Ritzville City Council awards $120,070 in 110 funds

During the Feb. 6 meeting, the Ritzville City Council voted to approve the allocation of the city’s 110 funds for 2018.

A total of $141,733 was requested from local organizations and businesses to help fund a variety of projects, events and tourism efforts to bring more visitors to the community.

Out of the amount requested, council allocated $120,070.

The council awarded the Ritzville Festivals Association $5,000 to help cover the costs of maintaining the Ritzville Community Float. This includes float construction, insurance and the transportation to different events throughout the region.

Boots and Brushes Western Artists Association received $3,000 to organize the annual Art in the Park event held in May.

The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair (WLCF) board received $5,000 from the council. The majority of funds will go toward advertising and promoting of the annual Labor Day fair. The board will also use a portion of the money to sponsor the annual Youth Jackpot Show at the fairgrounds, as well promote the rental of the fairground facilities.

The Ritzville Rodeo Association was awarded $5,100 for promoting and marketing of the annual rodeo, which also takes place on Labor Day weekend.

The council awarded the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce $40,000 to expand activities on the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

The chamber plans to use a portion of the funds to support businesses and local organizations during those weekends, as well as introduce new activities. The organization would also use the funds to showcase the city’s new logo at events.

The chamber will also use part of the funds for tourism marketing, which includes producing town guide, maintaining the Visit Ritzville website and partnering with the city for its Ritzville Insider App.

The chamber also received $15,000 to partner with the City of Ritzville and the Ritzville Partnership group to continue the branding.

The council allocated $1,000 to the Ritzville Downtown Development Association (RDDA) to help fund special events in the downtown area. The money was twice the amount RDDA asked for in their request.

The RDDA included a request for $1,500 to organize the Christmas celebration next year, which council did not approve.

Whiskey Gap Distillery was awarded $1,095 for the business signs at each of the freeway exits.

Flying Arts Restoration received $3,000 from the council to use for the Ghost Sign project. The business also asked for $15,000 for freeway signs, $2,400 for directional signs and $1,000 for banners, all of which were not approved by council.

Empire Motel received $850 to pay for a sign on the freeway while Best Western Bronco Inn was awarded $1,025 for the annual permit fees for the Washington State Department of Transportation motorist information sign.

The City of Ritzville also applied for 110 funding on behalf of local organizations. The city was allocated $8,000 to help pay utility costs for the Frank R. Burroughs Home and the N.P. Railroad Depot.

The tree board requested $17,263 in funds to finish the “Welcome to Ritzville” sign on First Avenue, as well as landscape plant trees and vegetation along the western side of the street, which was not approved by council. The tree board did not receive any 110 funds.

The city also received $2,500 for continuing the Ritzville Insider App and $4,500 for operating an existing AM radio station that transmits in the Ritzville area.

The city was also awarded $25,000 for the wayfinding sign update. The project would include creating a plan to update the wayfinding signage around the city. The signs would be updated to reflect design elements from the city’s new branding.

The city had initially requested $10,000 for the wayfinding signage update. Mayor Gary Cook said he increased the award for the request to $25,000 to include implementation of the plan.