The ultimate goal, Carr said, is to have a system in place where funds can be raised throughout the year, ensuring that the Vancouver float can once again become a staple of the Rose Festival.
Televised to more than 40 million households throughout the nation, the Grand Floral Parade is the second largest all-natural parade in the country. The Rose Festival as a whole, according to a recent economic impact study, generates more than $78 million for the metro area in lodging, meals, entertainment and souvenirs.
“This will tell people outside of Vancouver that this is a great place to come visit, a great place to work and a great place to bring your business,” explained Carr. “It’s a beautiful community that’s growing.”
Several organizations including the city of Vancouver have already pledged their support to the project. Water & Air Works kicked off the fundraiser earlier this month with a donation of $1,000, and that was quickly matched by Riverview Community Bank. The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) also vowed to spread the word and help promote.
“It makes sense for us to be behind this as a financial supporter,” said Sharif Burdzik, vice president and branch manager at Riverview. “Looking at the region, Southwest Washington is part of the larger metro area, but we have our own identity. I think it’s important for the business community that our identity gets seen in a parade of this magnitude.”
While a city of Vancouver float has the potential to get residents living outside of the area to think about visiting, Burdzik said a more important factor may be what it would represent for those already living here.
“As a resident of Southwest Washington, when I imagine watching the Rose Festival Parade and seeing the city of Vancouver float go by, the feeling it would give me is one of pride in my community,” he explained. “It might make people a little bit more aware of this place as their community; more aware of the businesses here that supported their float. I think it will make residents of Southwest Washington a little more conscious of who they do business with and where they do business.”
Interested in contributing to the city of Vancouver Rose Festival Grand Parade float? Donations can be dropped off at any Riverview Community Bank branch office or mailed to the following address: City of Vancouver Float c/o Riverview Bank 1220 NE 88th St. Vancouver, WA 98665.
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