County Tourism Commission To Offer Grant for New Product Development
Posted
Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
The Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission soon will offer a grant to organizations in the county creating new products.
Kosciusko County Visitors Bureau Director Mary Kittrell told the commission, Thursday, she expects to be ready to award the first round of the product development grants in January or February 2008."The purpose is to assist entities that are looking at creating a new product or expanding a product that the CVB can help promote," Kittrell said.
Only not-for-profit organizations will be eligible for the grant and, Kittrell said the grant is not for new festivals or once-a-year events.
"They actually have to be creating something that the CVB can promote year-round or most of the year," she said. "We're not looking for something seasonal."
Kittrell said the Greenways Trail is an example of an entity which could apply for a product development grant for expansion of their product.
The minimum annual budget for the grant will be $50,000. The grant includes a 25 percent match which must be paid by the applicant. Commission member David Taylor asked if the match amount could be flexible for organizations in smaller towns. "I think there should be some latitude for places like Sidney, Silver Lake and Claypool," Taylor said.
Kittrell said the percentage of the match cannot be changed, but the match can be paid in in-kind services as well as cash.
Kittrell said she expects the grant to encourage an increase in new products to draw people from other counties to visit Kosciusko County.
"Really there are plenty of opportunities," Kittrell said. "Once we make this available, there might be ideas and opportunities we didn't even know people were thinking about."
In other news:
n City County Athletic Complex Director Karl Swihart reported to the board that CCAC is making more money than last year.
"Things are going very well out there," Swihart said. "Our profit is 100 percent better than last year."
Swihart said the complex makes about $250 per week from its batting cages. He said the popularity of softball tournaments held at CCAC is presenting a challenge. "We don't have enough fields for all the teams who want to play in the tournaments," Swihart said.
He said the CCAC board is considering building two new softball fields on the current rugby field. Swihart said the rugby field is used 10 times each year and brings in about $500-$1,000 per year. Swihart said he feels the softball fields would bring in more money.
n Kittrell told the commission the CVB advertising committee is planning a U.S. 30 directory to feature businesses located along the highway. Kittrell said he first edition of he directory will be available early in 2008.
n County auditor Sue Ann Mitchell told the commission, this year, they have collected $19,000 more in room taxes from local hotels than last year.
