NORTH MANKATO — Greater Mankato Training Camp, LLC, has the city of North Mankato's best wishes, plus the possible use of police reserve officers and city equipment.
It just can't have any money.
Representatives of the organization, which formed in late 2003 after reports that the Minnesota Vikings might withdraw their training camp from Mankato, asked the North Mankato City Council for $10,000 annually for three years.
The council praised the organizers for their efforts but said money wasn't available. "For us to invest in this project, for me, has some problems," Mayor Gary Zellmer said.
Zellmer said he would rather spend money on a proposed skateboard park (see related story on Page B1) or a new softball field for the SMILES program.
Councilman Dave Pearson said people ask him with government entities should support a training camp for millionaire players and an owner with hundreds of millions of dollars. "How do I answer those questions, if I could play the devil's advocate," Pearson said.
The training camp reps - Scott Bergs from Midwest Wireless, Paul Wilke from the River Hills Mall and Dave Schooff from the Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce - said the camp has a $5 million impact on the region.
The camp is the longest-running event in the state, with a three-week run that lured more than 70,000 people to the Minnesota State campus last year - more than double the crowds that came in 2003. About one-third of those people spend at least one night in the area and spend money here while they are spending time, the council was told.
Zellmer said Mankato has an economic development fund fueled by a half-cent share of sales tax revenue. North Mankato has no such funding source, and just doesn't have the money for the camp, he said.
But the city could provide police reserves to work security during major camp events, could provide a stage for activities and has in the past allowed camp organizers to use city-owned bleachers. Zellmer said the city was "more than willing" to find creative ways to help support the camp "without cutting a check."
The LLC has met with staffers for the city of Mankato and Blue Earth County and will seek $25,000 from both of those entities and will also seek money from the state.
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