V. Hugh Lewis II
Jefferson Jimplecute
Two new events in Jefferson received $1,000 grants to help with advertising from the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau on Monday.
While the posted agenda did not mention exactly which events had requested funding, the Jefferson Lions Club and Friends of Jefferson Animals will receive the funding.
Jefferson Lions Club will be holding a Lucky 5k & Fun Run on Marth 18. Organizer Peggy Walker said that the Women of Jefferson Organization was not planning on doing their 5K this year and asked the Lions Club to take it over. Walker said Lions plan on making it an annual event with activities on both Friday and Saturday.
Friends of Jefferson Animals (FOJA) will also be receiving funds for the upcoming Woofstock benefit and music festival. The event is planned for May 13 and will include live music, vendors, food trucks, prizes, raffles, booths from FOJA and Animal Protection League, as well as a petting zoo. The event will also have “Buddy’s Run to the Rescue” 5K and kid’s fun run.
According to board vice president Pam Thomas, the events must create “heads in beds” to qualify for HOT funds, and both organizations indicated the events would, due to the early start times.
Board president Colleen Taylor said HOT funds were on track for the year with approximately $1,000 more in revenue collected from the same time last year. She also indicated expenses were at 15% of the budget, so they were on track. She said there were three properties delinquent in submitting HOT funds but they had been contacted.
Thomas also indicated the groups website grew 8% year over year, with the Dallas area seeing a 25% increase. She also indicated the City’s commercial received some airtime during the Super Bowl.
Bob Thomas presented an update on the “Windows into History” project saying that two of the windows had now been installed and the group still had about $14,000 in funding available for the next phase.
The group will meet again on March 13.