EDA amends sponsorship policy, approves $5,000 Goochland Day sponsorship

The Goochland County Economic Development Authority voted to amend its sponsorship policy and to provide a $5,000 sponsorship to Goochland Day after a prolonged discussion over policy limits and competing sponsorship requests.

Kathy Johnson, president of the Goochland Chamber and Community Foundation, presented the festival plan and requested a gold sponsorship level. “What we’re asking the EDA to consider is a gold sponsorship. It’s a $5,000 commitment,” Johnson said, outlining zones, volunteer coordination and an expected festival day attendance in the thousands.

Members debated whether the request exceeded an existing policy cap (which staff indicated had been $2,500 per application and a $10,000 annual sponsorship budget). Several members urged caution about committing a large share of the year’s sponsorship funds early, while others framed the event as tourism and local-business promotion whose return justifies the outlay.

The board first considered substitute and amendment motions (including a $2,500 substitute). The EDA subsequently voted to amend its sponsorship policy to allow higher per-application awards and then approved the $5,000 sponsorship; the chair announced the final recorded result as 3–2 in favor. Members also directed staff to ensure the chamber provides sponsorship-level details to the EDA staff (Nora) for record-keeping and to confirm last year’s arrangements.

The EDA’s packet and policy note the body’s sponsorship cap and an annual aggregate budget; members said they will track remaining funds and consider the timing of further sponsorship requests.

Next steps: staff will record the policy amendment and sponsorship in the EDA’s records and confirm public-notice and accounting steps for the award.