The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition’s (DMMC) 80/35 music festival has been accepted into the Pepsi Refresh Project. The program is giving away millions of dollars in grants each month to fund refreshing ideas that have a positive impact on communities.
80/35 is in the $50,000 grant category with voting taking place from August 1-31. Supporters can vote for the festival once per day. The DMMC would use the grant to expand upon the annual music festival, in particular a stage for emerging artists.
The volunteer-based DMMC has been working to grow Des Moines’ progressive music culture since its formation in 2004. The organization had a goal to develop an outdoor progressive music festival since its inception in an effort to…
- Provide Entertainment Value: Provide high-value entertainment at a reasonable cost to thousands of local fans and visitors.
- Generate Economic Impact: Attract progressive music fans from all Midwestern states.
- Recruit and Retain Workforce: Showcase newly revitalized downtown Des Moines as an attractive place to live and work.
- Strengthen Local Music Industry: Local musicians will perform for the largest audience they have experienced.
- Encourage multiculturalism and collaboration: Attract a multi-cultural audience and create awareness of area arts and advocacy organizations.
The goal became a reality when the first 80/35 launched in 2008. Each year the festival has drawn around 30,000 people to downtown Des Moines to see national, regional, and local bands. The DMMC is encouraging supporters of 80/35 to help grow the event by voting for the festival in the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Also, in coordination with the national Pepsi Refresh healthy living project, the Jaguars Foundation and Baptist Health are partnering with Pepsi to create or expand community gardens in Jacksonville and the surrounding counties