A&P spring funding requests total over $232,000

A&P Commissioners Hannah Withers (left) and Ching Mong (center) speak with Jeannette Balleza, director of The ARK Startup Accelerator Challenge inside the Fayetteville Town Center on Monday.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

The spring 2014 Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission funding requests are in and organizers are seeking a total of $232,414 for 16 planned events or projects.

That’s $25,000 less than the average amount requested each spring over the last four years, but it’s nearly $150,000 more than the commission has to divvy up this time around.

Spring A&P funding awards

 RequestedAwardedMore info
2013$261,861$161,950Full story
2012$294,345$159,200Full story
2011$157,385$61,800Full story
2010$284,869$149,292Full story

Source: Staff report

The A&P distributes its leftover funds twice each year to organizers requesting financial assistance for events and projects planned in Fayetteville.

Marilyn Heifner, A&P executive director, said commissioners will have $85,770 to distribute using excess funds from the commission’s 2013 budget.

Commissioners met with event organizers to discuss their requests during a special meeting held Monday inside the Fayetteville Town Center. The group will meet next month to decide how to divide up the money.

Listed below are the groups requesting funds and a brief description of each event or project. We’ve also uploaded a copy of the full packet of funding requests, which is available here.

Spring 2014 funding requests

  1. ARK Challenge$28,000
    ARK Challenge, a mentorship-driven accelerator program for tech startups, is seeking $28,000 for a an accelerator program for tech start-ups and a mentor camp to be held later this year. The group plans to use the money for travel and airfare costs, as well as event space rental, food and other accommodations.
  2. Banff Mountain Film Festival$3,500
    The Community/Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour has requested $3,500 for the 2014 festival, set for Sept. 12-13 at the UA Global Campus auditorium on the Fayetteville square. The group plans to use the money for a marketing budget which includes posters, radio advertising and a website.
  3. Hero Half Marathon$19,000
    The Fayetteville Firefighters’ Association, IAFF – Local 2866 would like $19,000 for the Hero Half Marathon and 1 Mile run, set for Oct. 18 on the city’s trail system. The group plans to use the money toward marketing costs like flyers, signage, stickers, office supplies, website development, t-shirts, and various media advertisements.
  4. Hispanic Heritage Festival$15,000
    The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce is seeking $15,000 for the 2014 Northwest Arkansas Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrating the culture and history of Hispanic Arkansans, set for Oct. 4-5 at Mae Farm, adjacent to Lake Fayetteville. Chamber officials plan to use the money to purchase ads in NWA Media newspapers, Ashby St. Outdoor Billboards, Fly-N-Hog Media, the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, and Facebook.
  5. Ozark Highlands Trail Map$5,000
    Ozark Highlands Trail Association has requested $5,000 to pay for 25 percent of the estimated costs of development, printing, and distribution of the first in a series of a four waterproof/tear-proof maps of the Ozark Highlands Trail, a 256-mile route through parts of seven counties in northwest Arkansas, from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the White River near Mountain View.
  6. Ozark Regional Transit Map$7,900
    The Ozark Regional Transit Authority would like $7,900 to help publish maps and create table tents advertising available local transit routes.
  7. Artists’ Laboratory Theatre$8,514
    Artist’s Laboratory Theatre is seeking $8,514 to support expected marketing costs for the upcoming season, including a fundraising event scheduled for sometime in September.
  8. Fayetteville Half Marathon$20,000
    All Sports Productions has requested $20,000 to help fund and promote the 2014 Fayetteville Half Marathon, set for Nov. 9 in Fayetteville. The group plans to use the money for advertising media production costs, vendor expos, email campaigns, and ads placed in printed and web publications.
  9. Hooten’s Kickoff Classic$10,000
    Hooten Publishing, Inc. would like $10,000 to help promote the 2014 Hooten’s Kickoff Classic, set for Sept. 1 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The group plans to use the money to promote the event in the participating teams’ towns.
  10. Last Night Fayetteville$16,000
    Last Night Fayetteville, Inc is seeking $16,000 to help fund and promote the 2014 Last Night Fayetteville event, set for Dec. 31 on the Fayetteville downtown square. The group has requested $7,000 for use of the Town Center, $5,000 for a fireworks show, $2,000 for a professionally produced video PSA, and $2,000 to help print advertising materials.
  11. Lights of the Ozarks$15,000
    Fayetteville Parks and Recreation has requested $15,000 to help operate the 2014 Lights of the Ozarks display on the downtown square from Nov. 21 to Dec. 31. The money would go toward the purchase of new LED light strands for the festival.
  12. Little Craft Show$24,500
    The Little Craft Show would like $24,500 to help expand the fourth annual show to include a Friday night VIP event the evening before the Dec. 6 craft show. The request includes $7,000 for two days rent at the Town Center and $17,500 for website design, banners, street signs, print media, event tickets, postcards, tote bags, posters, and a promotional video.
  13. Offshoot Film Fest$17,500
    The Seedling Film Association is seeking $17,500 for the 2014 Offshoot Film Fest, set for Oct. 2-5 at the UA Global Campus on the downtown square. The request includes $7,000 for advertising and promotion, $2,000 for use of the Town Center, and $8,500 for travel and housing expenses for visiting filmmakers.
  14. Oktoberfest$20,000
    Dickson Street Merchants Association, Inc. has requested $20,000 for the 2014 Oktoberfest event, set for Oct. 4 in the Walton Arts Center parking lot. Organizers plan to use the money to help cover expenses for tents, toilets, sinks, fencing, security, police, electricians, maintenance, tables, chairs, stage, sound, advertising and promotion, supplies, cleanup, staff, and a kids zone.
  15. Puppets in the Park$7,000
    The Art Experience, Inc. would like $7,000 to help fund and promote the 2014 Puppets in the Park event on Oct. 18 at Wilson Park. Organizers plan to use the money to: place TV, radio, magazine and online advertisements; buy materials such as coffee mugs,stationary, magnets, and key rings; print programs, posters and postcards; pay for transportation and storage of puppets; and to pay commissions to performers and workshop leaders.
  16. Theatre Squared Gala for Education$15,000
    TheatreSquared is seeking $15,000 for its 2014 Gala for Education event, set for November at the Town Center in Fayetteville. The request includes use of the Town Center, performer booking, catering and decor for the high-profile event, which raises money for theater-related educational outreach programs for Arkansas students.