LINCOLN, Neb.- Nebraska Tourism today announced grant awards totaling $812,410.20 in the combined application cycle of the Community Impact and Tourism Marketing Grant programs. The Commission received a total of 66 applications this grant cycle requesting $1,646,819.07 in funding.
The Commission’s grant programs are very competitive and involve a selection committee of grant reviewers from the private and public sectors, and citizens at large.
"With the grant program we hope to help communities throughout the state to be able to market their destination or event to potential travelers. There were many creative grant proposals and many first-time proposals this year. We're really happy to see new and returning organizations and communities trying to promote themselves and we're looking forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on Nebraska’s tourism industry," said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism Commission executive director.
Awardees this grant cycle include:
- $250,000 to the Omaha Sports Commission for the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials – Swimming
- $112,000 to the Omaha Equestrian Foundation for the FEI World Cup Finals
- $74,050 to the Lancaster Event Center for the 2021 National High School Finals Rodeo
- $50,000 to the Grand Island/Hall County Visitors Bureau for promotion of the Nebraska Flyway
- $24,933.14 to Kearney Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
- $18,400.00 to North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
- $13,250 to Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farm for marketing promotions
- $12,000 to Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
- $12,000 to Columbus/Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
- $12,000 to Box Butte Development for Chart Your Course, Visit Alliance
- $11,500 to Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway for marketing outreach
- $11,500 to Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition for professional photography
- $11,000 to Crane Trust for promotion of the spring migration
- $10,500 to Superior Estates Winery for Discover, Capture, Experience Marketing
- $10,500 to Nebraska City Tourism for marketing promotion
- $10,500 to Kearney Cultural Partners/Merryman Performing Arts Center to promote Mid-Nebraska's Cultural Destination
- $9,900 to Visit Omaha for marketing promotions
- $9,450 to Phelps County Visitors Committee for The Sky is the Limit marketing
- $8,250 to the National Willa Cather Center for Walk in Her Footsteps, Stay in Her Town
- $8,250 to Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce for social media and print advertising
- $8,240 to Sports Nebraska for marketing promotions
- $8,000 to Cherry County Tourism for photography and marketing campaign
- $7,540 to Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau and Gering Visitors Bureau for photography
- $7,500 to Lincoln Calling for promotion of their music festival in 2020
- $7,000 to the Museum of Nebraska Art for The View is Great From Here!
- $6,750 to Harold Warp Pioneer Village for marketing promotions
- $6,400 to Riverside Discovery Center for marketing promotions
- $6,375 to The Archway marketing promotions
- $5,500 to YFC Inc for promotion of 2020 Maha Festival
- $5,250 to Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame Foundation for marketing promotions
- $5,250 to Northwest Nebraska Tourism for digital campaign
- $5,000 to Old West Balloon Fest and 2020 US Nationals Hot Air Balloon Championship for event promotion
- $4,500 to Omaha Old Market Association for Celebrating Old Market
- $4,250 to Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau for group tour promotions
- $4,210 to Durham Museum for marketing promotions
- $4,000 to Father Flanagan's Boys' Home for promotion of Discover Boys Town
- $3,750 to Nebraska Association of Bed & Breakfasts for marketing promotions
- $3,375 to Nebraska's Junk Jaunt 2020 for event promotion
- $3,125 to Ravenna Chamber of Commerce to promote Annevar 2020
- $3,050 to John G. Neihardt Foundation for a rebranding project
- $3,000 to Fontenelle Forest for marketing promotions
- $3,000 to Opera Omaha for promotion of their 2020-2021 season
- $2,600 to Wayne Area Economic Development for Spreading our Wings in 2020 marketing
- $2,500 to Lincoln Arts Council for promotion of the Lincoln Arts Festival
- $2,250 to Visit Knox County for professional photography
- $2,019.06 to Nebraska Horse Trails Committee for Expo 2020
- $2,000 to Friends of Lewis and Clark Bicentennial for 2020 marketing
- $1,555.50 to Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) for promotion of the 40th Annual event
- $1,500 to Burwell Area/Garfield County Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing
- $1,500 to Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce for marketing promotions
- $1,000 to the Nebraska Sports Council for promotion of the Cornhusker State Games
- $437.50 to Dobby's Frontier Town for marketing promotions
For additional information about future grant opportunities through the Nebraska Tourism Commission, please visit https://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/category/grants