Story Published:
Jun 24, 2009 at 7:00 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jun 24, 2009 at 10:25 AM CDT
NIXA, Mo. -- Springfield won't have its annual Firefall celebration after the City cut its contribution to the Springfield-Greene County Parks Department because of a decline in sales tax revenue. Now, Nixa also won't have its annual fireworks show after the city lost its biggest source of employment -- the construction industry.
Ultimately, Nixa's Chamber of Commerce had a decision to make. At $12,000, the 18-minute fireworks show was one it could do without.
The show is a symbol of freedom but, this year, Nixa's chamber is constrained by lack of income and can't afford any bedazzling pyrotechnic displays. Six of its corporate sponsors pulled out and the City of Nixa also couldn't afford to support the fireworks show.
"We had all those construction folks coming in, from the developers, guys digging the hole, guys putting on the roofs, and everything in between. When you take that much business out of a community, that hits everybody, hits the city, all our businesses," said Sharon Whitehill Gray, president of Nixa's Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber made other cuts too, including staff. Whitehill Gray says it came down to funding the fireworks or not paying for necessities like electricity or possibly closing the chamber a couple days a week, and they didn't want to do that.
