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Coldwater DDA tables festival and farmers-market sponsorships; advances two Main grant finalists
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Summary
The DDA tabled requests for event sponsorships, including a $1,000 request for a Hispanic Heritage festival and a farmers market request, and announced two local Main grant applicants — Glow Studio and Cafe de Caro — moved to the state review stage.
The Downtown Development Authority on April 22 heard funding requests from local event organizers, but deferred final decisions until the DDA’s May meeting to allow budget review.
Carmen Cardenas, representing the Coldwater Hispanic Heritage Coalition, described the group’s planned festival, Colores, Sabores y Ritmos, scheduled Sept. 12, and requested a $1,000 DDA sponsorship to expand live performances and support visiting vendors. ‘‘Last year the DDA did a great job helping us market the event,’’ Cardenas said; she told the board last year drew about 400 attendees.
The farmers market manager, Kim Cole, asked the board to consider a donation to support Saturday markets that staff estimated draw 600–800 visitors weekly through the season (9 a.m.–1 p.m.) and run between Strawberry Fest and Apple Fest. Board members noted staff records indicated the DDA donated $1,000 last year while the packet listed a $1,500 request this year; the board moved to table the farmers-market sponsorship until next month to confirm amounts and fit with the draft budget.
In other business the DDA announced two local applicants — Glow Studio and Cafe de Caro — were picked to advance from the local review to the state Main Street grant round; the state will select one awardee from those finalists.
Both event-sponsorship requests were tabled so the board could consider them in the context of the draft 2026–27 budget at the May meeting.
The DDA adjourned after hearing no further public comment.
