Santa Rosa board names panelists to review event support funding applications

The Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area Board voted to appoint two board members to the selection panel that will review applications for event support funding for the Jan. 1–June 30 grant period.

Art and culture coordinator Meredith Knudson told the board that applications opened Aug. 1 and close Sept. 30; as of the meeting staff had received 12 applications and planned to circulate application materials for virtual review the week after the deadline. Staff reported a digital outreach effort that reached more than 18,000 people and generated about 22,000 views, with ads targeted to event managers in Reno, Los Angeles, Seattle, Sacramento County and the Bay Area.

Knudson described the selection process: approximately 10 days of virtual scoring, followed by a one‑to‑two hour in‑person meeting in mid‑ to late‑October to finalize recommendations for allocation; a special board meeting would notify applicants of funding decisions. Knudson said she has tentatively held Oct. 15 and 16 for in‑person deliberations.

The board nominated Board member Anderson and Board member Sweet as the two selection panelists and the motion was recorded as passing. The board’s goal is to return a recommended allocation to the SRTBIA at a subsequent special meeting so staff may notify applicants for the January–June grant period.

Meredith said the outreach effort was intended to raise awareness among event planners outside the immediate area and to attract destination events. The board directed staff to proceed with the described virtual review and an in‑person selection meeting in October.