Val Droge of the Pacific Partnership delivered a quarterly update at the Aug. 5 meeting highlighting downtown events, volunteer efforts and small grant activity.
Droge said volunteers had installed sod at Pacific Station Plaza and were keeping it watered. She told aldermen the Route 66 car show attracted 510 cars from five states and 38 vendors, generated about 500 volunteer hours for the committee and had no major emergency incidents. She said the group distributed 50 cases of water and 500 cooling towels during the event.
On funding, Droge said quarter‑to‑date support included $8,000 from the city and $32,000 in car-show expenses. She said the car show’s net revenue after expenses was roughly $14,000 (her treasurer keeps exact figures). Droge said the group had awarded $21,000 in college scholarships for car-related industries and donated smaller amounts to local organizations, including $2,000 to PHS Cheer and $1,500 to Amvets, and $700 to the Merrimack Valley Birch Foundation for community support.
The Pacific Partnership has applied for grants to buy plaza furniture and has opened facade grant applications for downtown businesses. Droge said volunteers had accumulated about 500 hours in the quarter that the IRS values at roughly $17,000.
Mayor Filley and aldermen thanked Droge; no council action was requested. The Partnership will continue volunteer-led cleanup work and plans to return to the council with grant or project requests if funding or approvals are required.