Tourism Authority Grants $47,000 to Local Organizations

By Rachel Dahl —  The Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority Board met January 15, 2019 in their regularly scheduled meeting and reviewed several grant applications from local organizations. Board members Kelly Frost and Jay Bhakta granted a total of $47,000 to six local community groups in support of events those groups host in Fallon that attract visitors to the community. Valerie Serpa, Executive Director of the Churchill Arts Council made a presentation to the Board regarding her application for the Oats Park Core Programs for 2019. She discussed upcoming shows and performances, and the importance of the Arts Center to the community. The Board approved unanimously a grant of $12,000. The Fallon High School Rodeo organization, including coach Monica Jensen and Rodeo Club President Leta Ikonen made a presentation to the Board, asking for support of the Fallon rodeo scheduled for April 8th. There will be 125 contestants attending, 70 of whom will be from out of town and will bring along with them parents and siblings. The Board approved a grant in the amount of $2,500. Motor Sport Safety Incorporated applied for a grant and was represented by Jim Setterberg, Treasurer, who spoke about the Top Gun racing season and their grant request. In addition to the regular racing season that begins in April, Top Gun will host a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) open event, drawing Division 7 racers from across the west. Their grant request was approved in the amount of $10,000. David Stix, Jr. made a request on behalf of the Nevada Cattleman’s Association for the annual All Breeds Bull Sale that has been held in Fallon for the past 53 years. The Board approved a $2,500 grant request for the event that draws over 1,000 people during the weekend to the bull sale, trade show, dog trials, Cattlemen’s Board meeting, and the Cowbells dinner and dance. Rattlesnake Raceway President Chris Lumsden discussed the 2019 racing season during his request for grant funding. The race season runs from March to October and the circuit includes five tracks from Elko, Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, and Lovelock in addition to the Fallon track. Their grant request was approved for $10,000 for season promotion. Lumsden also represented the Lahontan Auto Racing Associations in a request for funding to promote Octane Fest 2019, an event that boasts activities throughout the community including a monster truck show, a car show, and races at the Top Gun drag strip. The request was approved for $10,000. Grant funding is made available to organizations to promote events that will draw people to the community, filling hotel rooms and restaurants and driving retail sales. The funding is provided by room tax revenue and must be used for advertising. Jane Moon, Director of Tourism and Special Events for the City of Fallon, also reported at the meeting that the Nevada tourism office is working to attract more visitors to rural communities by creating day trips into rural areas from Reno, and longer road trips from Las Vegas across the state. Tourism officials are also focusing, along with Reno and Las Vegas, on developing both domestic and international flights that will bring more visitors to our state. Moon discussed the new Tourism Means More video that was created by the State Tourism office and will be presented to the new legislature as part of the Tourism report. Several rural communities were featured in the long version of the commercial which can be seen at this link: https://youtu.be/Da4FAuiESb8 According to Moon the State Tourism convention, the Rural Roundup, will be held in Fallon this year on April 10-12th. Many local venues will be utilized for the convention including Western Nevada College, the Convention Center, and the Oats Park Arts Center. Moon said all the tourism experts in the state will be staying in our local hotels during the conference.