The Snyder Chamber of Commerce HOT (Hotel Occupancy Tax) Fund committee Monday heard five requests for financial assistance from organizers who will hold events in the next few months.
The first request was for $10,000 from Bruce Stewart, who is organizing the annual Snyder Bike Rally at The Coliseum on Oct. 4-6. Stewart is requesting the funds to help pay for advertising and other expenses related to the event.
Stewart said he is expanding the event and, by dropping the admission charge, he hopes to bring in even more people to the event this year.
“We’re getting a little bit bigger each year,” Stewart said. “All in all, we’re offering three days of fun for people, and now we’re dropping the price. This year should be different. We should have more people staying in motels.”
Becky Justice of the Coyote Store in Gail is requesting $7,000 to help with advertising and other expenses related to three musical acts coming to the store this fall.
Although the events will be held in Gail, Justice said Snyder businesses would benefit from the concerts.
“We push all of our visitors to Snyder,” Justice said. “Lamesa only has one hotel and the hotels here have gone above and beyond for us in the past, offering us special rates, and there’s more eating places here for people to go to than anyone else in this area.”
David Holt approached the committee to request $1,500 to help for advertising costs for the Snyder High School Hall of Honor luncheon scheduled for Sept. 20.
“We’re asking for the money to help with advertising. Hopefully, that will get more people to come to the event,” Holt said.
Three honorees, who have not yet been announced, will be featured at the luncheon. No venue for the event has yet been announced, although the ceremony has been held at Martha Ann Woman’s Club in the past.
Matt McCormick and Barbara Leatherwood, organizers of the annual Bob O’Day Golf Tournament, asked for $2,500 from the committee.
Last year, almost 80 people, including competitors, attended the event and Leatherwood is hopeful even more will attend the two-day tournament scheduled for Aug. 24-25.
“Last year was the first time we tried to make the tournament an event, rather than just a one-day golf tournament,” she said. “We’re adjusting our schedule so as to encourage everyone to stay a second night here, as well.”
The final request was for $5,000 from the chamber of commerce to help with expenses for the White Buffalo Days, scheduled for Oct. 4-5.
The committee asked the public, including the newspaper representative, to leave while members discussed the amounts they would recommend be granted. Those recommendations will be voted on when the full chamber board meets on Jan. 24.
The meeting agenda did not include any mention of a closed session.
Image
Body