When Karin Manovich responded at the last minute to an invitation to host a major concert tour stopover in Troy, she never dreamed anything would come of that proposal.

Nearly a year after applying, she learned that Grammy Award winning English folk rock band Mumford & Sons was interested, very interested in this town of 25,000.

Last week Troy Main Street, Manovich’s downtown advocacy organization, joined other players in announcing that Troy would welcome the band and several others in a two-day music festival in August.

Venues for music, camping and other events will include downtown, Troy Memorial Stadium, the area along the Great Miami River and City Park.

“I knew it would be a huge thing if we got it, but I felt like the odds were really against it,” Manovich said. “I thought, ‘Well, you need to do it, just in case.’ So, I submitted it on the deadline with like minutes to spare.”

Local officials think that decision – and the sales job done by a local team formed to show the community’s ability to host a music festival – could mean a $12.6 million economic impact on the region.

Behind the scene planning went on secretly for three months, Manovich said.

The Troy City Council got in on the act one day before the band announced Troy as a tour stop Aug. 30-31.

The council approved a request to use the City Park for what then was being described only as a special event. The council also agreed to allow alcohol sale and consumption on city/park property during the event.

The vote was a deviation from past positions of the city and mayor prohibiting alcohol at events on city property. The exception is Hobart Arena where city voters agreed in 2008 to approve the sale.

Beamish, in a news release, said he recognized allowing alcohol at the stadium, downtown, park and river corridor was a “new concept.” He said he supported this alcohol request because he sees the stop as a once in a lifetime opportunity to highlight the community.

“I remain committed to Troy’s family-friendly culture and values but I recognize that this event promises to showcase Troy in its most positive light and will be an experience never to be forgotten,” Beamish said.