The Woodlands Secures Funding For More Prominent SXSW Presence
After months of searching, The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau has found funding for an increased presence at South By Southwest. In November, the CVB approved a plan to boil down The Woodlands' presence at the Austin festival to a single day, hosting a live music event dubbed "The Woodlands On The Road" at an expanded booth location in Downtown Austin's prominent park Brush Square. The event, which will take place on March 15, featuring yard games, food, drinks, art demonstrations and sweepstakes, will cost the Woodlands around $65K, with $35K being ponied up by the CVB itself.
Four groups had stepped in to help cover the additional costs, board members heard during its Wednesday meeting. The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership contributed the lion's share at $20K. The Woodlands Arts Council, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and the Market Street shopping area will cover the remainder of the costs.
"We're both selling our community," The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership CEO Gil Staley told the Houston Chronicle. "They're going after tourism, we're going after jobs."
The Woodlands is hoping to make more of a splash this year. Last year, the township operated a two-man booth inside the Austin Convention Center.
At home, on March 8 The Woodlands will celebrate completing construction of its 18-year public-private partnership on The Woodlands Waterway, a waterfront promenade connecting several office buildings, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, Waterway Square and The Woodlands Mall.
