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Balloonapalooza up in the air

 

 

For further information contact:

Larry Horwitz

Downtown Windsor BIA

519-252-5723

 

For Immediate Release:

(Windsor, ON. [June 5, 2014]) - The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association's (DWBIA) signature summer festival could soon be no more. The organization's Board of Directors has voted to cancel the 2014 festival unless it is able to raise an additional $30,000 in cash sponsorship within the next 10 days.

 

The DWBIA has lost almost a third of its budget in recent months as a result of Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation's elimination of $240,000 in annual funding, and the withdrawal of $15,000 in funding from the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation. The significant funding cuts, and the DWBIA's obligation to repay streetscaping and property reassessment debt to the municipality, have resulted in the DWBIA's inability to present this premier event

 

In 2013, an economic impact study, completed by Enigma Research on behalf of Festivals and Events Ontario, revealed that the annual summer festival attracted over 40,000 visitors and had an economic impact of over $1 million. The DWBIA has already received significant recognition and awards from the International downtown Association and the Ontario Business Improvement Areas Association for its work and initiatives related to the festival.

 

"It is truly heartbreaking to lose a successful, iconic, family-friendly event and one that has such a positive economic and social impact on our downtown, city and region," said Larry Horwitz, Chairman of the DWBIA.  "The DWBIA is willing to contribute significant funds to the festival but we need the community's support to raise the $30,000 shortfall."

 

Balloonapalooza is North America's only cold-air balloon festival and features giant inflatables; live music concerts; bustling sidewalk caf�s; train rides; an amusement park; balloon artists, clowns, buskers and more.

 

     

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