The Lodgers’ Tax committee has set its sights on Gallup’s spring and summer events. During a Jan. 6 meeting, three event organizers came before the committee to request funding for upcoming festivities.
Seth Bush asked the committee for $6,000 for his 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest Bike Race that will take place on June 11 and 12. The event is held by Mountain Bike Southwest, LLC. It is a race/festival held at the McGaffey Campgrounds in the Zuni Mountains, and it’s centered around a 24-hour mountain bike race.
Bush informed the committee that he anticipates selling all of the available tickets for the ride.
“What’s interesting about what we do is, I think it’s probably one of the safest things people can do [during COVID],” Bush said. “I think the big advantage of what we do is that it’s outdoors and it’s spread out by definition.”
Committee member Jeremy Boucher praised Bush’s event, saying it is a great way for people to see the natural beauty Gallup has to offer.
“[W]e’re all in agreement that these kinds of events are the best way to highlight that asset that we have as a community and get people in [to Gallup},” Boucher said.
The $6,000 request was approved.
FRIENDS OF HUBBELL
Frank Kohler, the chairman and treasurer of Friends of Hubbell, was back after his last presentation in May of last year. This year he asked for money for the spring Live Native American auction, set for May 7.
He told the committee that last September’s auction was very successful.
“Everybody was anxious to get back to the auction business; our buyers and weavers and sellers had a phenomenal turnout,” Kohler said.
He noted that they were able to give scholarships to six Native American students with the money raised from the 2021 auction.
The event features art from the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi tribes. The three days before the event will be spent receiving art.
Kohler requested $5,300 for the spring event, which is $1,200 more than he asked for in the past. The committee approved his request.
72ND LIONS CLUB RODEO
Finally, Dr. Linda Hite, the treasurer for the Gallup Lions Club, asked for $30,000 for the club’s 72nd annual rodeo, which will be held June 16-18 at Red Rock Park.
The committee approved the request.
When Gallup’s Tourism and Marketing Manager Jennifer Lazarz presented the new round of applications to the city council during its Jan. 25 meeting, she acknowledged the increased request amounts. For example, the Lion’s Club needed $5,000 more than they have in previous years.
“I can speak from my own experience, the cost of marketing has gone up with everything else in the economy,” Lazarz explained.
Despite the increases, the city council approved all the applications.
The next deadline for Lodgers’ Tax applications is Feb. 25. It is for events scheduled to take place before June 30.
By Molly Ann Howell
Sun Correspondent
