By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Paramount Arts Center, Inc. (PAC) has been in talks with the Grayson Tourism Commission concerning a proposed standing room only entertainment venue to be located in Grayson. Members of the PAC board were on hand at a special meeting of the tourism commission in April to work toward finalizing the proposal and answer questions from the commission.
Commission Secretary Deanna Miller called the meeting to order and told those in attendance that the purpose of the called meeting was to discuss the proposal with the City of Grayson. Due to conflicting schedules, only Grayson Council Member Sudy Walker was in attendance representing the city.
“The commission is pretty much aware of what we are wanting to do,” Miller said. “But since the city has some things they would have to do before we can get started, including the building we are looking at being outside of the city limits, we wanted the city and the commission to be on the same page.”
Miller pointed out that among other things the city would need to annex the area where the proposed building is located to facilitate the sale of alcohol at the venue because the City of Grayson permits the sale of alcohol, but Carter County does not. Tourism Commissioner Shadow Skaggs also voiced the opinion that the commission would like for the city to shoulder some of the expense of the proposed venue.
The Executive Director of PAC, Inc., Holly Canfield, said that at the last city council meeting Grayson Mayor Troy Combs had asked her to put together a one-page document that summarized the proposed project and PAC’s request.
“This is the part where a negotiation comes in,” Canfield told the commission. “We can talk about what your interests are and what tourism might be able to provide and what PAC, Inc., might be able to provide.”
Canfield provided the commission with a project overview, proposing a strategic partnership with the Grayson Tourism Commission to develop a “high-impact, multi-use arts and entertainment venue that will bring new energy and revenue to the community,” according to the PAC proposal. That partnership would entail Grayson Tourism owning/leasing a building which it will in turn sublease to PAC Inc. PAC will program, operate, and manage the venue and share revenue through a three to four percent tax on food and beverage sales at the venue, naming rights income, and the addition of a $2 facility fee applied to each ticket sold.
The proposal would require Grayson Tourism to gain long-term control of a suitable building and cover all renovations/improvements to said building, as well as ensure building code compliance, fire safety, and occupancy requirements. The proposal would also require Grayson Tourism to provide PAC with a $0 lease for a 2-year term and a utilities subsidy for that term as well. The new venue would be included under the tourism insurance policy, and the City of Grayson would be required to provide in-kind staffing support for building maintenance as well.
The proposal also suggested Grayson Tourism include PAC in state and regional tourism marketing, co-branded advertising, and provide assistance to PAC for overnight tourism packages. PAC Inc. will assist Grayson Tourism with in-kind social media marketing (50k+) and positioning as a tourism destination (40k+). The proposal includes the annexation of the proposed building into the city limits and assistance securing full ABC licensing and favorable event regulations. Grayson Tourism will also be required to assist PAC in securing additional venue parking.
“This is going to be a strategic partnership if it is something we come to an agreement on,” Canfield told the commission. “This will bring new energy and revenue to Grayson and the surrounding region. It is designed to drive tourism and economic growth and help Grayson become a tourism destination.”
Canfield described the proposal as a “major tourism opportunity” with patrons of the venue potentially flying into the area to make use of the facility.
Miller said that Canfield had attended tourism meetings and explained the proposal clearly, and said she believed the proposed venue clearly met the goals of tourism. Miller said she believed it would be a beneficial partnership, but that there were things that would need to be done and challenges tourism would need to meet.
Tourism Commissioner Shadow Skaggs referenced the line item of $200,000 in the tourism budget that had been earmarked for the proposed project should tourism vote to proceed. PAC, Inc. requested $500,000 initially to begin the project, he said. Skaggs also referenced Grayson Mayor Troy Combs requesting $80,000 for the Merchant Parking Lot.
“What he (Combs) said was to hold onto it and if there was a project that suited us, we will let you use that toward another project,” Skaggs said, addressing Grayson Council member Sudy Walker.
“Let’s say this is that project,” Skaggs said. “Now we are at $280,000. So, we are now over halfway there. What we need to know is, could the city give us $100,000 to $150,000 for this? Knowing this could single-handedly change the city, I think.”
Skaggs mentioned that possibility, knowing that the city council as a body would need to consider and vote on any possibility of matching tourism funds.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
