Concerts in Colfax? Rock the vote to help make it happen

The small town of Colfax is bidding for a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which if selected would gain the town of 2,200 up to $120,000 in funding for 7-10 free outdoor concerts each summer for the next three years. This would also provide Colfax "a transformative boost for our downtown economy, community pride and regional visibility," according to a press release. A "Rock the Vote Colfax" concert was held last weekend to kick off the campaign, and voting ends at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Colfax currently ranks No. 43 overall in the voting and No. 25 for the specific grant it has requested based on the size of the city. Colfax needs to be in the top 50, according to Erin Newington of the Historic Colfax Downtown Association. Each city seeking the grant submitted a proposal, according to Newington. Those who finish voting in the top 50 then will have their proposals reviewed by a Levitt Grant Foundation board, which will then decide which cities are the most viable. Newington said Colfax is one of three cities in California that qualified to get to this point, another being Colusa. "We're definitely one of the smaller populations," she said. Colfax is now calling for regional support on voting until voting closes at 5 p.m. Sept. 15. Newington said Colfax has had "really great support from Placer County," including the office of Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, the arts council and economic development. "It's a really big deal for Colfax obviously, but it's a big deal for Placer County so we're just really excited for their support," Newington said. Concerts would be held at Depot Park in Colfax, in the grass area next to the train station, museum and visitor center. The grant funds would pay for staging, lighting and sound. "So it's going to be a real concert," Newington said. "We have a really good shot." There are two ways to vote: · Text COLFAX to 877-409-5525 · Online at www.levitt.org/vote