending more to advertise the event in hopes to draw from across the region.
Along the same lines, the Junction Days committee will be receiving funds for the event’s band. The tourism committee approved $2,650 upfront for advertising the event and up to $10,000 total to bring in a larger name band and possibly an opening band and/or DJ.
“Everyone knows Junction Days and how valuable it is to the community and what we want to do is similar to last year, but we want to try to get bigger and better bands… and try to do some advertising outside Montgomery County,” Assistant Director of the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, Jodie Smith said.
Next, the Montgomery County Family YMCA will receive $5,000 to upgrade weight equipment. YMCA Executive Director Nick Zimmer said with more visitors coming through the facility with the Stay and Play initiative, new equipment is beneficial to marketing the community.
Zimmer said the current weight equipment is 13 years old and the manufacturer is no longer in business, making finding replacement parts challenging.
The hotel/motel funds will work along side a $32,500 Iowa West Foundation grant the YMCA received to not only upgrade equipment but also install new flooring and possibly lighting.
“This is going to compliment the new people coming in and is also going to help the Y in terms of sustainability with current members and the health and wellness and rehabilitation programs to make Red Oak a good place to live and come and tour,” Zimmer said.
Finally, the City of Red Oak and the Chamber and Industry Association will receive around $7,300 for an overhaul of the joint website.
“I think everyone will agree, the webpage is the first place people from outside the community will go to look and see what the community has done and how well it presents itself and what it’s like,” Association Executive Director Paul Griffin said. “Our current website, though, leaves quite a bit to be desired.”
Griffin said they are working with a company that specializes in civic websites, and it will be easier to maintain and update than the current site. The webpage will be up and running in four-six months.