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Board approves $24,000 special-event grant for Cleveland Street Market’s Cinco de Mayo
Summary
The Downtown Development Board awarded Cleveland Street Market up to $24,000 in grant funding to support a free Cinco de Mayo event on May 5, with staff noting vendor collaboration and street closure costs.
The Downtown Development Board voted unanimously March 3 to award Cleveland Street Market up to $24,000 in grant funding for a Cinco de Mayo event planned for May 5 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place near the Cleveland Street Market and is expected to draw between 800 and 1,500 attendees, applicant representatives said.
What the board approved: Staff recommended and the board approved up to $24,000 in DDB grant funds to cover eligible marketing, entertainment and insurance costs. The applicant reported a $30,000 event budget and said it will cover $6,000 of the costs; city event fees—estimated by Parks and Recreation at $6,325—remain the applicant’s responsibility.
Applicant presentation: Vicky Shire, CRD division manager, summarized the request and noted the applicant’s submitted budget and expected attendance. Applicant representatives identified themselves as Dania (regional manager) and Alex (head of marketing) for the Cleveland Street Market. They described free admission, live entertainment (mariachi, DJ, performers), family activities and a marketing push that the applicant said would reach local residents including the nearby Nolan Apartments.
Board questions and public comment: Board members pressed about street-closure costs—estimated at roughly $6,300—and whether closing the street was essential for safety and vendor tent space. The applicant said staff recommendations supported a limited closure in front of the market to provide a safer vendor area and space for tents.
Merchants and board members also questioned whether promotional activities such as influencer collaborations and photography could be covered by vendors benefiting from the event rather than by DDB funds. The applicant responded that they see the event as a downtown activation and said they had been working with the Downtown Merchant Association and local vendors, offering vendors the option to participate without a vendor fee and asking them to contribute samples or demonstrations instead.
Outcome: The board approved the funding request by motion; no recorded dissents were noted. Board members asked that photography and videography represent the downtown district broadly, not only the event.
Ending: Applicant representatives thanked the board and invited board members to attend the May 5 event.
