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Council renews contingent $200,000 pledge as local match for READI 2.0 grant application
Summary
Matt Barnett asked the council to renew a contingent $200,000 pledge (split $100,000 each) to support Circus City Festival and Circus Hall of Fame as a local match for a READI 2.0 arts and culture grant; council voted 7-0 to renew the contingent pledge. Application due April 15; award anticipated July 1.
Matt Barnett, speaking for Circus City Festival, Inc. and the Circus Hall of Fame, asked the Miami County Council on March 17 to renew a contingent local-match pledge of $200,000 as part of a READI 2.0 arts and culture grant application funded by the Lilly Endowment.
Barnett described project uses including a museum/annex with year-round wagon displays, interactive exhibits (with an EVO partner), and barn revitalization following wind damage. The council confirmed the pledge would be contingent on any grant award and that no immediate county appropriation was authorized. The motion to renew the contingent pledge (to be split evenly $100,000/$100,000 between the Festival and the Hall) was moved by Councilman Fruth, seconded by Councilwoman Chittum, and passed unanimously 7-0. The grant application window is open with a due date of April 15 and an anticipated award notice on July 1.
The council noted the festival sells roughly 10,000 tickets annually and that regional arts plans identified the projects as high-impact for tourism, information Barnett provided to justify the local-match request.
