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Kosciusko County approves several tourism and community grants, including Wagon Wheel direct-mail campaign
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Summary
The commission approved multiple reimbursement grants at the meeting, including requests for local events, a farmers-market ad and a $34,000 direct-mail campaign for the Wagon Wheel theatre; commissioners emphasized receipts and vendor quotes before disbursement.
Kosciusko County commissioners approved several small-to-midsize grants at Wednesday's meeting for tourism and community events, authorizing funding for advertising, festival support and a direct-mail campaign for the Wagon Wheel theatre.
The commission approved a grant request from the World Compassion Network to support the Run for Hunger; organizer Sandy Hatcher said last year's registration was 262 and that radio and targeted social media advertising would expand out-of-county participation. Commissioners asked for vendor quotes and insisted on the commission's reimbursement process and supporting receipts.
Britney Dunney, market manager for the Winona Lake Farmers Market, asked for $500 to buy a season ad in Edible Michiana; commissioners approved the reimbursement grant and reminded Dunney to submit receipts through the Chamber's administration process.
The Wagon Wheel theatre requested $34,891 in the presentation packet to fund a targeted direct-mail campaign to Fort Wayne and South Bend; quotes were included with the proposal. During roll-call the approved figure in the meeting record appears as $34,008.91 in the motions and vote sequence (transcript contains both numbers). Commissioners recorded approval after asking for invoice-level documentation.
The Northwestern Lions Club requested advertising assistance for its 80th Mermaid Festival (advertising range discussed roughly $400'$2,500) and a Lions Club representative requested $6,000 to present a very large flag at FreedomFest; both reimbursements were approved by roll-call vote.
Every approved grant was handled as a reimbursement: commissioners repeatedly emphasized that invoices and receipts must be submitted before funds are released; staff noted they are considering policy changes to allow advances in specific cases but have not adopted any change.
What passed (summary): run-for-hunger advertising support (approved), Winona Lake Farmers Market $500 ad (approved), Wagon Wheel direct-mail campaign (approved; packet amount $34,891; meeting motion recorded $34,008.91), Mermaid Festival advertising assistance (approved), Lions Club flag reimbursement $6,000 (approved).
Next steps: each grantee must submit invoices and receipts for reimbursement; staff will validate expenditures against quotes and the grant paperwork before disbursing funds.
