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Council authorizes $50,000 FY25 funds transfer to Carbondale Business Development Corporation for downtown events
Summary
Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a funding agreement with the Carbondale Business Development Corporation (CBDC) to transfer $50,000 of unspent FY2025 tourism/special-events funds to support city-funded downtown events in FY2026.
The City of Carbondale on April 10 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a funding agreement with the Carbondale Business Development Corporation (CBDC) to accept and administer $50,000 in unspent FY2025 tourism and special-events funds for use in FY2026.
Staff explained that projected budget cuts required moving some event-support activity off the city operating budget; unused funds from FY2025 tourism were identified as a source to preserve several planned, free downtown events. The CBDC, a long-standing nonprofit economic-development corporation that is led by a board of directors and staffed by the city s economic-development director, would administer the funds and execute event-related contracts. Staff said the city has invested in downtown entertainment programming since 2017 and that those events have attracted tens of thousands of attendees and produced estimated economic impacts.
Councilmember Kilman moved approval; Councilmember Hill seconded. In roll call, Councilmember Killman and Councilmember Hill voted yes, Councilmember Maxwell voted no and Mayor Harvey voted yes. The motion passed.
Public commenters expressed support for a creative funding mechanism that leverages business and nonprofit coordination to sustain downtown events. Staff said the transfer uses existing, unspent FY2025 funds and does not represent a new appropriation from the FY2026 operating budget.
The funding agreement directs CBDC to administer the funds for planned FY2026 events, including the Off the Rails concert series and planned Halloween programming; staff said the partnership is intended to maintain continuity of free public entertainment and downtown foot traffic while the city balances departmental budgets.
