Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montgomery EDC OKs up to one-third reimbursement, not to exceed $5,000, for downtown Mardi Gras event
Summary
The Montgomery Economic Development Corporation voted Jan. 29 to approve a reimbursement-style grant—up to one-third of documented event costs, not to exceed $5,000—to support a downtown Mardi Gras event planned for March 1, 2025. Applicants must submit receipts for reimbursement.
The Montgomery Economic Development Corporation on Jan. 29 approved a reimbursement-style grant to help fund a downtown Mardi Gras special event scheduled for March 1, 2025, voting to award up to one-third of the event’s documented costs but not to exceed $5,000.
The decision came after merchants who plan to stage the event described a daytime, family-oriented celebration that would include a five-piece traditional New Orleans–style jazz band, on-site crawfish frying and food vendors. Michelle (owner of Bar and Vines) said the intent is to “bring a sense of community” to the historic downtown and to increase foot traffic for small businesses. She added that the event is “family friendly” and that crawfish vendors will “boil on-site.”
Why it matters: The vote authorizes EDC funds to be reimbursed after the event upon submission of receipts. That structure matters because the application and receipts arrived late in the posting cycle; EDC members said the reimbursement approach lets organizers proceed quickly while still applying the EDC’s usual project-cost review.
Board discussion and conditions The board and staff clarified how the EDC normally frames these awards: the application language the packet cites says EDC grants are “typically awarded one-third of project cost up to $5,000.” Carol Langley explained that in practice the EDC funds roughly a third of the verified project expenses and that applicants must provide receipts for reimbursement.
Event organizers presented a budget and asked for $1,200 in reimbursement to cover entertainment and security; staff and board members discussed the usual formula and how the March event could be folded into a larger multi-event application next year. Board members asked organizers to (a) secure liability coverage naming the city as an additional insured and (b) route any required use of Jacob’s parking lot through city council, which staff agreed to place on the council agenda for the March date.
Votes at a glance - Approval of regular meeting minutes (Dec. 17, 2024): motion to approve carried (motion by Carol Langley; second by Casey Olson). - Approval — Downtown Mardi Gras special event grant (March 1, 2025): motion carried; award up to one-third of documented expenses, not to exceed $5,000, reimbursement after receipt submission (motion by Casey Olson; second by Dan Walker). - Motion to adjourn: carried (motion by Ryan Lundin; second by Carol Langley).
Quotes "It's family friendly," Michelle said, describing the planned programming. "It says typically grants are awarded one third of our project cost up to $5,000," Carol Langley said while explaining the EDC's usual funding formula.
What the vote does and what happens next The EDC vote authorizes the grant in principle; final payment will be calculated after organizers submit itemized receipts from the event. Staff will place the Jacob’s parking-lot use on the city council agenda for approval of that particular site closure on March 1. Organizers were told to provide proof of insurance adding the city as additional insured prior to reimbursement.
Ending Organizers left the meeting with the board’s approval in hand and with follow-up steps: collect and submit receipts for reimbursement, secure insurance documentation naming the city as additional insured, and obtain council approval for use of Jacob’s parking lot on the event date.
