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Tourism commission approves $20,000 major-event grant for downtown holiday festival
Summary
The West Bend City Tourism Commission voted to award a $20,000 major-event grant to the Downtown West Bend Association for a late-season holiday festival presented with the Noon Rotary; commissioners pressed the applicant on sponsorship commitments and logistics before approving the award.
The West Bend City Tourism Commission voted Tuesday to award a $20,000 major-event grant to the Downtown West Bend Association for a late-season holiday festival that would tie into the city’s holiday parade and tree-lighting events.
The commission approved the award after a presentation by Phil, a Downtown West Bend Association representative, and a brief question-and-answer period about sponsorship commitments, site utilities and vendor plans. The grant vote followed a closed-session break; commissioners then reconvened and approved the full $20,000 recommendation.
The grant application described a late-season, family-friendly German-themed market to be held along Sixth Avenue, concluding at Old Settlers Park. Phil said the Downtown Association is partnering with the West Bend Noon Rotary and had approximately $17,000 in sponsor commitments identified, including about $10,000 already pledged through the Rotary and a bridal foundation. He said remaining sponsor funds would be sought before major expenditures.
During discussion, commissioners asked whether the applicant had reviewed tent or fence locations with the fire department and whether utilities at Old Settlers Park would support the event. Phil said the event team had not yet reviewed the site with the fire department and that temporary power panels would likely be required at the Bandshell. Commissioners also discussed cross-marketing with Sunrise Rotary events and vendor recruitment through German cultural clubs.
The commission expressed support for the event’s modest attendance projections and for locating the event on Sixth Avenue to connect to downtown holiday programming. A motion to award the requested $20,000 carried; the transcript records vocal approval but does not list individual roll-call tallies.
The commission’s award decision does not commit the city to fund infrastructure beyond the grant; commissioners asked staff to monitor sponsor receipts and logistics as the event planning proceeds.
Votes at a glance - Major-event grant to Downtown West Bend Association: approved; amount $20,000; sponsor commitments reported ~ $17,000 (about $10,000 committed). Vote: aye (unanimous vocal approval recorded; no roll-call tally in the transcript).
