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Visit Nebraska Awards 2026 Grant Funds

PRESS RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
 

Ben Jones at 402-326-9941, or [email protected]

LINCOLN, Neb. - (February 17, 2026) - Visit Nebraska today announced grant awards totaling $828,131 in funding in the combined application cycle of the Community Impact and Visit Nebraska Marketing Grant programs. Visit Nebraska received a total of 84 applications this grant cycle requesting just over $2,000,000 in funding.
 
“Through this year’s grant cycle, we are strategically reinvesting tourism dollars into communities across Nebraska, balancing statewide promotion with targeted local support to maximize economic impact," said Jenn Gjerde, Nebraska Tourism executive director.

The 69 awardees this grant cycle include:  

  • $11,250.00 to the American Boer Goat Association for promotion of the 2026 ABGA/JABGA National Show Event in Grand Island
  • $8,000.00 to BFF Omaha Benson’s Creative District for marketing promotions
  • $6,000.00 to Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska BRAN for promotion of the 2026 event
  • $4,105.00 to Burwell Area/Garfield County CVB for promotional Advertising
  • $7,875.00 to Capitol View Winery Ball Vineyards & Estates for the Renaissance of Capitol View: A Visual & Digital Reintroduction
  • $750.00 to Central City Area Chamber of Commerce for attendance at the UMCVB Conference
  • $25,000.00 to the City of Fremont Creative District for marketing promotions
  • $38,000.00 to the City of Ralston’s Hinge Creative District for promotion of the Heartland Plein Air Art Festival
  • $8,550.00 to the City of Scribner for destination marketing and video storytelling initiative
  • $5,500.00 to Classic Car Collection for the American Automobile Experience Visitor Awareness Campaign
  • $11,868.00 to Country Drive Golf Course for promotion of the Country Drive Music Fest 2026
  • $2,500.00 to Crawford Serving Humanities for the Vietnam Wall and Cost of Freedom Tribute
  • $7,500.00 to Dawes County for Discover Northwest Nebraska marketing
  • $11,900.00 to Durham Museum for image and video library and advertising expansion
  • $14,033.00 to Ellsworth Crossing Inc. for farm-to-fork marketing awareness and education campaign
  • $1,795.00 to Father Flanagan's Boys Home/Boys Town for attendance at 2027 American Bus Association Marketplace event
  • $6,500.00 to Fontenelle Forest for photo library development and collateral improvement
  • $4,210.00 to Fort Robinson Centennial Inc. for promotion of the Western & Wildlife Art Show
  • $3,000.00 to Freedomtainment for promotion of the Omaha Freedom Festival/UnifyFest
  • $4,000.00 to Fremont/Dodge County Convention & Visitors Bureau for funding assistance to host a micro-influencer
  • $3,000.00 to Friends of the State Museum for promotion of the Paleo Passport
  • $2,095.00 to Gering Visitors Bureau for attendance at the Destinations International annual convention
  • $12,495.00 to Golden Spike Tower for marketing promotions
  • $25,000.00 to Goodlife Adventures for promotion of the Gravel Worlds event
  • $2,625.00 to Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotions
  • $16,415.00 to Grand Island Children's Museum for promotion of An EPIC Opening
  • $7,721.00 to Great Platte River Road Memorial Foundation for marketing efforts
  • $2,625.00 to Hallins Corporation for promotion of the LOVAM Jazz Festival
  • $5,000.00 to Harold Warp Pioneer Village Foundation for Reaching Beyond Nebraska's Borders: Introducing Pioneer Village to a New Audience
  • $14,759.25 to the Hastings Museum for museum and Kool-Aid promotions
  • $45,125.00 to Lancaster County Agricultural Society/Sandhills Global Event Center for promotion of the National High School Finals Rodeo 2027
  • $40,000.00 to Latino Economic Development Council for promotion of Cinco de Mayo 2026
  • $5,925.00 to Lauritzen Gardens for promotion of Dinosaurs Around the World and Polina Gardens
  • $3,500.00 to Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation for the Historic Haymarket Rebranding Project
  • $8,000.00 to Lincoln Highway National Scenic & Historic Byway for scenic byway promotions
  • $13,250.00 to LUX Center for the Arts for promotion of the Visit Lincoln, Visit LUX campaign
  • $10,750.00 to Maha Festival YFC Inc. for promotion of the 2026 Maha Music Festival
  • $3,750.00 to Maine-Anjou & Chianina for promotion of the Jr. Heifer Show in Grand Island
  • $6,375.00 to Minden Chamber of Commerce for promotion of Minden's 150th Anniversary Celebration
  • $8,250.00 to National Willa Cather Center for Cather Immersion Marketing campaign
  • $10,000.00 to Nebraska City Historical Society for promotion of Trails that Moved a Nation - 250th Anniversary Edition
  • $12,500.00 to Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival for promotion of Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival and Dream Warriors Experience 2026
  • $18,000.00 to Nebraska Flyway for promotional advertising
  • $3,881.25 to Nebraska State Snowmobile Association for promotion of the International Snowmobile Congress 2026
  • $18,000.00 to Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Association for the Nebraska Regional Wine Trail Marketing Initiative
  • $12,875.00 to Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
  • $5,000.00 to the Old Market Association for social media marketing
  • $3,000.00 to Old West Balloon Fest for promotion of Old West Balloon Fest
  • $60,000.00 to the Omaha Sports Commission for Aksarben TIRC regional marketing and FIVB event
  • $4,000.00 to Panhandle Frontier Finds for promotion of the Panhandle Frontier Finds collaboration event
  • $9,000.00 to Phelps County Visitors Committee for promotion of Visit 37 Phelps County campaign
  • $18,000.00 to Red Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce for Discover Red Coud campaign
  • $7,440.00 to Rooted Books & Gifts for promotion of the Nebraska Book Trail 2026
  • $15,500.00 to Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway for advertising and influencer promotions
  • $1,356.00 to Sheridan County Tourism for production of the Sheridan County tourism brochure
  • $24,750.00 to Sherman County Economic Development for the Wave Back Country regional tourism collaboration
  • $13,000.00 to Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch for marketing promotions
  • $6,202.50 to South Sioux City Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions
  • $14,500.00 to Sports Nebraska for attendance at TEAMS Conference
  • $5,500.00 to Stuhr Museum for promotional advertising
  • $4,500.00 to Unity in Action for promotion of Celebrando Siouxland
  • $11,675.00 to Visit Columbus Platte County for marketing promotions
  • $23,035.00 to Visit Kearney for marketing promotions
  • $40,000.00 to Visit Lincoln for 2026 Savannah Bananas event assistance
  • $22,240.00 to Visit North Platte for tourism promotions
  • $15,675.00 to Visit Omaha for marketing promotions
  • $4,000.00 to WeeShire Mains Inc. for marketing promotions
  • $4,125.00 to Western Nebraska Community College for promotion of the PVC Monument Marathon
  • $21,380.00 to Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition for marketing promotions


For additional information about future grant opportunities through the Nebraska Tourism Commission, please visit https://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/category/grants

For more information about travel, events and unique destinations in Nebraska, order your free travel guide today at VisitNebraska.com. Then stay connected with Nebraska Tourism on our Visit Nebraska Facebook page, on X, on Pinterest, on Instagram and on YouTube.

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 VisitNebraska.com.