By Deb Murphy

Some county event planners won’t have to play the wait-and-see game when it comes to Inyo’s Community Project Sponsorship funding while new projects and events may have a better shot at start-up grants.

The Inyo Board of Supervisors approved a revamp of the program at Tuesday’s meeting, identifying $39,016 of the $95,000 pot for traditionally funded events. Another $35,000 is ear-marked for fishing promotions, leaving $20,984 for competitive grants.

The new format replaces a flurry of grant applications reviewed and graded, funded or not in two six-month cycles. Under the revamp, funds will be awarded in a 12-month cycle with the final Board decision for the competitive grants made by January 10, 2017.

Line item grant recipients have been funded seven or more years in the past nine and will continue to be funded for the next three years:

  • Inyo County’s Visitors Guide: $8,878

  • California High School Rodeo State Finals: $8,522

  • Wild West Marathon: $6,066

  • Laws Benefit Concert: $2,522

  • Death Valley Visitors Guide: $7,209

  • Images of Inyo Photo Contest: $6,714

Each of the four Owens Valley communities, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop will receive $7,500 for fishing derbies. As the only one of the four with no currently sponsored derby, Big Pine organizations now have a chance to step-up. An additional $2,500 will go to the Bishop Chamber of Commerce for the Trout Opener Reception and Rainbow Days with the final $2,500 used by the County for area fishing derby advertising.

Program Director Jon Klusmire will be sending out letters to organizations that have received grants in the past or have expressed an interest. Guidelines will be posted on the county’s webpage in the Community Project Sponsorship Grant section or are available by contacting Klusmire at [email protected].

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