Gov. Heineman Announces 2007-08 Tourism Advantage Matching Grants

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman announced nearly $500,000 in grants designed to help promote tourism in communities across the state. A total of 27 grants will be distributed as part of the Tourism Advantage Matching Grant Program.

“These grants help spread the word about places to visit and things to do in Nebraska and will give an added boost to an industry responsible for creating and sustaining jobs, particularly in our rural areas," Gov. Heineman said.

Grants are matched dollar for dollar by local groups and help cover the cost of production and placement of mass media advertising, Web site development, the production and distribution of maps and brochures, direct mail advertising, and participation in travel and trade shows.

This is the third year of the program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s Travel and Tourism Division. Funding totaled $350,000 in 2005 and $500,000 in 2006. Grant recipients include:

Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce/Gage County Tourism: $9,500 for Web site development and brochure production and distribution

Brownville Historical Society: $11,400 for guidebook production

Central Nebraska Regional Tourism: $33,150 for travel show marketing, magazine advertising and Web site development

City of Alliance: $20,000 for magazine, TV and billboard advertising, brochure production and Web site development

City of Hartington & Hartington Chamber of Commerce: $2,000 for newspaper advertising

Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau: $35,000 for magazine advertising, brochure production and TV advertising

Heritage Byway Association: $6,350 for Web site development, brochure production and magazine advertising

Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation: $9,800 for magazine advertising, trade show marketing and brochure production

Kearney Visitors Bureau: $30,000 for group tour promotion, Web site development, DVD production and newspaper advertising

Lincoln Arts Council and Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau: $12,500 for Internet and brochure development and direct mail, newspaper and magazine advertising

Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau: $26,900 for production of meeting planners’ guide

Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway Association: $25,000 for Web site development and brochure and poster production

Loup River Valley Tourism Coalition: $2,700 for direct mail and billboard advertising

Nebraska Association of Bed & Breakfasts: $3,000 for Web site development and trade show marketing

Nebraska Wine & Grape Growers Association: $11,500 for development of promotional program, brochure and newspaper advertising

Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce, Inc. and Otoe County Visitors Committee: $15,000 for TV advertising, Web site development and direct mail advertising

Nebraska Outfitters & Guides Association: $8,000 for brochure production and sports show promotion

Norfolk/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau: $17,000 for Web site development and magazine advertising

Northeast Nebraska Travel Council: $11,200 for trade show, newspaper and direct mail advertising

North Platte/Lincoln County Convention & Visitors Bureau: $23,800 for promotional map production and magazine advertising

Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau: $30,000 for TV advertising

Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Organization: $15,000 for direct mail, radio and magazine advertising, as well as rack card and brochure production

Scotts Bluff County Tourism: $27,900 for magazine and newspaper advertising

South Sioux City Convention & Visitors Bureau: $30,000 for Web site development, brochure production and enhanced photo library

Valentine/Cherry County Economic Development Board: $9,500 for Web site development, magazine and newspaper advertising and brochure production

Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition: $40,000 for promotional map production and distribution and TV advertising

281 Corridor Committee: $34,200 for magazine, newspaper and TV advertising