During their rescheduled January meeting, the Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC) voted not to add additional sponsorship to CRAPPIEFEST. According to WCEDC Executive Director Christine Thomas, the fishing festival has already received $7,000 of Wood County Hotel and Occupancy Tax (HOT) grants, and current Wood County policy does not allow for additional sponsorship.

The commission also noted that “there’s a need for us to put pen to paper” regarding current airport reinvestment zone protocols. Thomas said that the commission intends to make reinvestment zone, and opportunity zone, possibilities more publicly available and transparent.

According to her, federal opportunity zones, where local businesses have an option to reinvest their capital gain, may be expanding under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Thomas said that, due to the zone’s re-designation clause, eligible Wood County businesses may grow from about 30% to 50%  or more in 2026.

The WCEDC presentation on Okrapalooza, and the Rock the Pines sponsorship vote, were postponed until the February meeting.