Community Impact Grant Program

The Community Impact Grant Program, administered by the Nebraska Tourism Commission under Nebraska Revised Statute 81-3725, is designed to support marketing efforts for national or international-caliber events hosted in Nebraska. These grants aim to assist communities and organizations in attracting out-of-state visitors and generating favorable media coverage that elevates Nebraska’s profile on a national or international stage. This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to bolstering tourism through strategic promotional activities and high-impact events. Eligible applicants include local governments such as cities, counties, villages, and tribal entities, as well as other community-based organizations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with their local destination marketing organization (DMO). State and federal government agencies are explicitly ineligible. Only one independent grant award per applicant is allowed per cycle, though participation in a cooperative application is permitted. Applications must include documentation of out-of-state visitation potential, marketing strategies to be funded, methodologies for tracking marketing impact, and potential for national or international press coverage. Grant requests must range between $25,000 and $250,000 and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash by the applicant. In-kind contributions are not acceptable for the match requirement. All funds, including both the awarded grant and the matching amount, must be fully expended before reimbursement, and a single reimbursement request must be submitted within 90 days of the event or by May 31, 2027, whichever comes first. Events occurring after May 31, 2027, are permitted as long as expenses are incurred and the reimbursement request is submitted by that date. Eligible activities include national or international event promotion through broadcast, media, or digital platforms, as well as support for competitive bidding costs such as venue rentals and bid fees to attract events to Nebraska. Marketing must be targeted outside the state to attract national or international visitors. Directed-marketing opportunities are also encouraged, such as premium advertising in the 2027 Official Nebraska Travel Guide, priced at $12,000, which includes editorial and social media exposure through Visit Nebraska’s channels. Applications are due by December 18, 2025, and must be submitted by email in acceptable digital formats. Required components include a cover page, budget worksheet, event and marketing descriptions, supporting documentation, and letters of support from directly affected organizations. If awarded, applicants must allow Visit Nebraska to be involved in event sponsorship and participation without additional cost. All grant recipients are required to submit a final project report as part of the reimbursement process. This report must include attendance figures, marketing implementation summaries, and evidence of press coverage and out-of-state visitor impact. Reimbursement will be based on verified documentation such as paid invoices and cleared checks. For questions, applicants may contact Grant Administrator Heather Hogue at heather.hogue@nebraska.gov or 402-471-3774.

Prioritize national/international events with strong marketing impact tracking.