Newport set to dole out special event grants

Two groups may receive more than 70% of the city’s annual special event grants, if the Newport Beach City Council approves the city staff recommendations Tuesday.

Combined, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Beach Film Festival are likely to receive about $130,000 of the total $180,000 allocated for community events, based on outlined recommendations in a staff report prepared for Tuesday’s council meeting.

The chamber produces the Christmas Boat Parade and the Taste of Newport each year.

All groups will likely receive less than they asked for from the Special Events Advisory Committee because of the tight budget. The committee ranked each group’s application, based on how well the groups “encourage economic development, charitable fundraising, or enhance community spirit and engagement,” according to the report.

The Christmas Boat Parade and the Film Festival scored the highest, followed by the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the Newport-Mesa Spirit Run, which are slated to receive $10,000 and $29,500, respectively.

— Mike Reicher

Twitter: @mreicher