The Monona Tourism Commission on a voice vote approved the full grant request from MG Sings, the Monona Grove High School vocal-music booster group, to support its regional show-choir competition and related activities.

Commissioners and staff said the decision followed a staff presentation of the commission’s current fund balance and questions from commissioners about expected hotel stays and event finances.

Director Neil Houdegger presented the fund balance and said the commission’s “total available for this year is currently 57,600.” Jennifer Krug, president of MG Sings, described the event and its recovery since COVID: “my name is Jennifer Krug, and I'm the president of, MG Sings, which is the vocal music booster group at Monona Grove High School. We support, the show choir program as well as the high school musical.” Commissioners asked for specifics on recent participation and economic impacts; Krug said the group had about 22 signed groups for the coming event and that pre-COVID levels were returning.

Commissioners questioned program line items and revenue assumptions. One commissioner noted the judges’ fees and concessions figures on MG Sings’ budget and asked whether concessions revenues were being used to offset costs; Krug said concessions last year generated about $24,000 and that the requested grant would cover hard costs and promotional expenses the group would otherwise have to absorb. The applicant acknowledged a possible operating shortfall if ticketing or attendance did not meet projections and said the grant would help reduce that risk.

On a motion to fund the application at the full amount requested, commissioners voted in favor; the meeting minutes record a voice vote and the chair stated, “Motion passes.” The record does not list individual roll-call votes. Staff said a grant agreement would be forwarded to the applicant in the coming weeks.

The commission also noted this level of funding may not be available in the same amount next year given projected budget constraints and asked applicants to be prepared for smaller awards in future cycles.

Notes: The applicant referenced last year’s commission funding as “like, dollars 29,060.” The commission’s staff had previously reported an estimated next fiscal-year collection of about $400,000.