FAYETTEVILLE — A new beer festival and an established motorcycle rally are among 16 groups seeking money from the Advertising and Promotion Commission this spring.
The commission typically awards money to festival organizers and nonprofit groups twice each year to help promote events that are expected to bring tourists to town.
Commissioners have often favored first-time events that need seed money to get started, or events sure to generate hotel, motel and restaurant taxes.
The commission receives the bulk of its revenue each year from half of the city’s 2 percent tax on hotel stays and food purchases in restaurants. The Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department receives the other half of the tax.
This spring’s requests total $261,861. Marilyn Heifner, the commission’s executive director, said commissioners will have $188,462 to distribute using excess revenue from the organization’s 2012 budget.
The commission gave $159,200 to 18 groups in spring 2012 and $61,800 to 10 groups in spring 2011.
Evan McDonald, one of six investors planning to open the Apple Blossom Brewing Co. on Zion Road this summer, requested $15,000 to help launch a festival celebrating Arkansas beer.
The Battle of the Beers is tentatively scheduled Oct. 5 at Veterans Memorial Park. Advertising and Promotion money would go toward promotional materials, such as T-shirts, mugs, stickers, posters and advertising, according to organizers’ application to the commission.
“What we’re trying to do is a new kind of festival,” McDonald said. “The idea is to determine the best beer in the state, both professionally and home brewed.”
An independent judging panel would rate all submissions, and tastings would be available to the general public. McDonald said the festival would draw visitors from throughout Arkansas and could have the long-lasting effect of introducing outsiders to Northwest Arkansas’ growing number of microbreweries.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ, which brings thousands of motorcyclists to Northwest Arkansas each year, requested $23,661 to pay for an economic impact study by the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic Research.
Joe Giles, Bikes, Blues & BBQ’s executive director, said the motorcycle rally’s last study, in 2005, estimated a $35 million to $50 million impact statewide.
Updated numbers are needed for companies interested in sponsoring the event, Giles said.
“They require an enormous amount of data from us to make an educated decision,” he said.
“Basically, it’s been eight years,” Giles said. “It’s not like we’re asking for taxpayer money every year. We feel like this particular grant is an investment in the rally and an investment in economy of the entire region.”
Commissioners are scheduled to consider the special funding requests May 13.
By The Numbers
Special Funding Requests
Sixteen groups requested $261,861 from the Advertising and Promotion Commission this spring. Marilyn Heifner, the commission’s executive director, said the organization has $188,462 to give.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Texas League All-Star Game Gala
June 24
$2,000
Little Craft Show
Independent Craft Show
Dec. 7
$3,700
University of Arkansas
Regional Flag Football Tournament
Oct. 25-27
$6,000
The Art Experience Inc.
Puppetry Workshop
Oct. 5
$7,000
University of Arkansas
NCAA Baseball Regionals and Super Regionals
May 30-June 2/June 7-9
$10,000
Fayetteville School District
Bulldog Classic Basketball Tournament
Dec. 5-7
$12,500
Battle of the Beers
Arkansas Beer Exhibition
Oct. 5
$15,000
TheatreSquared
Gala for Education
November
$15,000
Arkansas Entertainers Walk of Fame
Bronze Plaques and Induction Ceremony
N/A
$15,000
Fayetteville Half Marathon
Half Marathon
Dec. 14-15
$20,000
Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center
Merry Little Christmas Event
Dec. 7-Jan. 5
$20,000
Last Night Fayetteville
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Dec. 31-Jan. 1
$22,000
Bikes, Blues & BBQ
Economic Impact Study
Sept. 18-21
$23,661
City of Fayetteville
Lights of the Ozarks
Nov. 23-Dec. 31
$25,000
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
Season Partnership
N/A
$25,000
Fayetteville Roots Festival
Music, Food and Cultural Festival
Aug. 22-25
$40,000
Total
$261,861
Source: Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission