More than $800,000 in tourism grants awarded to Nebraska groups

More than five dozen groups will receive tourism grants this year totaling more than $800,000.

Visit Nebraska, the state’s official tourism site, on Tuesday announced 69 grants worth $828,131.

Many of the grants are small, with more than half coming in at less than $10,000 and about three-fourths less than $20,000.

“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," Jenn Gjerde, Nebraska Tourism's just-appointed executive director, said in a news release.

A few of the grants are larger and target bigger events. Among them are:

• $60,000.00 to the Omaha Sports Commission to promote a major cycling race and an international volleyball tournament this year;
• More than $45,000 to the to Lancaster County Agricultural Society and the Sandhills Global Event Center for promotion of the National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln in 2027;
• A $40,000 grant to Omaha’s Latino Economic Development Council for Cinco de Mayo 2026 marketing
• $40,000 to Visit Lincoln to assist with a Savannah Bananas event coming to Haymarket Park and Memorial Stadium in June.

Visit Nebraska said it received 84 applications seeking more than $2 million in funding.