Latest news with #DaveShepherd
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington gets $125K provincial grant for ‘the largest free music festival in Canada'
Burlington's Sound of Music Festival will receive $125,000 from Ontario's Ministry of Tourism Culture and Gaming. The financial injection doesn't end there, as City of Burlington staff recommend a loan of up to $225,000 for this year's event, set to go June 12 to 15 . The loan would be in addition to an already planned $150,00 city grant to the festival. Sound of Music board chair Dave Shepherd said the provincial grant from the Experience Ontario 2025 program helps 'keep the festival moving forward as the largest free music festival in Canada.' Shepherd said grant funding is typically used for general festival operations — including permits, down payments for artists, and insurance. 'There are so many fixed costs that are not often thought of, that we need to pay for before the festival happens,' he said. Shepherd said the anticipated provincial grant was included in the Sound of Music's draft budget for this year. He said the festival also recently applied for Heritage Canada grant funding, for next year's event. An official announcement of the $125,000 provincial tourism grant from Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre's office states $20 million is being invested in festivals and events across Ontario to help organizers 'draw visitors to stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses.' Pierre stated in a press release that supporting the Sound of Music Festival means investing in national, provincial and local talent, boosting tourism and strengthening community pride. In a report to the May 12 committee of the whole meeting, staff state the city provided $415,000 in aid to the Sound of Music last year, including a $125,000 loan. 'Despite efforts to stay financially sustainable, challenges persist in maintaining a large-scale free event,' the report states. Late last year, a private donor provided $200,000 to the city , which was applied to the festival's debt owed to the city — reducing it to $20,000. 'Due to the need to cover entertainment and supplier contract expenses in advance of the event, the (festival board) is requesting a loan of $225,000 from the city,' the staff report states. '(The festival) has agreed to repay the loan following the festival, including the small remaining balance of $20,000 from prior 2024 debt.' The recommended $225,000 loan is in addition to a previously planned $150,000 grant from the city for this year's event. Earlier this year, the festival and city signed an agreement stating debt remaining after this year's festival must be paid back by Sept. 1, 2025 and festival organizers must submit a business plan for the 2026 festival by June 1 this year. For more information and entertainment schedules visit the Sound of Music website .
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Extra funding released to allow completion of Darley Street Market
COUNCIL bosses have released extra funding for the delayed Darley Street Market scheme – although the extra cost was not revealed in public. Bradford Council's Executive agreed to the extra funding for the market, which had recently been budgeted at £31m, at a meeting on Tuesday. But details of the extra money were discussed in a section of the meeting where public and press were excluded, with the Council arguing the publication of the extra costs could prejudice the Council's ability to get the best financial deal for the work. During the meeting, it was revealed that the market's food court is fully let, and would be a 'new offer' for the city centre. Dave Shepherd, Director of Place, said: 'The traders will be the life and soul of the market, they are enthusiastic moving across and we're in communication with them about their individual requirements.' He said the costs for the fit-out were proving to be higher than originally budgeted, and urged the Executive to release money from a 'contingency fund' to help finish off the development. Angela Blake, director. Economic. Development and Housing, said while the market building was completed in June, and the food court was almost completed – and all tenants now signed up – the two market floors still needed to be fitted out. Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: 'This is a really exciting project. It is disappointing news that it needs extra funding to get it over the line, but I recognise everyone is working round the clock to get this done. 'We don't take putting papers in a private section of the meeting lightly – we feel transparency and accountability are key. 'The food court will be a new offer for the city centre, and the market square will be a fantastic asset. 'Other buildings on Darley Street are being refurbished and regenerated because of this scheme, and the Loading Bay (a new arts hub on Piccadilly) is opening soon, so it has facilitated a lot of regeneration already. We need this to move forward, it is the right project for Bradford.' The press and public were then asked to leave the meeting. The Executive approved the extra funding. Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservatives on Bradford Council, told the Telegraph & Argus that in the private session of the meeting she questioned why there were different timescales for the fitting out of different floors. She added: 'Existing market stall holders are raising issues of continual reduction in existing footfall and the delays in moving that is really impacting on their businesses. 'Delay after delay and uncertainty is making life very difficult for existing stallholders and I asked about support for them. 'I also raised other markets, in particular Keighley Market, and how many stall holders feel forgotten about and abandoned by the Council who only want to focus on Darley Street.'
