Alex Paul
The 2003 Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home netted more than $200,000, director Peter LaPonte reported recently to the Sweet Home Economic Development Group, Inc. board of directors.
“It was a record-breaking year for the festival driven by a near sell-out crowd of 9,000 plus for Alan Jackson on Friday, August 1,” LaPonte said in a press release later that week.
He added the estimate includes projections for some outgoing expenditures yet to be processed.
“Other groups benefiting through the Jamboree fund raising operations include the Sweet Home Schools, local service groups and the City of Sweet Home. Combined, these groups raised over $53,000 in direct revenue,” LaPonte said.
Allocation of the net proceeds will include setting aside $90,000 for a Jamboree “rainy day” fund and providing 10 percent ($20,000) to the Sweet Home Community Foundation.
The remainder of proceeds will be held in reserve to help implement SHEDG’s five-year strategic plan. Key elements of that plan include funding SHEDG’s economic development coordinator position, implementing the downtown revitalization plan and strengthening the Oregon Jamboree.
Also Wednesday, LaPonte told the board he would like them to consider the possibility of purchasing land for a permanent Jamboree site that could be used as a venue for smaller, perhaps one-day, events in the community.
SHEDG president Ron Moore said he has held two meetings about the subject.
“We’re trying to get more room to draw a bigger crowd,” Moore said.
The need, LaPonte pointed out, is he believes it will become increasingly difficult to attract top name entertainers if they cannot be assured of a larger number of patrons, which translates into a bigger payday for all involved.
“I believe that in five years down the road, it’s where entertainers are headed,” LaPonte said. “Owning property would also allow us to invest in items such as stage, which would save us a lot money each year.”
LaPonte estimates the Jamboree utilizes 80-100 acres in total, including parking and camping areas currently provided by the school district.
“We will need at least 100 acres,” LaPonte said.
The goal is to develop a site that could seat 15,000-20,000 patrons.
“Our goal is to find something close enough to downtown to keep patrons shopping locally,” Ron Moore added.
LaPonte pointed to the Britt Festival in Jacksonville as a successful event that owns property.
“They are in their 21st year and have built a stage and seating for their concert series,” LaPonte said. “We are a bigger scale but we would like to have single day events that could attract maybe 800-2,000 people. We could hold a concert series and feature a variety of music.”
Moore said interest rates are at a 40-year low.
“If we wait two or three years, we might be too late to react to this business climate,” Moore said.
The two men pointed to the new site of the Lebanon Strawberry Festival.
“They are already 10 years ahead of us,” LaPonte said. “It’s too bad the site isn’t closer so it could be shared.”
LaPointe emphasized that the basic costs of a festival are the same whether there are 8,000 or 16,000 patrons. The number that shifts if the profit level.
In other business…
– Former SHEDG President Jann Horner is working with the board to streamline its profit and loss statements and in educating board members on what various categories mean.
– Heard from economic development coordinator Karen Owen that the web site is attracting more than 600 viewers per month and that 90 percent are looking at the main page.
– Approved a motion to present a by-laws change to the SHEDG membership in March. The change, if approved, would allow the board to make by-law changes without taking those changes to a voter of the entire membership.
– Talked about plans for a membership drive in March.
– Elected Linda Garcia as vice president.
– Approved the appointment of Elmer Riemer to the SHEDG board and named him liaison to the Jamboree. Riemer is a retired businessman and has been active with the Jamboree for many years.
– Learned that the monthly breakfast club meetings are going well and that Keith Miller will be the guest speaker Thursday at 7 a.m. at the community center.