The time is now for anyone considering submitting a grant application to the Festus Tourism Commission for its next round of grant approvals.
The deadline is noon May 1; the commission will hold its next funding meeting May 11.
While commission members are happy to continue funding established events, newcomers also are welcome, said Pat Parsons, the commission chair.
“We’re always looking for new events that will have an impact to bring people into the city of Festus – to bring people to the hotels, to come eat at the restaurants, to shop in the shops,” Parsons said.
Michelle Vaughn, the city of Festus finance director and the Festus Tourism Commission treasurer, said the commission is open to a pretty broad range of suggested activities or other funding requests.
She said the commission looks for “what draws people to Festus, where they’re staying in our hotels. The events don’t necessarily need to be held in Festus.”
For example, Josh Carroll received a $20,000 grant from the commission on behalf the I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely for the auto racing venue’s 2026 World of Outlaws events during the commission’s last round of grant awards in November 2025.
“Like the raceway or Spotlight Community Theatre,” Vaughn said.
Courtney Wisely has received commission grants for her Spotlight Community Theatre, a theater troupe based in Festus that puts on shows not only in the city of Festus, but at venues in other parts of the county.
Like Parsons, Vaughn said commission members welcome fresh ideas.
“I think they’re always looking for new things to draw a crowd,” she said.
She pointed to the city of Festus Mardi Gras Pet Parade held for the first time Feb. 15 on Festus Main Street, which drew well.
“People love their animals,” Vaughn said. “I think that was a big hit.”
Rhonda Gerstner, a commission member, said any grant applicant should keep in mind that the idea is to draw people to town.
“We want to help people bring outsiders into our community to show off our community, but also to spend money in our community,” Gerstner said. “We want to bring them in and make them want to come back.”
The commission funds its grants with revenue from a 5 percent hotel-motel tax charged when people stay at the city’s hotels or motels. The commission typically awards grants twice a year.
The application for Festus Tourism Commission grants may be found by visiting the city’s website at festusmo.gov, selecting “Forms” selecting “Tourism,” then selecting “Tourism Funding Application.”
For more information, contact Vaughn at michelle@festusmo.gov.
It should be noted that the grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, so if a recipient does not use all or any of its grant award, the funds stay with the commission, Vaughn said.
Commission seats open soon
For Parsons and former Festus Mayor Mike Cage, the May grant funding round will be their last as their terms end on the Festus Tourism Commission, Vaughn said.
“Pat and Mike will be off the commission in July,” she said.
The current commission consists of Parsons, Cage, Gerstner, Jeff Adams and Michelle Hohmeier.
Information about the commission also may be found on the city of Festus website.