TO: Johnathan Little
FROM: Melissa Miller
DATE: November 20, 2022
SUBJECT: Music Festival at Swift Level Farms
As a member of the City of Lewisburg Council, and a partner with the Healing
Appalachia Music Festival you have been a key component in allowing Lewisburg, West
Virginia to become a popular tourist attraction for music lovers. With your role as a
council member for the City of Lewisburg, you are always looking for more ways to
bring in tourists and different revenue streams for Lewisburg, West Virginia, and its
community. I admire how much you strive to make Lewisburg a better place by making it
a “must-see destination” for music-loving tourists.
Background and Purpose
The music festival industry generates on average $2.5 Million for local communities.
This past September, Halifax County, Virginia was able to generate between $500
thousand - $700 thousand just from taxes paid by the Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Local
small businesses in Halifax County saw sales reach extreme highs during the 4-day event.
According to The Gazette-Virginia, one local Halifax County restaurant, Spainhour
Diner, received more revenue during the 4-day event in 2022 than it did during the entire
month of September 2021 (Baines, 2022).
The Lewisburg City Council is constantly in search of new ideas to bring more tourists
and revenue into the community. Being in a rural area makes it difficult to create
appealing events that will bring many tourists to the area.
Proposed Plan of Action
“Swift Level Country Music Festival” is a music festival that can help generate a large
amount of revenue for Lewisburg, West Virginia. “Swift Level Country Music Festival”
will be a 3-day event that will take place in June 2022. Jennifer Jones, the owner of Swift
Level Farms, has already agreed to partner with “Swift Level Country Music Festival”
and host this event on her 700-acre property. The Lewisburg community will receive a
revenue stream from taxes collected from the event, fees from licensing and permits,
tourist purchases, and provide jobs for hundreds of Lewisburg residents. Once approved
by the council, we will begin to obtain all licenses, permits, and insurance that are needed
to execute this event.
Schedule
I have planned a schedule as follows:
Secure event location: October 18, 2022 (completed)
Bring event approval in front of the Lewisburg City Council Board: November 30, 2022

Begin obtaining permits, licenses, and insurance for the music festival: December 1, 2022
Contact possible sponsors and partnerships: January 9, 2023
Begin booking talent & obtaining contractor information: January 16, 2023
Begin marketing and advertising: February 1, 2023
First day of ticket sales: March 1, 2023
Begin accepting vendor applications: March 6, 2023
Map area for all locations needed (staging, camping, vendors, sanitation): April 3, 2023
Post open event positions on job boards: April 17, 2023
Begin hiring event staff: May 1, 2023
Train event staff: May 29, 2023 – June 2, 2023
Final preparations for music festival: June 3, 2023 – June 7, 2023
Campers begin arriving: June 8, 2023
Event: June 9, 2023 – June 11, 2023
Campers leave: June 12, 2023
Clean-up location: June 13 – June 27, 2023
Staffing
The following staff members will organize this event:
Johnathan Slye, MBM.: CEO of Purpose Driven Events
Melissa Miller, BMB: Director of Operations & Production
Tristan Suttle, BBM: Marketing Manager
Oliva Crance, BMB: Director of Talent
Katherine Goodbar, MF: Finance
Over 10 companies will be contracted out for other staffing positions.
5 Music Business college students for internship positions.
Budget
Below are the estimated calculations for organizing this event:
Location: $25,000
Travel & Lodging expenses for PDE staff: $3,000
Equipment Rental: $75,000
Fees, Permits, Licensing, Insurances: $15,000
Marketing: $8,000
Contracted Companies: $100,000
Added Staffing: $100,000
Talent: $3.5 Million
Grand Total: $3,826,000
Authorization
I am requesting your approval and vote for the “Swift Level Country Music Festival”
when brought to the City Council Board. Please contact me with a response no later than
November 30, 2022, at msmiller2@student.fullsail.edu or 123-456-7890. Together we
can bring even more music and revenue streams to Lewisburg, West Virginia.