At a time when companies are pulling sponsorships out of local festivals, the Indio International Tamale Festival has just signed its title sponsor to a $105,000, three-year contract.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has agreed to be the title sponsor for the 2008-10 festivals, city officials announced this week.

“We know this is a great event, and it is not going anywhere,” said Jim Curtis, city human services supervisor who oversees special events.

Curtis said he approached Fantasy Springs and other festival sponsors for multi-year contracts beginning this year.

Traditionally, corporate sponsors renew their contracts annually.

For the past five years, the Indio casino has signed one-year sponsorship contracts.

Fantasy Springs will stand by its commitment to the festival despite tough economic times, casino spokesman Frank Torok said.

“It is such a great event, and it is in our backyard,” Torok said. “We plan on being here for a while, and I know with our support, the tamale festival will keep going.”

As the title sponsor, the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will provide $35,000 each year to the festival in the form of cash, marketing and hotel rooms for festival entertainment, Curtis said.

The festival began in 1992, with an attendance of 2,500, organizers said. Last year's attendance was 115,000.