subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Aug 27 2008 

Published: May 13, 2008 10:21 am    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Main Street granted $15K for powwow

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

The Corbin Tourism Commission will give $15,000 for a Native American powwow this summer after three of five voting commission members approved the measure.

The three-day competition powwow will be held at St. John’s Park on College Street and will include a kid’s day with demonstrations for school children, story tellers, authentic craft vendors and Native American dancers and musicians, with $22,150 paid out during the competition.

The commission’s vote stipulates that the Corbin Main Street Program will manage and be accountable for spending the $15,000.

The powwow is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-31, and organizers are hoping to secure a total of $37,000 to fund the event. Some of that money will be through entrance fees.

“If we have as much as $25,000 when the powwow opens, we’re in good shape,” said organizer Ken Phillips.

Before voting against funding the powwow, commission member Wes Tipton said he was concerned about the parking available for the thousands of people Phillips predicted would attend the event.

“My concern is paying $15,000 for a three-day event out there, because I don’t think there’s enough parking,” Tipton said.

Phillips said he felt he could park about 1,000 cars near the event grounds with permission to use adjacent business parking lots. Main Street Manager Sharae Myers, who spoke in support of the project, said the powwow would likely have more available parking than Nibroc, to which the tourism commission contributes $25,000 annually.

Commission member Sudhir Patel also expressed concern over the timing of the event. He said his hotel is already packed over Labor Day weekend and questioned whether the powwow would have an economic impact on a weekend that already brings in tourists.

But commission member Suzie Razmus said the event would impact other types of businesses. She said holiday visitors come to Laurel Lake and Cumberland Falls, “but are they really in the city limits of Corbin? I don’t think so. Here’s an opportunity to bring them downtown. Given our financial situation, I think we need to give it a chance.”

Later in the meeting, accountant Kyle Perkins reported that the commission’s net income for April 2008 was $11,700 — about $5,000 over the projected budget. For the fiscal year to date, the tourism commission has taken in $34,000 more in net income than originally budgeted. Perkins said the surplus comes from increased revenues in restaurant and transient room taxes, and a decrease in event sponsorships compared to budget.

“To me, this is a new experience, an educational opportunity,” added commission member Nick Greiwe about the powwow. “For at least one year, I’m in because it’s new and it’s different and we’re doing a combination of tourism and an educational experience.”

The measure passed with Razmus, Greiwe and Betty Comer approving, Tipton voting against and Patel abstaining.

The board also elected officers, with Razmus elected vice chair, Patel elected secretary, and Comer elected treasurer. The election means that Razmus will likely become the board’s chairperson when Steve McBurney’s term is expired.

Also during the meeting, Myers requested funding for flower planters along Main Street, but the board made no decision Monday. Myers also told the board that she had applied for a $50,000 grant through PRIDE and Keep America Beautiful to purchase trash cans and cigarette urns for downtown, and the Main Street Design Committee is working on a fundraiser to purchase downtown benches.

In other business:

• Herman Adams with Web site service provider Tier 3 said tourism’s new Web site at www.corbinky

tourism.com is up and running.

• The commission purchased a projector from Hamlin & Kersey for the Corbin Civic Center.

• The commission voted to allow Greiwe and Patel to find and purchase a second residential-grade freezer for the civic center.

• The commission denied a request for funding for the Corbin Middle School Science Olympiad team because it did not fall within state laws concerning tourism funding.



Samantha Swindler can be reached at sswindler@thetimestribune.com

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Part time Clerical
Part time Clerical
Position Available
Apply in Person @
Holston Gases
Williamsburg Ky.
...>MORE

Service Tech.
Service Tech. Needed, 2 yrs. experience required. Call Calvin Bunch 546-3131
1-800-280-6464
...>MORE

Welders
Progress Rail
Services

Welders
Corbin, KY area
Starting pay- $10.14 to $12.14 per hour
C
...>MORE

Motor Route Carriers
The Times- Tribune Seeks Motor Route Carriers for the following areas: Williamsburg- 3.5hrs $950 est. gross profit, Rock...>MORE

Truck Drivers
Truck Drivers or Owner Operators Needed. Vans or flat beds. and hot shots 2 yrs. experience preferred. 528-3308 or 528...>MORE

Hiring All Positions
New Medical office Now Hiring
All Positions
606-312-0703 or
606-524-0966
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Rentals & Sales

Houses for Rent
Houses for Rent
620-8770 or 528-4074 after 5pm
...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
3/BR 2/BA Double Wide in Knox County located in Poplar Grove Area in
Corbin, $4000dn, $595/mo 528-4043
or 5
...>MORE

Trailers for Rent
Trailers for Rent $350/mo $200
Deposit 528-4961
...>MORE

See all ads

Deal of The Day

Laught & Learn Daycare
Laugh & Learn Daycare, The place where kids want to be! Curriculum for all ages. Call 528-6607....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index