Salem Boosts Festivals With American Rescue Plan Act Support Funds

SALEM, MA — Salem is looking to welcome even more festivals and events back to the city this summer — and give them a bit of a boost — with the help of a program using a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding.

The city's Festival and Special Event Support Program is designed to support festivals and events taking place in the spring and summer of 2022. It was announced Tuesday as part of National Travel and Tourism Week.

"Festivals and special events contribute to the fabric of Salem by providing fun programming and activities that connect residents, visitors and our business community throughout the year," Destination Salem Director Kate Fox said. "I appreciate the city's commitment to supporting events that are rebuilding after the impacts of the pandemic, and Destination Salem looks forward to working with the event organizers to promote a robust calendar of special events."

Festivals and special events through Sept. 15 will be eligible for the funding, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Nonprofits, community groups, farmer's markets and other festivals and events that support cultural, creative, historic and community-based programs are eligible.

"Festivals and special events are intrinsic to the health of the community, both in terms of economic development and community development," Salem Main Streets Director Kylie Sullivan said. "These events not only drive foot traffic and spending to our downtown businesses, they also serve as pipelines for locally-grown businesses to develop.

"Of the new businesses that have opened in downtown Salem over the past three years, at least 10 of them started here as special event vendors. Just as importantly, community-focused events like the Salem Arts Festival, Salem's So Sweet and Heritage Days provide spaces for our residents to connect and celebrate with each other — desperately needed since the start of the pandemic — and help define what it means to live here."

Go here for more information on the program and to apply.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)