City approves funding for chamber speaker project

The city of Graham approved a request for funding from the Graham Chamber of Commerce for speakers on multiple buildings on the square, one part of a larger project involving multiple agencies.

The total estimated cost of the project will be $33,824.19, but the chamber requested $3,000 from the city of Graham on Thursday for the project. Graham Chamber of Commerce CEO Krisa De La Cruz previously approached Young County in order to approve a $3,000 funding request and updated them on project details during the April 22 commissioners court meeting.

“As the special events have grown, we have experienced a growing need for professional, all weather, year-round, sound capability on the square,” De La Cruz wrote in the request for the city. “This includes the need for permanent speakers as well as high quality sound equipment. The impact of adding sound equipment/systems to the downtown square has the potential to enhance events held in this area, enhance shopping on the square and contributed to an atmosphere and experience for visitors and residents of Graham.”

In the request, De La Cruz also said due to the cost and affected organizations, her goal is to work together to acquire the system in order to enhance the downtown square.

“This is a wide based community effort that the industrial association, the economic improvement corporation and the community foundation is meeting at 11’o clock today (May 2) to consider it, so it is a pretty broad based support for this particular request,” Graham Mayor Neal Blanton said.

For the rest of the story see the Saturday, May 4 edition of The Graham Leader.