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WCIC Meets-Grants HLCC $2,000

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Wood County Industrial Commission
$2K grant to HL CofC for 2nd year;
Lake Fork fishing $26.5K
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session Thursday, October 1 at Jarvis Christian College the board of the Wood County Industrial Commission (WCIC) approved $10,000 in local in grants for local promotional activities, including $2,000 to the Holly Lake Chamber of Commerce. The WCIC board also approved $23,000 in grant funds for six fishing tournaments to be held at Lake Fork and a year-round "largest fish" promotion by the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce.
Hawkins Oil Festival, long a staple on the grant list for many years, did not receive funding in the highly competitive for WCIC support. A total of 16 applications were submitted to the WCIC Promotions Committee this year and eight received funding.
The Promotions Committee recommendations were adopted as presented in a split vote of approval after a motion to reject the report was defeated by a vote of the board as a whole.
In announcing their selections the committee said, "Projects which have received funding in the past were evaluated regarding their success in attracting overnight visitors to Wood County and the economic impact that resulted from WCIC investment in their project. Survey data is important in determining the merits of the project for funding support." WCIC Executive Director Gary McKinley advised board members "New projects are required to present a good business plan and marketing strategy for bringing overnight visitors to Wood County."
Funding comes from the hotel/motel tax receipts from hospitality businesses in Wood County. The projects selected for funding in fiscal 2010 included Lake Fork Chamber at $3,500, Holly Lake Chamber at $2000, Golden Sweet Potato Festival at $1,000, Autumn Trails at $850, Lake Country Antique Tractor Association at $800, Mineola Chamber of Commerce at 750, and Lake Country Playhouse and Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce both at $500.
Lake Fork Fishing Tournaments receiving funding from WCIC include McDonald's Big Bass Splash at $7,000; Skeeter Boat Owners' Tournament at $5,000; Legend of the Lake Fork Tournament at $5,000; Bass Champs Tournament at $3,000; Lake Fork Sportsmen Association Catfish Classic at $2,000 and LFSA Crappie Tournament at $1,000.
As a part of his monthly report, Executive Director Gary McKinley reported 28 new tax permit application were processed for businesses in Wood County for the month of September 2009 compared with 28 in September 2008. Mineola had 10 new applications while Winnsboro had seven. Hawkins had one and Holly Lake none.
The Mineola Economic Development Team will be holding an information seminar at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 at City Hall. There will be presentations from state and local agencies concerning available resources for new businesses and businesses expanding. For reservations: 903 569-6138 or 569-2087.
McKinley also announced the "State of the Lake" report will be presented by Texas Parks & Wildlife officials in February.
The next meeting of the Wood County Industrial Commission is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2009, at 7 p.m.

 

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