February 14, 2005
For Immediate Release
Avedisian announces further reorganization of
Tourism office, implementation of new grant program
WARWICK– As part of ongoing efforts to restructure municipal departments to increase efficiency and effectiveness, Mayor Scott Avedisian today announced in further detail changes to the city’s tourism division.
Earlier this month, the mayor announced that Karen Jedson will head a new department that will be incorporated as an extension of the Mayor’s Office in order to have stronger and more defined marketing efforts with local community groups and village associations.
Avedisian said today that the department will now be known as the Office of Tourism, Culture and Development to better reflect the division’s multi-faceted approach to marketing the city as a tourist destination, supporting cultural events in Warwick and providing assistance to businesses looking to relocate to the city or expand existing facilities here.
“The city has traditionally sponsored a variety of cultural events, such as the Hmong festival at the Mickey Stevens’ sport complex, holiday concerts and Trinity Rep’s Summer Shakespeare in the Park series,” Avedisian said. “We feel the department’s new name will give residents a better understanding of what the city does on a day-to-day basis.”
In addition to marketing Warwick and supporting cultural and other tourism-related events, the office will continue to be responsible for marketing and tracking available commercial space in the city as a service to new and existing businesses, Avedisian said. Companies that need assistance in obtaining building permits, or those that have questions related to the Planning, Zoning, Public Safety boards or licensing permitting processes will receive assistance from a new business liaison position that Avedisian recently established as part of the Planning Department, he said.
Avedisian also announced that the Office of Tourism, Culture and Development will begin earmarking $20,000 annually for a “mini-grant” program. The grants, which will be awarded in increments of between $500 and $1,000, are meant to help local individuals, neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations fund smaller projects for which sponsorships or grants are not usually available.
Grants could be awarded for the purchase of park benches, outdoor community bulletin boards or decorative signage, for example – “projects that will enhance our neighborhoods or recreational facilities in ways that the general public can enjoy,” Avedisian said.
Those interested in securing a grant will be required to submit an application explaining the project. A three-member advisory panel, consisting of Community Development Director Kevin Sullivan, Warwick resident and local businessman John Howell and Parks and Recreation Director Mickey Rooney, will review the applications on a quarterly basis and make recommendations to Jedson and the Mayor’s Office, Avedisian said.
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