Funding Uncertainty for the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center in Columbus
Columbus residents are facing some uncertainty regarding the future of the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center. The Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation (CCHF) decided to reject an $81,000 grant from the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for this fiscal year. There was a contract with certain terms attached to the funding that caught leadership by surprise.
Unexpected Contract Surprises
CCHF Chairwoman Brenda Willis expressed that the board was taken aback by the appearance of a contract, noting that this was a first for them. In previous years, the funding arrangements were a lot more straightforward without any formalized contracts.
The change seems to stem from a recent restructuring following a ruling from the Mississippi Ethics Commission, which decided that the CVB and the CCHF boards needed to separate to avoid conflicts of interest in financial dealings. This split occurred back in March 2023, making 2023 an unusual year for both entities.
Why Now? A New Contractual Approach
According to CVB attorney John Brady, the decision to create a contract was intended to establish clearer expectations. In the past, the two organizations had the same members on their boards.
The funding, which the CVB designated in its budget, was considered crucial for the operations of the Tennessee Williams home. “The funding that we agreed to give them was necessary for the operations of the Tennessee Williams home,” CVB board president Liz Terry noted, stressing that they also had to consider budget constraints on their end.
Legal Considerations and A Need for Accountability
State law allows the visitors bureau to fund visitor centers run by non-profits or government bodies, but it doesn’t cover other types of expenses that a non-profit may incur. Recent advice from Attorney General Lynn Fitch clarified that the CVB had the authority to provide funding under the law, but accountability measures were deemed necessary.
The proposed contract would require CCHF to provide a budget and proof of spending for the allocated funds, and it specified that money must only be utilized for the home itself, excluding any salaries, which raised some eyebrows among CCHF board members.
Concerns Over Control
Willis mentioned that CCHF has always maintained transparency with financials, partnering with T.E. Lott for financial management. Yet, she felt the contract implied that the CVB was acting as though they owned the Tennessee Williams home rather than merely funding it.
In her words, “It’s the same things they were doing before that the ethics commission and the attorney general ruled on.”
Renovation Delays and Future Plans
The Tennessee Williams home has been closed for renovations since April. Initially anticipated to be completed by the end of August, unexpected structural issues led to further delays and an increase in renovation costs—from an estimated $200,000 to about $300,000. CCHF’s CEO, Nancy Carpenter, has been actively fundraising to cover these extra expenses.
With the aim to reopen the home by November, the foundation is hopeful that typical operational hours can resume. However, without the financial backing from the CVB, CCHF has begun searching for alternative funding sources for operational costs and their staff, although specific details about those avenues remain under wraps.
A Willingness to Negotiate
Despite the current impasse, CCHF remains open to dialogue with the visitors bureau. Willis articulated the hope that both parties could reach an agreement to secure funding for the welcome center, emphasizing that they would like to understand the CVB’s concerns regarding the contract terms.
As the situation unfolds, residents of Columbus will be keenly watching to see how the future of the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center plays out.
