The V.I. Port Authority has donated $50,000 for the Sinbad Soul Music Festival since the festival shifted venues from Crown Bay to Lionel Roberts Stadium.
Gordon Finch, the authority's executive director, said the decision meant the Port Authority wouldn't have to invest money to fix up Crown Bay, and thus could respond to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's request to all agencies to give top priority to helping the Sinbad festival succeed. Finch presented a check to Turnbull on Wednesday.
The Tourism Department will need about $150,000 to prepare Lionel Roberts and other areas for festival events.
The festival is expected to draw an upscale crowd of about 8,000 visitors who will pump millions of dollars into the local economy.