As more progress is being made for when the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) makes an overnight stop in Jefferson, the Executive Committee is reminding organizations and groups about being vendors.

The Executive Committee reminds for-profit and non-profit organizations that they are asked to pay vendor fees. RAGBRAI suggests that any vendor who sells food or merchandise as part of their normal, daily operations are exempt from paying any fees. Those for-profit businesses that would like to set up a tent, have an outdoor beer garden, or do another type of function on the day that RAGBRAI stops in Jefferson on July 23rd and are not part of the business’s daily operations, are being charged a $750 fee. Non-profits that don’t normally sell food or merchandise on a daily basis are asked to contribute $250 to be a vendor.

The Executive Committee says any entity that pays a vendor fee will get free advertising from the Jefferson RAGBRAI Committee by being included on maps and information tabloids. The Executive Committee points out that Jefferson is charging the lowest amount of fees for non-profits, with other overnight stop locations charging between $300 and $350.

The vendor fees will be used for logistics, law enforcement, entertainment, publicity and other necessities. Jefferson RAGBRAI is also committing any proceeds to be distributed back to the community through charitable donations to organizations and projects. To register as a vendor, go to jeffersonragbrai.com and click on the vendors tab.