HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.01.2022 Press Release_ Explore Butte County Now Accepting Applications for the Special Event Grant Program
From:McAfee-Bowersox, Miranda
Subject:Press Release: Explore Butte County Now Accepting Applications for the Special Event Grant Program
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 3:53:53 PM
Attachments:image001.png
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2022
CONTACT
Carolyn Denero, CEO
Explore Butte County
209.298.2956
EXPLORE BUTTE COUNTY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE
SPECIAL EVENT GRANT PROGRAM
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Starting August 1, 2022, Explore Butte County will begin accepting applications
for $65K in microgrants available to assist eligible local events and event organizers negatively impacted
by the COVID-19 pandemic. Allocated by the Butte County Board of Supervisors, Explore Butte County
has been selected to distribute these American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through a lottery system
with applications being accepted until August 31, 2022. The amount of microgrant awards can range
between a minimum of $1K to a maximum of $5K for a single event.
Bill Connelly, Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors, says, “We are acutely aware how
significantly community events have been impacted by the pandemic. Whether events were cancelled, lost
sponsorships, or had low attendance, event organizers are still recovering losses in revenue due to
COVID-19. We are pleased to allocate ARPA funds toward special event recovery. We know many of
these events are hosted by non-profits and other organizations that rely solely on event revenue. We are
confident these grants will help cherished special events thrive for years to come.”
“Live, in-person events infuse vitality, help define a region, and are an important draw for tourists and
residents alike,” said Explore Butte County’s Carolyn Denero. “We’re grateful to the Butte County Board of
Supervisors for allocating ARPA funds for this purpose, and we’re honored to support the distribution of
this one-time Special Event Support Grant Program. We are proud to do our part to uplift the region and
continue to position Butte County as a must-visit, must-discover Northern California destination.”
Interested event organizers must submit an application before the deadline and meet the following criteria:
The event must be open to the public.
The event must be publicly noticed/advertised.
The event must demonstrate financial need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events must have three or more years of history in Butte County to be eligible for grant awards.
Events are eligible for application if they have been in existence with public attendance for at least 3
years. Cancelled events do not count toward event history, and event years do not have to be
sequential. Event history may be demonstrated with three years of ticket history or sponsorship
sales records, or other means that confirm the event was held and open to the public.
The event headquarters must be located in Butte County.
Grant funds may only be used for event expenses (e.g. advertising expenses, cost of rentals,
registration software expenses, etc.) and may not be used to show profit.
Applicants must provide a topline event budget and detailed plan for how the grant will be spent.
Application can be for either an annual event or a recurring/serial event, as long as the history
criteria is met.
Limit of one (1) application per event organizer, no matter how many events they plan or host.
Some exclusions apply. For a complete list of rules, eligibility, and exclusions and/or to apply, please visit
www.ExploreButteCounty.com/grant. Applications can be submitted online or mailed to Explore Butte
County, P.O. Box 2154, Chico, CA 95927.
Once chosen via a lottery system, Butte County Special Event Support Grant award recipients will be
notified by September 16 and grant funds will be distributed by October 15. All grant funds must be spent
by award recipients by December 31, 2023.
For general information about Explore Butte County and suggested places to visit, shop, dine and/or
recreate, please visit www.explorebuttecounty.com
or follow on social media – Facebook at
www.facebook.com/explorebutteca and @ExploreButteCountyCA on Instagram and @ExploreButteCA on
Twitter. Also, a comprehensive and downloadable travel guide (beneficial for locals, too) is available at
www.explorebuttecounty.com/more/visitor-guide.
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Miranda Bowersox
Communications/Public Information Officer
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Oroville C
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