City of Asheville Issues Request for Information for Signature Event

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Oct. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- ASHEVILLE – The City of Asheville Office of Economic Development today issued a Request for Information as an early step in the determining interest in a program that would stimulate the development of an independently-operated, self-sustaining signature event for the City of Asheville. The objective of the Request for Information is to identify creative event concepts and qualified entities capable of event development and production. The deadline for responses is November 22, 2013.

For 35 years, The City of Asheville, in cooperation with a volunteer board of directors, produced one of the largest free festivals in the Southeastern United States. The first Bele Chere Festival was held in 1979, a concept designed by local merchants and business owners with the vision of revitalizing the central business district. At its peak, Bele Chere grew to more than 350,000 in attendance across over 20 blocks. However, as the festival grew and downtown experienced a resurgence, a survey of local businesses indicated that the impacts of the festival had become less favorable. Additionally, the cost in municipal operations of the festival exceeded net revenues. Due to budgetary challenges the City of Asheville’s adopted 2013-2014 budget eliminated funding for the festival.

The Request for Information will serve to identify community interest and common elements for a new independently-produced event that achieves the City of Asheville’s strategic goals in the area of economic and community development. City staff will use information from this process to compose a formal Request for Proposal for consideration by Asheville City Council.

To see or respond to the Request for Information, go to http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/DevelopmentService...