Committee approves Hooked on the Bayou sponsorship packet, sets sponsor levels and marketing timeline

Port Richey — The Port Richey City events committee voted to approve the sponsorship packet for the Hooked on the Bayou Seafood Festival, scheduled for March 14 at Waterfront Park, and set a schedule for marketing and sponsor recognition. The motion to approve the packet and for staff to make editorial fixes passed by voice vote.

Committee members said the packet will be used to recruit presenting and supporting sponsors, with proposed tiers including a presenting level at $10,000, a Pearl level at $5,000, a Clambassador level at $2,500, a Bayou Business Booster level at $1,000, a Shoreline sponsor at $500 and a $100-plus donor category. Staff reported that several vendors were already registered for the festival and that the packet and main flyer will be circulated to solicit more sponsors and vendors.

Committee members discussed whether to limit category exclusivity for certain sponsor types (for example, allowing only one auto dealer at the top level) and agreed the city should retain flexibility if multiple, noncompeting businesses offer the same level. The committee also set a practical deadline to collect sponsor artwork and order banners: roughly March 1, to allow two weeks for production before the March 14 event.

The committee directed staff to finalize the sponsorship packet with the agreed edits and to prepare a banner design for approval at the next meeting. Staff also said the packet will be posted on the city website and used to create an event page once the packet is approved.

The committee approved the packet by voice vote without recorded individual tallies; the motion carried.