Grant would tee up Keizer as leader in sporting tourism

Prodded by city leaders, the Keizer Chamber of Commerce is pursuing a $150,000 grant to turn Keizer into a premier tournament town.

The proposal to Marion County would promote Keizer’s sports field complexes ranging from Keizer Little League Park to the soccer fields and pickleball courts at Keizer Rapids Park.

“With strategic investment, the Keizer Chamber of Commerce will position Keizer not just as a participant in regional sports tourism – but as its leader,” according to the chamber’s application.

The Keizer City Council met in special session Monday, April 27, to endorse the plan. The application developed after councilors a week earlier learned the chamber didn’t plan to pursue the grant. Councilors decided the city itself would pursue the money.

That changed in a matter of days as the chamber, deep into its KeizerFEST work, quickly devised a proposal.

Dan Clem, chamber executive director, said in a letter to the council that “my previous hesitancy to apply was based upon wanting to have the business plan complete for your consideration.” He said he learned there would be time to craft the plan before grant funding would flow.

“Keizer deserves to have its own tourism infrastructure,” Clem told councilors at the special meeting. “We want this application to be strong. We want this application to be like any ballgame played in Keizer – we want to win.”

The city has turned over management of the Little League park to a professional sports management company. The Sports Facilities Companies has projected a significant increase in Little League Park bookings for baseball and softball tournaments.

Such tournaments can be an economic boon for communities, bringing in players, coaches and families who need hotel rooms, restaurant meals and other local services.

A new Keizer hotel, the city’s third, is scheduled to open in June at the Chemawa Road freeway interchange.

Now, the chamber is pitching a program it is calling “Eat, Play, Stay in Keizer Today.”

The chamber is seeking $50,000 a year for three years, largely to be spent on a full-time employee.

This would produce “a targeted, year-round tourism promotion strategy centered on youth and amateur sports tournaments,” the application said. “Keizer is uniquely positioned to become the premier tournament destination in the Willamette Valley.”

The chamber would use the new funding to partner with regional and state sports organizations, to work with firms that manage tournaments, and “in recruiting for tournaments.”

“Even modest growth in tournament volume can generate hundreds of additional room nights per event,” the application said.

The application allocated $45,000 a year to a new position and $3,000 a year for “promotional materials.”

The application didn’t project results such as the increase in hotel bookings or in tournaments drawn to Keizer.

Some councilors were surprised to learn at their April 20 meeting that the chamber hadn’t planned to pursue as much as $300,000 available to applicants.

Councilor Soraida Cross, professionally involved in the tourism industry, said not trying for the grant meant leaving money on the table.

“That just sounds ridiculous,” Cross said.

Councilor Shaney Starr said it caused her “great heartburn” that the chamber wasn’t seeking the grant.

“They’re rebuilding. I understand that,” said Starr, who served as interim executive director of the chamber until recently. “We need to step in and figure out a way to help fill the gap. That’s a lot of money to leave on the table.”

City Manager Adam Brown said he was seeking a separate $10,000 grant for food equipment for the Keizer Little League Park. He said he would be stretched to prepare an application due by April 30. Three councilors – Starr, Cross and Councilor Lore Christopher – volunteered to help get the work done.

Four days later, city officials announced the special council meeting to instead consider the chamber’s application.

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