By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
At its Nov. 26 meeting, the Branson Board of Aldermen might set a record for the number of requests for funding from the city’s Tourism Tax Contingency Fund (the fund) ever handled at one meeting. The board will consider two new requests and give its initial approval to another. The total amount involved with all three requests is $119,000.
The two new requests total $65,000. The National Center for Presidential Studies, doing business as the “American Presidents Museum” is requesting $50,000 for the “American Presidents” exhibit scheduled for March 4 through April 30, 2008.The second request is from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB requesting $15,000 to hold the Billboard World Song Contest Show and Awards Presentation in Branson during March or April of 2008.
The American Presidents Museum (the museum) has been selected to host the traveling exhibit “American Presidents,” a one of a kind exhibit show featuring panels with original oil paintings of each President, from George Washington through George W. Bush, and support materials provided by the White House Historical Society. The exhibit has been traveling the country since 1999, has been in the state of Missouri twice, at the Presidential debates in St Louis 2000 and 2004, and has been displayed in Presidential Libraries, state Historical Museums, and the US Capitol Rotunda.
The funding request states that the exhibit is nationally recognized and was created by C-SPAN cable television network and the White House Historical Society. Although a one time event, the museum estimates that the exhibit will bring over 30,000 visitors to Branson specifically to view it.
The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB (the chamber) is submitting its request for $15,000 to be used to host the “Billboard World Song Contest and Presentation” (the contest) to be held in Branson during March or April of 2008. The event has the endorsement of Billboard Magazine and highlights new and rising young talent in the songwriting field. The contest has been staged at various locations over the past 15 years, and the chamber hopes to make Branson its permanent location.
The contest features 15 different musical categories with songwriters competing for the title of “Best New Song” in each category. The chamber believes that the contest would attract songwriters, music industry leaders and performers from across the country. They also point out that the contest could be a way of elevating Branson’s status within the music industry.
At its Nov. 12 meeting, after two public meetings on the issue, the board directed that an ordinance and contract be drawn up providing for the funding of Christmas decorations in connection with Ozark Mountain Christmas. The ordinance, to be presented at the Nov. 26 meeting for its first reading, provides for the expenditure of $54,000 for Christmas decorations, $25,000 for the Branson Area Festival of Lights drive through and $29,000 for labor and materials for the rewiring, renovating and installation of Branson Area Festival of Lights stars. It also provides that the total amount “shall be made available to the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce who shall administer the project.”
Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.
