Well over 1-thousand firework enthusiasts from across the world will be in Newton with their families Saturday July 30th through Friday August 5th next year. That’s when Pyrotechnics Guild International will hold the organization’s annual convention at Iowa Speedway. Newton was one of about 4 cities across the Midwest who lobbied to be the 2022 convention site. At-Large Newton City Councilman Randy Ervin was among the group of City Officials and residents who pursued the convention. He claims the estimated economic impact Newton and Jasper County will see from the 7-day event is 2.5 to 3.5-million dollars. Late next week…Ervin says there will be a meeting to start organizing volunteers for the convention.

Ervin sees the volunteers being involved in two key areas.

The Newton City Councilman says having 800 hotel rooms and 300 campsites available was among the requirements to host the Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention. Again…that volunteer meeting is 5:30 next Thursday night September 30th at the Alta House Event Center, just east of the KOA Campground at 1600 East 36th Street South.