JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Tourism Grant Executive Advisory Board met Thursday and approved several grants for area projects and proposals.

A grant request was first heard from Jamestown Downtown Association President Lynn Lambrecht on a proposed Downtown Digital Guide & Tour done through the company Be More Colorful. The organization had previously created a virtual tour currently available on the Jamestown Tourism website.

Lambrecht stated this would be a virtual tour focused on downtown Jamestown.

She pointed out a virtual tour option could be used a in a variety of ways to promote Jamestown.

Lambrecht says the virtual tour can be updated with other features down the line.

Tourism Executive Director Searle Swedlund stated that some of the work could be done by Jamestown Tourism, allowing them more control of the project.

The board unanimously approved the requested $17,200 to help fund the project. Future plans will engage businesses and ask them to invest to be part of the virtual tour.

A request was later heard from Sonja Thierer with Fort Seward in Jamestown. The request was made for funding of the Big Guns of the Old West event held July 25th & 26th as part of Buffalo Days.

She says they were seeking $975 to fund a portion of their event.

Swedlund add they’ve been working with the event for a number of years and have seen it grow annually.

The board voted to unanimously fund the full amount requested.

Finally, Two Rivers Activity Center Facilities Manager Amy Walters approached the Grant Committee and requested funding for the Meidinger Splash Park Grand Opening event on June 5th.

Walters says the day-long event will feature family activities, vendors, entertainment and more. The total budget at this time is $10,000 with more to be added along with the possibility of more activities.

The board unanimously approved funding the requested $5,000.

In other Tourism news, Swedlund says right now they’re doing work on Frontier Village summer planning and projects.