County Tourism Board funds promotional projects

HARTINGTON – The Cedar County Tourism Board (CCTB) met and reviewed applications for projects and events that will support county businesses and bring visitors to the area.

Three grant applications were awarded: - Bow Valley Ballroom, $2,500 to create a History Hall.

- Hartington Creative Council, $819.52 for a trash can with clear panels to promote local events, including the Historic Tour.

- News Channel Nebraska, $5,425 (with county commissioner approval) for a project promoting tourism in the county. It will include all 14 communities, starting in June.

Aug. 31 is the next deadline for submitting funding requests to publicize events, or to create or improve physical structures that draw visitors to the county.

Grant applications and guidelines may be found online at the Cedar County website, cedarcountyne. gov, under “Lodging Tax Grant Application.”

Entities may apply once each calendar year for up to $2,500 in the bricks-and-mortar improvement category and $1,000 in advertising, promotion and publicity support. Grant requests must include estimates/bids related to the project or event, to support the funds being requested.

If funded, applicants must submit a project report to the CCTB, including documentation of expenses, and reports must be postmarked no later than 60 days after the date of the event that was supported or the date by which the bricks-and-mortar project was completed. Funded organizations who do not submit timely reports are not eligible for future funding.

Applications and reports should be mailed to the CCTB chairperson, P.O. Box 141, Laurel, NE 68745, or emailed to CedarCoTB@gmail.com. Email is preferred.