Cleveland needs $25M more to cover GOP convention expenses

CLEVELAND (AP) — The head of an organizing committee says Cleveland must raise an additional $25 million to meet its money commitment for the 2016 Republican National Convention next July.

Officials said they would raise $64 million in cash and in-kind contributions to cover local costs when the Republican National Committee awarded Cleveland the convention last August. David Gilbert of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee said last week there would be a national push to seek donations from corporations and individuals.

Gilbert says Cleveland is on track to reserve the 16,000 hotel rooms required by the RNC. Around 50,000 people are expected to attend the convention and related activities during the four-day event scheduled for July 18-21.

Gilbert and other officials were planning to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss convention planning.