NTC announces 2015 Tourism Marketing Grants
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Heather Hogue, 402-471-3774
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nebraska Tourism Commission announces 2015 Tourism Marketing Grants
LINCOLN, NEB. (March 12, 2015)— The Nebraska Tourism Commission today announced 26 tourism marketing grants totaling nearly $200,000 for entities across the state. The Tourism Marketing Grant Program is very competitive and involves a selection committee of professional grant reviewers from both the private and public sectors, as well as private citizens. During this grant cycle, the Commission received proposals from 52 applicants requesting more than $530,000 in funding. General funds are designated for use in the Commission’s grant programs, the funds are then awarded to organizations to promote attractions and activities throughout the state of Nebraska.
“The grant program helps Nebraska communities spread the word about what Nebraska has to offer potential travelers,” said Nebraska Tourism Director Kathy McKillip. “We take this time to not only congratulate the awardees, but to encourage everyone to populate our new interactive website, to promote their business, attractions, or special event. The redesigned site allows tourism entities the opportunity to keep their destination’s listing constantly current, by logging-in online and making changes instantaneously at the click of a button.” To find out more about how to claim your destination, go to VisitNebraska.com and click Help.
Grant recipients include:
• Boys Town Christmas Family Festival: $7,933 for radio and online advertising
• Brownville Fine Arts Concert Series: $2,952.45 for radio advertising
• Burwell’s Rowse’s 1+1 Ranch: $8,062.50 for their international online marketing campaign
• Byway 136 - Heritage Highway: $3,037.50 for website development
• Columbus/Platte County Convention & Visitors Bureau: $9,000 for website redevelopment
• The Country Market of Pilger: $2,000 for newspaper and online advertising
• Gage County Tourism: $14,834.00 for print, online and radio advertising
• Gering’s Legacy of the Plains: $3,000 to promote Fall into Western Nebraska
• Grand Island Convention & Visitors Bureau: $9,710 to promote the Sandhill Crane Migration
• Kearney Visitors Bureau: $11,650 for their sports marketing campaign
• Lincoln Children’s Zoo: $14,800 radio and billboard advertising
• Lincoln County Historical Museum: $6,837.55 to promote the 2015 Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous
• Minden Chamber of Commerce: $6,750 to promote the Century of Lights
• Nebraska Association of Bed & Breakfast: $3,300 for video, photography and brochure creation
• Nebraska Rural Living: $11,700 to promote the 36 Hours Discovering Trails and Towns in Arapahoe, Cambridge & McCook regional campaign
• Norfolk Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: $7,500 to fund photo library enhancements
• Norfolk’s Great American Comedy Festival: $2,209 for brochures and radio advertising
• North Platte Community College Foundation: $4,500 for radio promotion of the 2015 Rail Town USA College Rodeo
• Ord Area Chamber of Commerce: $11,250 for website enhancements/mobile marketing
• Pink Gorilla Events: $8,750 to promote the 2015 Good Life Halfsy
• Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau: $4,596 to market circle tours
• SeptemberFest Marketing: $15,000 for mobile app creation, online advertising and social media campaign
• Southeast Nebraska Tourism Council: $11,665 for their regional marketing campaign
• Star City Pride: $9,841.56 for brochures, newspaper advertising and trade show promotions for the 2015 event
• Stuhr Museum Foundation: $3,591 for ExploreBoards marketing
• Willa Cather Foundation: $5,508 for radio and magazine advertising
The mission of the Nebraska Tourism Commission is to expand Nebraska’s dynamic and diverse travel industry making it more viable by creating awareness, attracting increased visitors which results in greater tourism revenue and economic gain throughout the state. To learn more, go to www.VisitNebraska.com.
Order your free travel guide today at www.VisitNebraska.com. Then stay connected with Nebraska Tourism on our Visit Nebraska Facebook page, on Twitter, on Pinterest and on YouTube.
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