A&P focuses on festival funding

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The city Advertising and Promotion Commission on Thursday allocated funds to help pay for this year’s Mardi Gras celebration and declined to hear a request for Sparks in the Park funding.

Because HealthCARE Express is a new sponsor of

Mardi Gras, the Commission agreed to hear its request for 2020 funding during Thursday’s regular quarterly meeting. The Commission’s annual allocation takes place each October, but it can agree to hear requests for funding at other times if there are circumstances beyond the applicant’s control.

The Commission voted unanimously to give HealthCARE Express $6,250 it had allocated to Townsquare Media for Mardi Gras in October.

In November, the city announced that Townsquare will no longer sponsor either Railfest or Mardi Gras. Earlier this month, local businesses Precision

Roll Grinders, HealthCARE Express and Texarkana Radio announced they would sponsor Mardi Gras festivities Feb. 22 downtown.

Townsquare representative Andi Darby asked whether any of the funds the company previously was awarded for Railfest and Mardi Gras could be reallocated to help pay for Sparks in the Park, Texarkana’s annual Independence Day celebration, which Townsquare organizes.

According to Commission bylaws, because it turned down Townsquare’s request for Sparks in the Park funding in October, it could not hear a second request Thursday.

“I think your only option at this point is, like you said, just pray you find a lot of sponsors,” Commission Chairperson Linda Teeters told Darby.

The Commission in October allocated $10,000 to the city Parks and Recreation Department to help pay for a fireworks show at Sparks in the Park.

The Commission also refused to hear a new funding request from Runnin WJ Ranch, an equine therapy nonprofit, because it did not have an audited financial report.

In other business, attorney Josh Potter briefed the Commission on action taken against restaurants that have failed to remit the A&P taxes they have collected. The Commission levies a 2% restaurant tax and a 3% hotel tax and allocates the revenue to local events and organizations to support Texarkana tourism.

Mike Sells of Little Rock marketing firm Sells Agency reviewed the Commission’s social media and other marketing efforts.

The Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for April 16.