COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce has asked the Downtown Development Authority to suspend their request for $10,000 in annual funding to allow the Chamber board time to review recent activity and dialogue which could impact events the Chamber puts on in the future.
Fourth Ward Coldwater City Council Candidate Dan Corwin said last month that the Chamber denied him booth space during Applefest, while booths were allowed for the Republican and Democratic Parties, as well as for the Coldwater Community School District in their efforts to get voter approval of a millage and bond proposal.
Corwin said in a posting on his campaign Facebook page that “this denial of our freedoms of speech and assembly on public property is a clear violation of constitutional rights by the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Association/City of Coldwater. “
Chamber Director Nicole Steele read a prepared statement at Wednesday’s D.D.A. Board meeting that “challenges have been presented that could make it difficult for the Chamber to continue the coordination of certain public events that are held on public property.”
She went on to say that “while a review of our policies and processes for running events seems sound, and has revealed no reason for us to alter them, the fact is that we live in a time of social media, where a single rant can influence opinion or perception.”
Steele pointed out in her statement that the Chamber was not withdrawing their funding request. The D.D.A. has provided funding to the Chamber for the past three years. The money has been used by the Chamber to offset the cost of running downtown events.
