Posted on Fri, Mar. 14, 2008

Minority businesses wanted

FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ENSURE PARTICIPATION IN TRADE FAIR AT EQUESTRIAN GAMES

By Jim Jordan

JJORDAN1@HERALD-LEADER.COM

The board of the World Games 2010 Foundation voted Thursday to create a program to ensure minority business participation in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The voice vote followed comments by board member P.G. Peeples, who said he was being asked "at every turn what will be the benefits to the African-American community" of the World Equestrian Games.

Peeples said the thinking among some minorities is that their businesses will be "locked out" of the games' trade show because the 400 booths will be priced too high for small businesses to afford.

The price range is $12,500 to $20,000 a booth, depending on the size and location, for the 16 days of competition that are expected to attract 800,000 spectators -- or 50,000 a day -- to the Kentucky Horse Park.

At least 152 booths already have been reserved. They will be on what is now the main parking lot between the park's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Peeples, who is also CEO of the Urban League of Lexington, called for the board to form a group, similar to a task force, to find a way for minority businesses to participate in the trade fair at a cost they could afford.

He said a "test drive" of the new program could be done at a future Rolex Three-Day Event, the Horse Park's premier annual equestrian event.

Everett McCorvey, director of opera at the University of Kentucky, said a reception or some similar event for minority business people should be held at the next Rolex to acquaint them with business opportunities at the park.

Added Peeples, the minority business program would be "something very special" that would be a part of the games' legacy "we can all be proud of."

Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson endorsed Peeples' comments.

He said the park was working with the University of Kentucky's Small Business Development Center to devise a similar program for all major park events.

"It is important that we make the World Equestrian Games the beginning of this," Nicholson told the board.

There was no apparent opposition to the motion.

In other business:

• The board elected first lady Jane Beshear to its executive committee, and Beshear made it clear her husband's position as governor was not why she was there.

"I'm a horse person and I've been involved with the Horse Park for many, many, many years," she said. "I'm Jane Beshear, and that's the way I want to work with the board."

• Foundation CEO Jack Kelly said that April 1 is the target date for the start of the next ticket reservation program, but only international equestrian groups will participate. Ticket sales to the general public aren't expected to begin until 2009.

• Kelly also said the board had budgeted more than $800,000 for shirts and other clothing for staff and volunteers at the games, but two companies have agreed to provide the items for free -- a major budget savings.

• Nicholson said the proposed $24 million outdoor stadium is in the last stages of design. Construction is expected to begin May 19 and be finished in mid-March 2009 in time for use during the Rolex Three-Day Event.