Heritagefest decision on hold

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- After two hours of discussion, the board of directors for New Ulm's Heritagefest voted Tuesday to delay the final decision on the festival's future to allow for more fundraising.

The board was expected to take a crucial vote on whether or not the annual cultural celebration of most things German would continue in 2004 or fold its tents.

Organizers realized in October that it spent most of its reserves covering losses from the past two years and that Heritagefest would need more corporate sponsorship and community support -- to the tune of $100,000 a year for the next two years -- in order to continue.

Board members reached a consensus Thursday that fundraising efforts to date were sucessful enough to merit continuing but still felt that the final vote should only be taken until after every possible source of funding is exhausted.

So far, organizers have managed to cover about $65,000 of the amount needed to cover all of the festival's expenses through cash donations and budget trimming. Executive director Kathleen Backer said the board of directors is still in negotiation with a few potential sponsors.

"If we make our goals, it's a 'thumbs-up'," said Heritagefest President Hugh Nierengarten. "If we don't, then we need to be prudent about moving foward. We have reason to be optimistic but that doesn't put any money in the bank."

Backer said the board is looking at making more budget cuts but wants to be careful that the budgetary trimmings don't affect the overall quality of Heritagefest if it appears in 2004.

Organizers have already approached local businesses and civic groups for two years of support. The New Ulm Chamber of Commerce and the New Ulm Business and Retail Association together have kicked in $25,000 a year towards the festival's costs. Nierengarten declined to comment on the other financial committments that have been made to Heritagfest in the weeks since the last board meetings.