The Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC) board voted Wednesday afternoon to table a vote on how much funding to give CRAPPIEFEST.

WCEDC Executive Director Christine Thomas said CRAPPIEFEST has already received $7,000 in HOT (hotel occupancy tax) grants and has also asked for additional funding. The board will consider all items and vote in January.

Thomas also noted that the executive board encouraged organizers of the 2026 Rock The Pines Christian music festival to apply for the 2027 HOT grant. This is because the event will be held in October 2026 (a new fiscal year).

Thomas said that Wood County sales tax is “on par” to be ahead of last year in sales tax income. The visitors’ guide, which had been “ready to roll out” in November, needed some updates, so it will be done shortly. The updated EDC website is still being worked on.

Procedures on implementing a Wood County aviation education program are being fine-tuned, said Thomas. “Key players” like Jarvis Christian University, Tyler Junior College, all Wood County school districts, and more have shown interest in participating. 

Wood County EDC Director Todd Witt noted that Wood County Walls (WCW) is partnering with the University of Texas at Tyler Art Department to create a mural at the Northeast Texas Prairie Community Classroom in Yantis. The art department may also collaborate with WCW to bring in students to act as “gallery managers” for a WCW street art museum. WCW is also partnering with the UT Tyler Soules College of Business to create a “giving mentality” marketing campaign.

“Everything’s moving; it’s just moving at a volunteer’s pace,” said Witt, who is also a full-time teacher at Grand Saline ISD.

The Wood County commissioners plan to set a public hearing at their next meeting to discuss and potentially adopt updated guidelines on tax abatement. Updates include delineating the powers of the commissioners in allowed tax abatement, and definition updates to include “Wood County.”