Sean C. Morgan
Even when it doesn’t raise a net profit for the Sweet Home Economic Development Group for use in economic development projects, officials of the Oregon Jamboree and SHEDG say that the country music festival brings many benefits to the community.
Formed about 25 years ago, SHEDG created the Oregon Jamboree as a response to an economy hit hard by the listing of the northern spotted owl as an endangered species and the subsequent decline of the timber industry in Sweet Home. Most of Sweet Home’s mills shut down, and the logging industry shrank to a fraction of its size.
Sweet Home citizens formed SHEDG, which then took on the Jamboree, a three-day country music and camping festival now held in August, to raise money to support economic development projects. The festival lost money for several years before turning a profit and paying off its creditors, which included the original members of the SHEDG Board of Directors and Linn County.
Through the mid-2000s, the Jamboree remained profitable, and SHEDG funded several economic development projects, ranging from an economic development director position in partnership with the city to a commercial exterior improvement program for Sweet Home businesses.
SHEDG also created the Sweet Home Community Foundation and gave 10 percent of Jamboree proceeds to the organization. When the event began losing money several years ago, it continued to contribute to the Community Foundation and looked for alternate ways to funnel money to the Sweet Home charity.
The Community Foundation has continually provided grants to a variety of causes. Beneficiaries have included the Sweet Home School District, Meals on Wheels, Sweet Home Public Library, Sweet Home Emergency Ministries, the Boys and Girls Club, East Linn Museum and many more.
“We still give money to the Community Foundation,” said Festival Director Robert Shamek. The past three years, the Jamboree has set up special performances by Jamboree artists as fund-raisers dedicated directly to the foundation.
Safeway directly gives $5,000 annually during the Jamboree Kickoff Party, a practice it began on behalf of the Jamboree, Shamek said.
From 2002 to 2016, the Jamboree has provided more than $2.7 million in cash to Sweet Home school programs, nonprofits and local businesses, according to figures provided by Shamek. In 2016, the Jamboree directly paid $246,600 to local businesses and programs.
Highlights from the list include the Holley School parent-teacher club, raising $13,500 from ice cream sales; $9,700 for the Sweet Home High School from soft drink and water sales; $7,900 for the Rotary Club’s hamburger stand; and $9,100 to the Sweet Home Community Foundation from a benefit concert and barbecue.
Outside of any direct control or even direct knowledge of Jamboree officials, “local neighbors take advantage of their yards for parking spots,” Shamek noted. They turn an “inconvenience into a moneymaker.”
The sheer number of people the event draws to the community, some 15,000 last year, provides an opportunity for local businesses, he said.
“We’re on track for one of our best years ever,” Shamek said of the 2017 event, which means it could crack last year’s attendance.
Shamek is in his first full year at the helm after taking over midyear in 2015. Prior to taking the director position, he was a volunteer whose family benefited from the Jamboree.
“When Egan (Shamek’s son) was in the soccer program, they took on doing some of the shower fund-raisers,” he said. “The money went directly to buy new uniforms for them.”
The program was able to buy shin guards and socks, the kinds of things soccer players go through, lose or forget to bring with them to games, Shamek said. “And it teaches the kids to work hard too.”
“I think we started making probably $10,000 25 years ago,” said retired high school Athletic Director Larry Johnson, who has continued to be involved in school fund-raising efforts during that time. “Now we’re up to $30,000.”
Those funds go to all kinds of school programs, he said. In 2016, school programs raised $28,700. Benefiting programs included band, football, baseball, softball, dance, track and cross country, wrestling, golf, basketball, soccer, swimming, the junior high, elementary schools and cheerleading.
“You just look at the financial impact, that’s huge,” Johnson said. “How do you replace it, that kind of revenue annually? It’s a huge impact. It’s a quick fund-raiser for them. They’re working for it. They appreciate it more. The ones that work get the money and get to decide how to spend the money.”
In those programs, 100 to 120 students participate, Johnson said. Some of them, like the ice crew and bottle collection crews, are doing some hard work all weekend long. Others collect cans and bottles, set up and take down tables and chairs, and staff showers, among other activities.
“The other benefit is these (students) get to be around adults that have a similar commitment to our program and our community,” Johnson said.
The Jamboree spends money with many local vendors, he said. It donates to various programs, primarily in the form of tickets. It draws people to town, and it provides fund-raising opportunities for various groups, like his son’s team.
The Jamboree regularly donates some $30,000 in tickets to nonprofit groups for raffles, Shamek said. This past year, with budgets tightening, it donated a value of about $10,000, about 30 sets of tickets and packages.`
This year, the Jamboree partnered with the Vet’s Club for the first time, Shamek said. The Jamboree used the club’s bingo equipment, and the club provided a caller for the new bingo tent.
“It was fun getting them involved this last year,” Shamek said.