|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Danville Town Council is set Tuesday to consider proposed changes to the town’s longstanding Business Promotion Fund grants to accommodate proposals for smaller collaborative events, as well as those put forth by individual businesses.
Town staff are proposing that the policy guiding the grant program shift to allow small grants to be used “for proportionate events” and for the promotion of individual businesses, as well as decreasing the amount available for some larger events.
“This change would necessitate an update to the policy, to allow for scalable approval of grants commensurate with their impact to Town resources and amount requested,” wrote Jenn Starnes, communications and economic development manager, in a staff report for the upcoming meeting.
The town’s business promotion grants program currently provides funding for “creative and collaborative events” developed by local businesses, specifically those that the town considers to be “advantageous to a broad range” of local businesses, that it expects “to yield the greatest level of direct and immediate results,” and foster collaboration between local businesses.
According to Starnes’ staff report, local businesses have shifted away from larger collaborative events in recent years.
“They have shown interest in collaborating with neighboring businesses for smaller promotional events, especially Downtown,” Starnes said. “Owners also expressed the need for direct funding to promote their business, which would not be permitted under existing policy.”
Under the proposed changes, funding of up to $200 would be available for marketing for individual businesses. Meanwhile, the maximum funding for events with two to four businesses would be reduced from $1,500 to a proposed $800 to $1,000. The maximum for events with between five and 10 participating businesses – currently $2,500 – would be reduced to between $1,500 and $2,500.
A reduction is also proposed for the maximum funding for events with 10 or more participating businesses, from $3,500 to somewhere between $2,500 and $3,500. There are other factors at play for those larger events, including funding for an event trolley – which is set to remain at a cap of $1,000 under the proposed update – for a town facility rental, which is also set to remain at its current cap of $500. The proposal would increase the maximum amount for catering for larger events from $250 to $500.
“The proposed modifications are intended to encourage more smaller events that will bring both residents and new customers into Town,” Starnes wrote. “Smaller, more intimate events tend to attract attendees who are already engaged with one or more businesses and are more manageable for a business owner to host. Overall, the proposed modifications aim to support a wider variety and greater number of events throughout the year.”
The Danville Town Council is set to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 18). The agenda is available here.
