HIRTA has been awarded a $925 tourism grant from the Newton City Council for the Beyond the Bus event in October. The nonprofit group’s request for the Newton Hotel Motel Tourism Grant was approved by a unanimous vote by city council members during their April 15 meeting at City Hall.
According to HIRTA’s website, Beyond the Bus focuses on current issues facing public transportation and how service agencies can help improve transportation in their communities. Attendees at this event will learn about volunteer programs, benefits, recruitment strategies, and tips on how to advocate for public transit.
Brooke Ramsey, HIRTA’s business development manager, explained in the grant application that this year’s event will focus on mobility solutions such as increasing access, sustainability, and resilience. Rural areas face unique transportation challenges that can affect many things, she said.
From access to essential services to economic opportunity and overall quality of life, these hurdles pose major challenges for rural public transit users. Beyond the Bus explores strategies to address these challenges to improve rural mobility by bringing together experts and leaders to share their experiences.
Registration for the event is open nationwide, but registrations are limited depending on facility capacity. HIRTA has booked a number of hotel rooms for the event and will be working with the Newton Chamber of Commerce to highlight local businesses, places to visit, and things attendees should see while in the city. .
The Newton Hotel and Motel Tourism Grant Program is a way for the City to fund numerous community projects, special events and initiatives through local hotel and motel taxes. The purpose is to encourage the development, continuation and promotion of events that attract visitors from outside the city of Newton.
Application deadlines are October 1st and April 1st of each calendar year. Grant amounts range from $500 to $2,500 and must represent 25 percent of the total project budget. All applicants must meet with community development staff before submitting their application.
HIRTA is a public transportation system serving Jasper, Boone, Dallas, Madison, Marion, Story, and Warren counties since 1981.
