Newton Fest 2016 dates announced

Mark your calendars for the second weekend in June as Newton Fest is back after a successful first year. The new event, held for this first time last summer, will return in 2016, June 9 through 12, co-chair Nathan Unsworth announced to the Newton City Council on Monday.

“It was a great celebration of our community downtown and throughout really our whole community,” Unsworth said.

Unsworth began with a recap of events from the 2015 edition of Newton Fest, which brought more than 2,000 people to community. Some notable events during the weekend include ridiculous days with downtown businesses, safety day with the Newton Police Department and Newton Fire Department, the Iowa Sculpture Festival, Saturday evening entertainment, Newton Alumni weekend activities, historical presentations at the Jasper County Courthouse and new children’s activities in association with the sculpture festival.

Looking toward next summer, Unsworth said that goals have already been determined for the 2016 event. Among the goals are to grow attendance, expand activities to Sunday, add additional activities along North Second Avenue East to connect Sculpture Fest with downtown activities and expand volunteer opportunities.

Beyond next year, the Newton Fest planning committee hopes to bring a national act whether it be entertainment or an activity such as the Color Run. They hope, in time, that Newton Fest becomes a regional attraction and brings people to Newton from across the Midwest.

“We want to put Newton on the map with Newton Fest,” Unsworth said.

Also discussed during the meeting was stakeholder funding in the coming year. At a meeting on Nov. 23, four of the city’s stakeholders, the Newton Development Corporation, Newton Housing Development Corporation, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Newton Main Street presented to the council the work they have done during the past year and funding requests for the upcoming budget.

Discussion began with NDC, where the council agreed that additional funding requested for the corporation would be appropriate, citing the new cost of rent in the coming year. The breakdown of funding has the corporation asked for is $42,500 for July 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016 and $85,000 for the 2017 calendar year.

Council did note that NDC Director Frank Liebl updated their information regarding the estimated cost of rent, saying the projected numbers where higher than what actual bids were coming in.

Next, the NHDC request of employing an additional full-time employee was met with hesitation by the council. Although the council supports the projects and ideas that NHDC has, it would like to discuss the structure of NHDC before allotting additional money for the position.

“I think there is a lot going on, and a few things in transition with NHDC, including the First Avenue Project, the application for the CDBG grant and the changing and transforming of the grants for grads program which has not been fully utilized,” council member Noreen Otto said.

The council did decide to decrease funding for the CVB by $40,000 to $110,000. The CVB originally requested the cap be lifted off of the $150,000 limit the organization received from hotel tax money.

“I think the CVB needs to adopt the Get to Know Newton logo, template and messaging and be at the same table for the marketing plans,” council member Evelyn George said. “We are all promoting the community and Newton to inside and outside audiences, we need a greater bang for the resources that we have.”

Overall, the council wanted more collaboration between the city and CVB, whether it be with the branding effort or sharing statistical information about those coming to the Newton or show interest in the community.

Finally, Newton Main Street has a three-year contract with the city for $25,000 in funding. The agreement was made as a part of the initial introduction of the organization to the community.

In other business:

• Two properties were sold via public hearings. The lot at 221 E. Fourth St.S. was sold for $1,500 to William Millard to be used as a green space adjacent to his property. The lot at 1113 First St. N. was sold to for $2,000 to Gaylan and Tammy Nook, who have cared for the property for more than 10 years prior to the city purchasing it.

• The city approved a training and purchase agreement and the purchase of a SUV for the new K9 Unit at the NPD.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com