About $30,000 was raised Saturday night to benefit downtown revitalization efforts by Old Town Cape at the organization's annual auction.

Nearly 200 people attended The Charles L. Hutson Auction this year, and 900 attended a benefit concert following the auction at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus.

The event was sponsored by Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. and Southeast Missouri State University.

About $12,440 was raised from the sale of concert tickets alone. Another $7,335 was raised through auction ticket sales, and the sale of auction items generated $13,000.

Auction proceeds this year more than doubled what was raised at last year's auction, said Marla Mills, executive director. There are still some outstanding expenses to be paid from the auction proceeds that may change the final amount raised slightly, Mills said.

Funds raised will be used to cover a variety of expenses including staff salaries, administrative and office expenses, economic development, downtown activities, litter pickup, Christmas decorations and coordination of the downtown facade improvement loan program.

"It really benefits everything we do," Mills said of the auction proceeds. "It's a part of our budget that's unrestricted, which allows us to use it when we need it, where we need it."

This year's auction was one of the organization's most successful fundraisers in its 11-year history.

"Having the venue we had, it allowed us to have both events at the same place at the same time," Mills said. "Everybody is curious and excited about what the Isle can bring, so they were excited and curious about the event because the Isle was associated with it. Both our partners brought their own kind of synergy to the event."

Old Town Cape is a not-for-profit organization working on revitalizing downtown Cape Girardeau. It is one of six nationally accredited Main Street Programs in Missouri under the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Old Town Cape district covers 130 blocks, more than 300 businesses and more than 9,000 residents.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

418 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO