“Importantly, upon receiving these requests, it is the government entity’s role to assess and determine if that opportunity is a good fit for the community’s goals and priorities or not.” “It is not uncommon for a for-profit organization to ask for government sponsorship,” she said. Tracy Kocher, newly promoted president and CEO of Travel Butler County, told the Journal-News requests like this one are not unusual. It’s a festival for four days, these the SPARK grant those businesses are here for a long time, we want to retain them here.”

“This is for out-of-town, this music festival. “These are township small businesses, we’re trying to help them,” Wong said. Wong told the Journal-News there is a big difference between giving outsiders a sizeable donation for a one-time event and investing in township businesses. “We did that with the grant, the SPARK grant, because that’s $114,000 we just gave to 18 businesses. “Guess what? The gate’s already wide open,” Welch said. Welch said the township just gave $114,000 to 18 businesses as part of the new SPARK small business revitalization program. with the investment of their money benefit?” “My criteria, whenever I look at anything that’s brought to us, is how do the taxpayers benefit,” Becker said. Trustee Ann Becker agreed, asking, “When does it end, who else are we going to sponsor next?” “I cannot allow taxpayers’ money to be spent on a private, for-profit event.” Explore ‘If they tell you 20,000 people are coming to this event, plan on 30,000′: West Chester prepares for large festival “This is totally out of line to ask this kind of support,” Wong said. He said the request “blows my mind” and the township would be going “down a slippery slope” with the contribution. Trustee Lee Wong noted three-day passes for the event range from $199 to $1,509.

Wogenstahl apparently met with each of the trustees separately to discuss the proposal, and the other two are vehemently opposed to the idea. “We don’t need to do this out of the generosity of our hearts,” Welch said.

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