Council to Discuss Community Promotions on Tuesday

Casper City Council will discuss which organizations made the cut for community promotions funding during a regular work session on Tuesday.

Councilors have spent the last two weeks reviewing 36 applications from organizations requesting funds and the use of facilities to help put on certain events in Casper.

Mayor Kenyne Schlager said not all of the organizations on her list made it to the second round.

“There were quite a few, when judging the criteria of whether or not they brought people to the community of Casper from the outside, that did not make that requirement,” Schlager said.

During the first round, councilors evaluated each event's potential to bring visitors and economic development to Casper. Councilors also considered whether each event would utilize city facilities and how each event would benefit Casper and its residents.

Schlager said councilors will figure out how much and what type of aid each organization will receive from the city in the second round.

“The next step will be to discuss whether they need in-kind services, a donation, or city facilities,” Schlager said. “That’s where we’ll then have each council member go back and evaluate what amount they think is fair and what services are fair to provide.”

The city has set aside up to $150,000 for community promotions for the 2014 fiscal year.

Organizations requesting funding:

- The 12-24 Club is requesting funding for its Sober St. Patrick’s Day, Race for Recovery, Recovery Rally and First Night Casper events.
- An organization is requesting money for an academic awards banquet.
- The Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming is requesting funds for its summer camp next year.
- The Casper Amateur Hockey Club is asking for funds to offset costs associated with its upcoming hockey season.
- Casper Children’s Chorale is asking for funds for various community performances. Additionally, the Casper Civic Chorale is asking for funds for its 2013-2014 concert season.
- The Casper Downtown Development Authority is asking for funds for a downtown banner program.
- The Casper Figure Skating Club is asking for money to put on its 2013 holiday show.
- Casper Marathon is asking for money to help put on its annual marathon event.
- The Casper Museum is asking for funds so it can produce a program called “Museum Minute” for The Brian Scott Show on KTWO-AM.
- The Casper Soccer Club is asking for funds for its Casper Fall Classic, Casper Spring Jamboree and Rocky Mountain Indoor Cup events.
- The Central Wyoming Fair Association is asking for funds for the Downtown Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival and next year’s Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo.
- The Community Recreation Foundation is asking for funds for a crafts fair.
- The Downtown Casper Business Association is asking for funds to help put on its annual Christmas parade and the Downtown Hot Air Balloon Festival.
- The Mercer Family Resource Center is asking for funds for the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force, its Youth Empowerment Council and its family day event.
- Nicolaysen Art Museum is asking for funds for the 2014 Nic Fest and Wednesday Night Live events.
- Serve Wyoming is asking for funds for fall and spring volunteer guides.
- Special Olympics Wyoming is asking for funds for its winter games event, next year’s fall tournament, the Jackalope Jump and the G. Michael Perry Softball Tournament.
- Stage III Community Theater is asking for funds for the Middle Platte Renaissance Festival.
- Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps is asking for funds for its annual dodgeball tournament.
- The Wyoming Fiddlers Association is asking for money to help put on the Rocky Mountain Regional Fiddlers Championship, a music festival and the Artisans’ Fair.
- The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra is asking for money for its upcoming concert season.