Mitchell authority approves grants for Tour de Corn and Palace City 8‑ball tournament

The Mitchell Sports and Events Authority on Wednesday voted to award event grants to two local organizers after presentations and a brief executive session.

Emily Houghton, of the Palisade Peddlers board, asked the authority for support for Tour de Corn, which she said drew roughly 320 participants last year from states including Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. After a motion by Jason and a second by Jim, the authority approved a $2,500 grant for the event. "I think we had 320 participants," Houghton said, and she described a consolidated Saturday of activities at the Corn Palace green space, plus Friday night family programming.

Jen Raymond, representing Palace City pool promotions, and Corey Ditter said their third annual Palace City 8‑ball tournament will run Oct. 2–4 at the Highland Conference Center and that the largest expenses are the venue and pool table rentals. Raymond told the board the organizers requested $5,000 and that the SEA awarded them $4,000 last year. The authority approved a motion to grant $4,000 (motion by Kevin, second by Dave); the chair announced the motion "passes for 4." Raymond said last year the event produced about 56 hotel room nights and that organizers expect that number to be similar or higher this year.

The votes followed a staff financial briefing and an executive session; the board returned to the public meeting to take the funding actions. The authority did not provide a roll‑call tally for the Tour de Corn vote in the record beyond the chair's announcement that the request "passes." The Palace City award was recorded as passing with four in favor.

The board set its next meeting for Aug. 11. Funding disbursement timing and any reporting requirements were not specified during the public session.