By MATT BLOIS
The nonprofit that has operated the Rippavilla Plantation for years submitted an updated proposal to continue running the historic property. The proposal lays out how Rippavilla Inc. would work with the city to manage the mansion.
The nonprofit gave the historic home to the city of Spring Hill last year, and the city decided to hire an outside organization to run it. With several decades of experience operating that property, Rippavilla Inc. appears to be a likely candidate. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will vote on the proposal at an upcoming meeting.
Rippavilla Inc. has already submitted a proposal to the city, but the Board of Mayor and Aldermen asked for clarification on a couple of points in that plan. Some aldermen wanted to see a specific marketing plan, and others wanted to make sure the agreement made it clear how the nonprofit would spend the city’s money.
Director of Operations Kate Wilson said she was committed to keeping track of how the changes in the proposal affect the management of the historic home.
“I’m really big on assessment. I love metrics,” she said. “Everything we have outlined in here, we’re going to have all that data available.”
Under the updated plan, the city of Spring Hill would give $100,000 of its hotel motel tax revenue to the nonprofit each year. That money would be used for major maintenance projects on the property. The city hopes that investment will boost economic development by attracting tourists interested in history.
Additionally, the grounds of the plantation would essentially become a large public park for the residents of Spring Hill.
The nonprofit would run the day-to-day operations of the mansion, such as tours, weddings, events and historic interpretation. Both the city and the nonprofit hope that eventually those services can pay for the mansion’s operating budget.
The new proposal calls for hiring a marketing agency to increase the public’s awareness of the property and attract tourism. The organization hopes to accomplish that by publishing on social media, updating its website and using updated photos.
The proposal says historic sites and museums have seen lower attendance rates and that survival means “removing the image of the dusty old inanimate place and replacing it with the image of a vibrant cultural and interactive community center.”
A proposed budget for the next year shows that the organization is already hoping to reduce its reliance on the city’s $100,000 supplement.
The organization hopes to book at least 20 weddings in the next year and increase revenues from weddings to $70,00 per year. It has also raised the price of weddings to $3,500. The organization is also hoping to increase revenue from tourism and by renting out its large kitchen.