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Middleton tourism meeting approves room-subsidy for national nutrition-support conference
Summary
Members approved a hotel-room subsidy — $10 per room up to $6,000 — for the Ollie Foundation’s 2026 national conference after the foundation requested $30,000 for marketing and AV support; the group will require a post-event report and verified Middleton room-block counts.
Members at a Middleton tourism meeting approved a room-subsidy to help bring a national nutrition-support conference to the city.
Kathy Harrington, representing the Ollie Foundation, asked the group for $30,000 to host a July 2026 conference at the Marriott, saying the foundation expects about 500 attendees and 566 overnight stays. "The overall event is 300,000. So our ask was, like, 10%," Harrington said, adding that grant funds would be used for marketing and audiovisual support.
Commissioners pressed on the AV line item and other costs. Staff and the applicant said the foundation will solicit corporate sponsorships, exhibit fees and attendee contributions. Harrington also said the foundation will charge attendees for the first time this year and will offer waivers for those who cannot afford the fee.
After discussion, Speaker 4 moved to award a $10-per-room subsidy to the conference, capped at $6,000; Speaker 2 seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The transcript shows staff will send an award letter with post-event reporting requirements, including the number of attendees, clinicians and actualized Middleton overnight room stays; only rooms within an official Middleton room block will count toward the subsidy.
The board and applicant also discussed promotional opportunities at the conference, including placing local flyers in attendee bags and inviting a representative to speak at the welcome reception. Staff said they will follow up with the applicant to finalize logistics and the formal award paperwork.
Next steps: staff will issue the award letter, collect the post-event report after the conference and verify Middleton room-block counts before finalizing any additional subsidy amounts.
