NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Nebraska Tourism announced grant awards totaling $639,646 in the combined application cycle of the Community Impact and Tourism Marketing Grant programs on Friday. The Commission received 81 applications this grant cycle requesting $1,643,850.86 in funding.

Award recipients in the grant cycle include $13,695 for Visit North Platte’s 2024 marketing and the Golden Spike Tower and Visitors Center received $17,895 for marketing. In addition, Lincoln County Dusty Trails was awarded $4,000 to promote 2025 birding tours, the Lincoln County Historical Museum was awarded $2,000 for the Canteen Festival and the Gothenburg Chamber was awarded $8,500 for tourism marketing

“We are excited to once again see new events and places apply for our grant program, as well as try out new ideas this year,” John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism executive director, said. “As more and more potential visitors are considering Nebraska as a travel destination, we want to ensure that communities in all corners of our state are able to continue to market themselves and show off everything we have to offer.”

The full list of entities in the grant cycle is attached below:

• Arbor Day Foundation – Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farm Marketing: $13,500.00
• BFF Omaha – Benson Creative District Marketing: $11,555.00
• Boys Town/Father Flanagan’s Boys Home – Group Tour Advertising: $1,695.00
• BRAN – 42nd Annual Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska: $1,062.50
• Brownville Historical Society – Creative District Promotion: $4,792.50
• Burwell Area/Garfield County CVB – 2024 Marketing: $1,500.00
• Camp Outpost Inc – Tourism Outreach and Marketing: $6,000.00
• Cellar 426 – Ashland Area Marketing: $9,500.00
• Cherry County Tourism – 2024 Marketing: $9,000.00
• City of Hastings – Hastings Museum Marketing: $9,000.00
• Classic Car Collection – Visitor Awareness Campaign: $7,000.00
• Crane Trust – Website Development: $10,000.00
• Dusty Trails – Promotion of 2025 Birding Tours: $4,000.00
• Falls City Chamber of Commerce – Falls City Marketing: $14,662.50
• Fontenelle Forest – Marketing: $13,500.00
• Friends of the State Museum – Photography Services: $4,500.00
• Gage County Tourism – Marketing: $8,250.00
• Gering Visitors Bureau – Group Tour Promotions: $6,690.00
• Golden Spike Tower & Visitors Center – Marketing: $17,895.00
• Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce – Tourism Marketing: $8,500.00
• Grand Island Hall County CVB – 2024 Grand Island Branding Campaign: $7,295.00
• Hallins Corporation – Promotion of LOVAM Jazz Festival: $5,625.00
• Kearney Visitors Bureau – Visit Kearney Marketing Campaign: $21,050.00
• Kiewit Luminarium – 2024 Tourism Marketing: $25,000.00
• Knox County Visitors Committee – Photography Services: $4,430.00
• Lincoln Arts Council – 2024 Lincoln Arts Festival Promotions: $5,000.00
• Lincoln Calling – Music Festival Promotion: $5,000.00
• Lincoln County Historical Museum – North Platte Canteen Festival: $2,000.00
• Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway Marketing Campaign: $7,500.00
• MECA Tri-Park Complex – The Riverfront: $12,000.00
• Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce – Marketing: $11,000.00
• Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild – Drink Like a Local, Even if You’re Just Visiting Campaign: $10,500.00
• Nebraska Flyway – 2025 Marketing: $8,000.00
• Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation – Walk to the Rock and WanderNebraska Marketing: $21,000.00
• Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association – Marketing Promotions: $18,000.00
• Niobrara Valley Vineyards – NVV Dark Sky RV Park: $13,434.38
• Northwest Nebraska – Discover Northwest Nebraska: $12,000.00
• Omaha BMX – 2024 Visitor Campaign: $12,000.00
• Omaha Downtown Improvement District – Celebrating 50 Years of Omaha’s Old Market: $24,000.00
• Omaha Film Festival – 20th Annual Event: $16,000.00
• Omaha Freedom Festival – Freedomtainment: $5,000.00
• Omaha Sports Commission – Marketing: $9,460.00
• Omaha Summer Arts Festival – Celebrating 50 Years: $8,000.00
• Omaha WhiskeyFest – Festival Promotion: $10,000.00
• Omaha’s Original Greek Festival – Promotion: $500.00
• Opera Omaha – 2024-2025 Season Promotion: $2,065.00
• Ord Area Chamber – Valley County Tourism Marketing: $5,750.00
• Oregon Trail Community Foundation – Old West Balloon Fest 2024: $3,000.00
• Partners for Livable Omaha – North Omaha Cultural Heritage Tourism & Pull Up and Vibe Festival: $5,700.00
• Phelps County – Visit 37: $5,250.00
• Pink Gorilla Events – Good Life Halfsy Social Media Blitz Campaigns: $3,000.00
• Red Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce – Marketing: $9,750.00
• Sandhills Global Event Center – Photography and Videography: $25,000.00
• Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway – Branding Project: $12,500.00
• Sports Nebraska – Marketing: $13,000.00
• Springfield Community Foundation – Crafting an Unforgettable Destination Experience: $10,750.00
• Stuhr Museum – Marketing: $1,500.00
• Taste of Omaha Festival – Marketing: $4,500.00
• The Archway – Marketing: $6,500.00
• Thunder by the River – Event Marketing: $5,000.00
• Valley Rods Unlimited – 2024 Father’s Day Car Show Promotions: $375.00
• Visit Norfolk – 2024 Marketing: $10,200.00
• Visit North Platte – 2024 Marketing: $13,695.00
• Visit Omaha – 2024 Marketing: $12,315.00
• Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition – 2024 Marketing: $10,000.00
• Willa Cather Foundation – Marketing: $15,150.00
• Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska – Promotion of the Annual Homecoming Celebration Powwow: $20,000.00
• WNCC Foundation – Promotion of Platte Valley Companies Monument Marathon: $8,250.00

To learn more about future grant opportunities through the Nebraska Tourism Commission, visit https://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/category/grants.

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