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Tourism board reports revenue gains; Main Street Business Alliance debriefs Fourth of July events
Summary
Afton's tourism representative reported rising tourism revenue, a reduced vendor-fee share for the town website contractor and a $20,000 state special assessment. The Main Street Business Alliance reported parade logistics, cone/barricade shortages and plans for signage and beautification.
The Afton Town Council received a tourism-board update July 9 and a report from the Main Street Business Alliance on parade logistics and downtown events.
Don, speaking for the tourism board, said tourism receipts are up and that a third-party vendor that manages the town website and social-media presence (Relic) is now consuming a smaller portion of the tourism budget (reported by the board as down from roughly one-third to about one-sixth). Don also said the town received a $20,000 special assessment from the state to support tourism activities.
Council members and Main Street Business Alliance Chair Amber Hyde reviewed the Freedom Festival and parade-day operations. Hyde said the downtown events drew larger crowds, that limited cones and barricades constrained the ability to hold intersections closed longer, and that volunteers/staffing were stretched. She asked the council and dispatch to coordinate timing better with the fire chief to keep roads closed longer for safety and said the Alliance wants to pursue enhanced signage and a —5—2lights—6—7 parade next year.
The Business Alliance proposed creating a paid business section on a new welcome sign to support Alliance activities and offer a modest revenue stream; council members asked staff to coordinate permit and placement details. Amber said the Alliance will work with the town to plan signage improvements for the Welcome to Afton sign and other beautification projects.
