2005 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

NEWS RELEASE

For more information: Ann Mort, Publicity – 513-424-2038, Rmort@cinci.rr.com

Kathy Venturella, Chamber Event Coordinator-513-422-4551,kathy@thechamberofcommerce.org  www.ohiochallenge.com

For immediate release

March 23, 2005

The Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival committee, led by chairperson Ginger Bruggeman, is already hard at work making arrangements for the 2005 event set for July 22-24, at Smith Park in downtown Middletown.

Suppliers and sponsors are being arranged by the individual chairpeople.

Those interested in sponsoring an individual hot air balloon or becoming a general sponsor of the event which drew over 71,000 people in 2004, should make their interest known. Balloon sponsors are limited to the 30 balloons invited to compete in the event. Several general sponsorship options are available as well.

2005 will be the third year for the new event, subsidized during its start-up years by grants from the City of Middletown/Convention and Visitors Bureau and Middletown Community Foundation.  As those grants expire, the addition of other sponsorships and revenue from vendor booth rentals, parking fees, souvenirs, soft drink and beer sales will become more important to the economic stability of the event. 

While the Ohio Challenge is designed to be a break-even event, the dollars earned by area non-profit organizations through partnerships with food vendors has become important income for those organizations. It is estimated that local non-profits gained $30,000 or more in 2004 for their treasuries. Each food vendor is required to be a non-profit or make a partnership arrangement with a local non-profit and donate at least 10% of the profits from that booth to their non-profit partner.

To build future financial stability for Ohio Challenge, slight increases in vendor booth rental spaces and a $10 parking pass good for all three days of the event will be available.  A pre-sale parking pass will be available at  $7. 

Already, the 2005 official balloon lapel pin is available through the Chamber office at $5 each. The pin features the 2004 Ohio Challenge champion Ron Terranova’s balloon,  “Adam’s Nirvana” as a part of the design.  Official t-shirts will be available soon.

Craft and food vendors can find application forms and pertinent information at the website www.ohiochallenge.com. A limited number of vendor spaces are available with electric and water service.

The Ohio Challenge is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton.  Mid First Credit Union is serving as primary sponsor for the third consecutive year.

For more information, call 513-422-4551 or visit www.ohiochallenge.com