08/27/2026
A Little Context About Tourism Funding in Manchester
There is an important distinction regarding the proposed $64,200 tourism contract on the upcoming Board agenda.
The $64,200 being discussed is ARP funding. This is the remaining balance of a $190,000 ARP grant that was awarded to the City prior to my election. These funds must be used for eligible purposes or they will be lost.
This is not a new tax, and it is not $64,200 being taken away from streets, police, water and sewer, or other City services. These remaining grant funds are designated for eligible tourism-related purposes.
And Manchester does have tourism.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park alone welcomes upward of 200,000 visitors annually, with park staff indicating that they believe more visitors come from outside Coffee County than from within it.
Our ball tournaments and other sporting events bring players, coaches and families to Manchester throughout the year. Community traditions and special events such as Old Timers Day, our Christmas parades and celebrations, Safe on the Square, and Old Fashioned Family Fun on July 4th also bring people into Manchester and our downtown.
We also have destinations such as Beans Creek Winery and Common John Brewing Company that are receiving recognition beyond our community. The South Central Tennessee Tourism Association's 2024 Experience Awards named Beans Creek Winery “Winery of the Year” and Common John “Best Beer.” Common John also earned eight medals in the 2024 Tennessee Championship of Beers, including five gold medals and a second-place Best in Show.
These attractions and events bring people into Manchester. Visitors eat in our restaurants, buy gas, shop locally and stay in our hotels. Those are tourism dollars coming into our community.
With the uncertainty surrounding Bonnaroo, developing and diversifying Manchester's tourism economy beyond a single event is more important than ever.
Manchester already has people coming here. The purpose of these grant dollars is to help us attract even more visitors to our proven destinations while introducing them to other attractions, businesses and experiences they may not yet know about.
The goal is simple: give visitors more reasons to explore Manchester, stay longer and spend more of their dollars in our community.
Again, the $64,200 is the remaining balance of an existing ARP grant designated for eligible purposes that must be spent soon or it will be lost. It is not $64,200 being taken from other City services to fund tourism.
