Organizers of MLK parade face a funding shortfall

Despite facing a funding shortfall, organizers will continue with plans for Mesa’s annual parade that honors slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

A committee that organizes the parade told a city advisory board that the parade and other festivities were still on target for mid-January, despite a drop in financial backing that’s blamed on the economy.

Mesa officials have in the past partially funded the parade, but such assistance saw drastic cuts in 2006. The city extended some support to the parade, including use of a street sweeper, insurance coverage for the event and free law-enforcement support.

Some fundraising efforts have helped steady the parade’s course. The money will go toward a prayer breakfast, festival and the parade on Jan. 18.