Keith County Fair Board approves $9,500 grant and promotes Kites and Castles event

The Keith County Board of Commissioners meeting on June 2, 2025, focused on several grant requests aimed at promoting local events and tourism. The board approved two significant grants, totaling $16,250, to support community initiatives.

The first grant, amounting to $9,500, was awarded to the Keith County Fair Board to enhance advertising efforts for the upcoming fair. Board members discussed the importance of evaluating past advertising strategies from 2023, 2024, and the current year to determine their effectiveness in attracting visitors.

The second grant, requested by the Keith County Chamber for the Kites and Castles event, sought $3,750 from a total budget of $5,300. The funds will be used for promotional activities, including radio ads and social media campaigns, with the goal of reaching potential attendees well in advance of the event scheduled for July 26. The board emphasized the need for early advertising to maximize attendance.

Additionally, the chamber requested a third grant of $12,000 for the Indian Sunday Summer Rendezvous, which has a total project budget of $49,640. This funding will support a comprehensive advertising strategy across various media platforms, ensuring that promotional materials are distributed by July 4, ahead of the busy summer season.

In other discussions, the board explored the potential for utilizing streaming services for advertising, noting the effectiveness of geolocation technology in targeting local audiences. The meeting also highlighted the success of recent promotional efforts, including a significant increase in lodging tax revenue, attributed to improved tourism initiatives.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to enhancing community events and attracting visitors to Keith County, with plans for continued marketing efforts and collaboration with local businesses.