Emery County Travel Board approves 10 event sponsorships; staff highlights youth and local events

The Emery County Travel Board voted to approve sponsorships for 10 events submitted during the last month, according to Event Coordinator Amanda Leonard. The board approved the slate in one vote after Leonard explained the application process and recommended funding levels; the motion to approve was made by Tifnie Hansen and seconded by Larry Johansen.

The board also approved funding of up to four hotel rooms for staff and partners to attend a Tourism Business Development Workshop in Kanab in April. Cathy Gardner moved to approve the rooms and Larry Johansen seconded the motion, which passed.

Leonard presented multiple program updates to the board. She awarded Patsy Stoddard Volunteer of the Month and said the office is printing table tents and gathering radio-ad quotes to guide marketing spend. Leonard described plans for a mountain bike race at the Swell Retreat tied to the county fair and said the Cowboy Memorial Rodeo will be an RMPRA-sanctioned event. She reported Millsite Off Ice maintained most entries despite the change to no ice this year.

Leonard also summarized the Junior Entrepreneurs program, which concluded this year with 31 youth-run businesses receiving a combined $13,000 in awards; Leonard said many participants built businesses aimed at visitors and will participate in upcoming local events.

In wrap-up reports, Robin Hunt said the Energized Expedition had 64 participants and 74 BBQ attendees and previewed upcoming events including the Bowline Festival, Green River Rocks, the Dirt Bike Rally and the Watermelon Crawl in early May. The board did not take further formal action on the event planning items at this meeting.

Next steps: staff will finalize sponsorship agreements with event organizers and proceed with workshop registrations for approved attendees.