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Perry County board approves $1,000 to promote 2028 river commemoration, will revisit larger requests in budget talks
Summary
After public comments from Scenic Lincoln Way organizers, the Perry County Community Development Board approved a one-time $1,000 contribution for promotional materials and agreed to consider further funding during 2027 budget deliberations.
The Perry County Community Development Board voted to provide a one-time $1,000 promotional grant to support a planned 2028 river voyage and related historical interpretation, after hearing extended public comment from local organizers.
At a June meeting, public commenter Betty Cash told the board the river “spring market” event brought out-of-town vendors who stayed in local hotels and urged that the county include the event in its festival guide to boost visitation. Organizer Eddie Cash, speaking for Scenic Lincoln Way and Senior Flint Way, described preparations for a multi-day river trip culminating in 2028 and asked the board for monetary and in-kind support to promote and equip the effort.
Board members pressed organizers for clarity on how county funds would be used and questioned the long-term viability of the project given past controversies related to a train attraction. Organizers said they had provided travel and guest-state data and asserted prior successes, including that “22,000 people rode the train” in earlier seasons and that $60,000 in season-ticket revenue had been collected for past rides. Board members said they needed concrete budget, equipment, or pilot plans before committing substantial sums.
Rather than a multi-year pledge, the board approved a motion — made and seconded during the meeting — to offer $1,000 specifically for promotional materials and outreach tied to the river trip, with the condition that the board would revisit additional funding during 2027 budget discussions. The motion carried with no recorded opposition.
The decision directs staff to coordinate with organizers on how the funds will be spent on brochures, digital promotion and similar materials. Board members indicated they prefer restricted or report-backed funding for nonprofits in future requests and emphasized a desire to see a more detailed marketing plan or pilot metrics before committing larger amounts.
The board also told organizers it would continue to discuss logistics such as equipment needs and donor lists and that any larger appropriation would be addressed through the upcoming budget process.
