Hello,
We hope this finds everyone both mentally and physically healthy during this unprecedented time.
As you may know, we were the recipients of the Levitt AMP (your city) grant in 2020 and we have been working closely with the Levitt Foundation, as well as local, regional, and national artists to produce a family-friendly community concert series at The Amp at Sam Michaels. The health, safety, and well-being of the community is the first priority of the Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction music series. With this in mind, and considering the time required to finalize contracts coupled with the continuously changing timelines and our substantial loss of funding; we were left to make some difficult decisions.
Unfortunately, the decision has been made to postpone the Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction summer concert series until summer 2021.
This decision did not come easy. The Levitt Foundation has generously allowed The Amp and JCPRC to retain the grant offer until the summer of 2021 without reapplication. This makes it possible to look forward to bringing the community together and bring the energy back to Jefferson County in a way we have seen and know is possible.
Several considerations were taken into account:
- Safety and health considerations, especially for large events are continuously changing as information about this pandemic evolves.
- Contracts are binding and take time to negotiate. It is irresponsible to sign contracts we could not be certain we could fulfill due to changes in guidelines and recommendations.
- Local businesses who had expressed interest in sponsorships are now stretched thinner than ever.
- Jefferson County Parks and Recreation has had to make deep cuts to our budget in excess of $350,000 (1/3 of our total operating budget) due to loss of programming revenues and loss of hotel motel tax contributions. Funds need to be reserved for park maintenance and staff to make the gates open and the parks run, even at a minimal capacity.
We know we will come back as a community in 2021 stronger than ever! We cannot wait to be together at the park to feel the energy and power, the Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction music series will surely bring. We look forward to seeing you again, and get back to doing the things we love to do in our community.
Sincerely,
The Staff at Jefferson County Parks and Recreation,
Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction,
and The Amp at Sam Michaels Park
