City’s assistance needed in PGI convention

The steering committee organizing a massive pyrotechnics convention next year at the Iowa Speedway in Newton is asking for financial assistance from the city.

Tyler Clement, the director of operations at Iowa Speedway and a member of the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) 2022 Convention steering committee, told council members Dec. 6 that organizers estimated about $47,000 would be needed from the City of Newton to pay for safety services during public nights.

Volunteers are leading the charge to secure sponsors and other stakeholders for the upcoming convention, but there are also costs for services like on-hand ambulances, traffic direction, labor and barricades. Clement said it would take about $40,035.26 to deal with these services.

Other expenses volunteers have to work through are going to be city dump tonnage fees of about $2,500 and sewer dump fees of about $4,560. Clement asked for the city’s assistance in making the event happen in Newton.

“This is not a for-profit company, i.e. Iowa Speedway coming to the table to try and make a buck,” Clement said, noting ownership has donated the racetrack free of an upfront facility rental charge. “…They are not charging any money for this event to happen on our properties. Normally, there’s an upfront rental fee.”

However, Clement said NASCAR Enterprises wants to help drive economic impact in the city. To help direct funds to the convention and supporting activities, organizers created a nonprofit organization called Newton Community Events, Inc., which the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office says was made in October.

Newton Community Events, Inc. is comprised of local business owners and community leaders such as: Craig Armstrong, Michele Heisdorffer, Dakota Hills, Jessica Lowe Vokes, Brett Lundberg, Tanya Michener, Amanda Price, Dana Vangilder, Vicki Wade, Clinton Webster and Erin Yeager.

According to the secretary of state’s business search database, Newton Mayor Mike Hansen is listed as the registered agent.

The PGI convention will be held July 30-Aug. 7 in 2022. Clement reinforced the economic benefits the convention will have in Newton and Jasper County, which he estimated to be $3.5 million-$4 million of economic impact. Some hosts cities, he added, have seen upwards of $5 million in economic impact.

Clement said there will be more than 300 campsites occupied throughout the Iowa Speedway grounds during the convention, along with multiple other campgrounds throughout the county and city. Organizers also expect about 1,700-2,000 members and their families will attend the event.

Several members will also be boarded up in hotel rooms throughout the city and surrounding areas; Clement expects they will sell out all the hotel rooms.

Mason City is another Iowa community that has hosted the convention a number of times. Newton has never hosted a PGI convention before, which has prompted organizers to beef up the event’s public nights with live music performances, food trucks and other family-friendly activities.

Three public nights will be open for about six hours each day, which Clement claimed could draw 4,000-8,000 more people to the convention. In addition to the music entertainment and other festivities, the public night attendees will be treated to an approximately 90-minute fireworks display.

Which underpins the need for safety measures.

Clement said, “During that time, public safety is going to be a need — not only law enforcement, but fire protection, medical (support) and traffic direction.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com