Two second-year events were awarded hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds by the Snyder Chamber of Commerce board of directors Monday night.
The Holly Days Bazaar, which will be held Oct. 18-19 at The Coliseum, received $2,500 while the Tom Butler Memorial Bronc Riding event, set for Oct. 19 at the rodeo grounds on Gary Brewer Road, received $5,000.
Holly Days Bazaar organizer Trina Upshaw requested $5,200, but directors voted to award $2,500, which covers all advertising costs.
“I think we should cover the cost of advertising because that is what draws people here,” said board member Kirsta Koennecke.
Upshaw told the board that the majority of the vendors are from out-of-town and at least 20 of the 32 are expected to stay in a Snyder hotel/motel this year. She also will include a registration card for visitors that will include the question, “Are you staying in a Snyder hotel/motel.”
Upshaw said her event will compete with a Petticoats on the Prairie event in Lubbock the same weekend.
Bronc riding promoter Caleb Edwards said the event’s board of directors recently voted to make Snyder the permanent home. He told the board all of the advertising will include the phrase, “Please support this event by staying in a Snyder hotel.”
Board member Dr. Jason Cave said this event is different from other rodeo events in that competitors will not bring stock and most will stay in hotels.
Edwards said many Snyder hotels offered rodeo rates for the night, something he plans to promote to competitors. He said he plans to keep track of hotel stays in Snyder during the weekend to provide the board better information next year.
Chamber President/CEO Linda Molina shared comments about HOT funds raised during a recent Snyder City Council meeting. Local business owner Mitch Hickman, during the Aug. 5 city council meeting, suggested that out-of-county expenditures of HOT funds be brought before the council for public discussion and council approval.
Molina said the chamber’s awarding of HOT funds to the Coyote Store in Gail was legal because people stayed in Snyder hotels for past concerts. Molina also told the chamber board that Texas Hotel and Lodging Association General Counsel Justin Bragiel said it was OK to award funds to the Borden County store.
“State law does not specify that the recipient of hotel tax revenue funds be physically located in the same city or county as where the hotel taxes are collected. State law does require that every hotel tax revenue expenditure directly promote tourism and hotel activity, and that the expenditure fit within one of the appropriate categories of the Tax Code,” Braigel’s email stated.
Board member Jeff Knowles said the chamber previously awarded funds outside of Snyder. Two motocross events in Borden County received funding as did the Save Second Base festival when it was held at the Coyote Store.
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