The deadline has passed to submit funding proposals to the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission to help promote events and attractions that are scheduled for 2024.
The deadline to submit RFPs was Dec. 29.
A&P commissioners issued a reminder that they will hold a regular meeting a week from today to review the proposals and allow applicants the opportunity to provide additional information or comments and answer any questions that may arise about the RFPs.
Commissioners advised applicants to attend the meeting, which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
The meeting will be the A&P commission's first regular meeting of the year and the first as a part of the commission's new regular meeting schedule.
Last November, commissioners revised their regular meeting schedule to 1:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every other month, starting in January.
Commissioners are also expected to discuss their proposed 2024 budget, having agreed to set the budget before considering RFPs.
An ad hoc committee -- which includes commissioners Dianne Hammond, Kelli Harrison and Alan Meadows -- was formed in the fall to launch budget preparations.
In the 2023 budget, the A&P commission approved a total budget of $565,250, $366,445 of which was set aside for RFPs that were submitted by several groups, including El Dorado Festivals and Events/MAD; Lions Club Municipal Golf Course; Main Street El Dorado; the Mayhaw Festival; Mr. Mike's Productions; the South Arkansas Arts Center; South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra; Murphy USA Classic; Downtown Business Association; The Diamond Agency; and the SouthArk Outdoor Expo.
The A&P commission will reconvene for a specially-called meeting on Jan. 24 to approve and announce funding awards.
Commissioners advised groups who receive funding to comply with the applicable guidelines and criteria, which include presenting a post-event/evaluation report to the A&P commission -- a guideline to which many groups do not adhere, commissioners said.
The guidelines appear on the funding applications.