Oroville Chamber asks committee to reconsider community event funding as SPF structure shifts

Amber, a representative of the Oroville Chamber, told the Oroville SBF steering committee she is asking the body “for a request for a reconsideration of community event funding” and handed the committee a packet documenting how SBF funds historically supported major local events such as Feather Fiesta Days, the Fourth of July celebration, the Wildflower Nature Festival, the Salmon Festival and the Parade of Lights.

The chamber representative said event coordination shifted after COVID-19 and that both coordination fees and tourism-marketing dollars that once flowed to the chamber have declined, reducing the organization’s capacity to organize those events and to attract visitors to Oroville. “Both of those have dropped off, which does end up having an effect on our organizational structure,” Amber said.

The request came during the public-comment portion of the meeting and followed staff remarks that DWR (Department of Water Resources) has authorized roughly $200,000 of interim funding to support the SPF while a longer contract is finalized. Amber urged the committee to consider using new or restored SBF/SPF allocations to support event coordination, marketing and related tourism activities that can produce overnight stays and return visits to Oroville.

Committee members acknowledged the packet and thanked Amber for the background material; no formal action was taken on the chamber’s request during the meeting. The committee’s subsequent decisions about the NOFA and matching requirements will determine the structure of future grant rounds and which types of event or tourism projects are competitive for SBF money.

What happens next: Amber’s handout will be available to committee members ahead of the next NOFA release and workshops; applicants will need to follow whatever NOFA terms the committee adopts.