HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2026.05.21 - 42950
AGENDA ITEM: Sponsorship of Friends of Downtown Highland 2026 Red, White & Blues Festival
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:30 AM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2026-6557
Motion to approve a one-time allotment of $5,000 from the FY 2026 Board of Commissioners’
General Fund Sponsorship line-item budget to sponsor the Friends of Downtown Highland 2026
Red, White & Blues Festival. Further, authorize the Board Chair to execute any required
agreements on behalf of Oakland County. Additionally, require that the recipient publicly promote
the County’s support as a Presenting Sponsor and submit an impact report to the Board of
Commissioners by the end of the calendar year, detailing the outcomes of the concert series,
including attendance, participation, and the number of Oakland County residents served.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Special Project Robert Hoffman
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Please provide the full name, title, and organization of the person submitting this request.
Cassie Blascyk, Board Member, Friends of Downtown Highland
Please provide the requester’s email address and phone number.
blascykc@highlandtwp.org
Please provide the organization’s address and website, if applicable.
Friends of Downtown Highland, Highland, MI
Please identify whether the organization is a governmental entity, a nonprofit, or another type of
entity, and include tax status if applicable.
Nonprofit, 501(c)(3)
Please identify the sponsoring Commissioner(s) for this request.
Commissioner Robert Hoffman
Describe what you are requesting the Board to fund and what the public will receive as a result.
The request is for a $5,000 presenting sponsorship to support the annual Red, White & Blues
Festival in Downtown Highland. The public will receive a free, family-friendly Independence Day
celebration featuring live music, fireworks, children’s activities, food vendors, and community
programming. The event fosters community pride and supports local businesses.
Is this request best classified as a sponsorship of an event or support for a program?
Sponsorship
If this request includes an event, please provide the event date(s), location(s), expected attendance,
and whether the event is free and open to the public.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Downtown Highland. The event attracts
approximately 4,000–5,000 attendees annually and is free and open to the public.
What is the total budget for the overall project, program, or event, and what is the specific amount
requested from the Board of Commissioners? Please present both figures clearly and explain how
the requested amount fits into the total budget.
The total event budget is approximately $30,000. The request to the Board of Commissioners is
$5,000, which would support overall event expenses and enhance programming, entertainment, and
festival amenities.
Please provide a narrative budget explanation describing what costs exist in the overall budget and
which costs the Board’s requested funds would pay for.
Event costs include stage rentals, production elements, fireworks, live entertainment, and children’s
activities. The requested funds would help offset these expenses and ensure the event remains free
and accessible to the public.
Please describe all confirmed funding partners, matching funds, sponsorships, or in-kind
contributions, and specify the amount or estimated value of each.
Confirmed partners include Highland Township, Highland Downtown Development Authority,
Friends of the Highland Activity Center, Oakland County Parks and Recreation (RAPP Grants), and
Michigan Legacy Credit Union. Specific contribution amounts were not detailed.
If contributions are not yet confirmed, please describe what is anticipated, what is pending, and
when decisions will be made.
Additional sponsorships and contributions are anticipated to support the full event budget.
If the Board does not fund this request, what would change, be reduced, or not occur?
Without additional funding, event programming, entertainment, or amenities may need to be
reduced, potentially impacting the overall quality and accessibility of the festival.
Please explain the public purpose of the project in clear terms, including how Oakland County
residents will benefit.
The festival provides a free community celebration that brings together residents and visitors,
supports local businesses, and promotes civic pride while commemorating national and local
milestones.
Please explain what the County receives in return for the expenditure. If the request is a
sponsorship, describe recognition benefits. If the request is a program, describe program
deliverables and measurable public outcomes.
Oakland County will receive recognition as a presenting sponsor, including logo placement on event
materials, website and digital promotions, signage, event announcements, and on-site visibility
opportunities.
If this request includes improvements to property not owned by Oakland County, please explain who
owns the property, who will control and maintain the improvements, and how the public will have
continued access to the benefit funded by the County.
The event takes place in Downtown Highland. No permanent property improvements are included in
this request.
Please provide a clear implementation timeline with start date, milestones (if applicable), and
completion date.
Planning occurs throughout 2026, with the event taking place on June 27, 2026.
Please describe who will benefit from the project, including estimated number of Oakland County
residents served and which communities or geographic areas are expected to participate.
Residents of Highland Township and surrounding Oakland County communities will benefit. The
event attracts approximately 4,000–5,000 attendees annually.
Please describe how success will be evaluated and what measurable outcomes will be reported.
Success will be evaluated based on attendance, community participation, and the ability to deliver a
safe, high-quality, and accessible event.
Please confirm that the organization will submit an outcomes report to the Board of Commissioners
by the end of the calendar year and describe what that report will include, such as attendance,
participation, services delivered, and resident impact.
Yes. The report will include attendance, participation, and community impact.
If requested, please confirm the organization will provide proof of expenditure, invoices, or
comparable documentation showing how Board funds were used.
Yes.
FISCAL IMPACT: Subsequent QR Budget Amendment Required
Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Robert Hoffman, Commissioner
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 5/21/2026
AGENDA DEADLINE: 05/07/2026 4:30 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. Friends of Downtown Highland- Sponsorship Letter Request
2. Sponsorship Benefits
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2026-04-30 Full Board - Refer to Finance
2026-05-13 Finance - Recommend to Board
2026-05-21 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Michael Gingell
Seconded by: Commissioner Penny Luebs
Yes: Ann Erickson Gault, Michael Gingell, Marcia Gershenson, Robert Hoffman, Karen Joliat,
Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen Markham, William Miller III, Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell,
Robert Smiley, Yolanda Smith Charles, Michael Spisz, Linnie Taylor, Philip Weipert, David
Woodward (17)
No: Charles Cavell (1)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Brendan Johnson (1)
Passed