Festus Tourism Commission members awarded 13 grants totaling $165,850 in its latest round of grant-giving.
The commission typically awards grants twice a year, and it received requests for $240,800 in funding for the most recent round.
Earlier, the commission awarded $178,340 in August. For that round, the commission had received requests for $334,650.
All those who got grants in the latest round had received funding from the commission at least once before.
“They were all familiar names that have put on successful events for the city in the past,” said Pat Parsons, the commission chairwoman.
Parsons said newcomers are welcome to submit applications, though.
Funding for the grants comes from revenue generated by the city’s 5 percent hotel-motel tax.
In fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021), the city’s hotel-motel tax generated $251,000, Festus finance director Stephanie Cunningham said, and the commission had a balance of about $339,000 before the new grants were awarded.
The Tourism Commission grants are only paid after events are held or purchases are made, with grant recipients reimbursed for their expenses. Any grant funds not spent remain with the commission.
The other members of the five-member Tourism Commission include Melody Yesberg, Rhonda Gerstner, Rick Fischer and Mike Cage.
Below is a list of the grants the commission awarded in December.
■ $30,000 to Kirk Mooney on behalf of the Twin City Days committee for Twin City Days expenses. The annual three-day event is held the second week of September.
■ Barb Lowry, Festus recreation and tourism, received three grants – $21,000 for the 2022 WinterFest to be held on Dec. 3; $15,000 for the Sundays at Sunset concert series scheduled for September-October; and $12,850 for the Blues & Funk Festival set for July 31.
■ $20,000 to Sharon Floyd on behalf of the Jefferson County Tourism Commission to promote countywide tourism efforts.
■ Robert Bruns received two $10,000 grants for Advanced Performance Football Camps to be held in early April and in December.
■ $12,000 to Denny Foster, co-owner of the Main & Mill Brewing Co. bar and restaurant, 240 E. Main St., Festus, for the seventh annual Street Fest set for Oct. 8 on Main Street.
■ $10,000 to Andy Held for the Bottleneck Bridge Ride cycling event that is scheduled for Aug. 21 and will start on Main Street in Festus and proceed to wineries and then end back at the starting point.
■ $10,000 to Ray Marler for Ironman 55 – World of Outlaws set for Aug. 5-6 at the Federated Auto Parts Raceway in Pevely.
■ $7,000 to Dan Luck, a co-owner of Four Brothers Mead, 124 E. Main St., for its April 23 Sigurblot event, a Viking festival that will include a reenactment of Viking battles group and other activities.
■ $7,000 to George Portz to promote the fiddle champion’s Traditional Music Festival set for Sept. 24-25 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park.
■ $1,000 to Debbie Schumaker for the BB (Bryan Brennan) 5K Walk-Run sponsored by the Twin City Area Junior Optimist Club.
The event is set for Oct. 22 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park. The event raises money for suicide awareness and prevention.