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Commission approves three visitor grants including $50,000 for Western Trails Creative District projects
Summary
The board approved three visitor‑tax grant requests: $2,500 for Boot Hill brochures, $17,500 (50%) for Ag Society concrete improvements at the fairgrounds, and $50,000 to support Western Trails Creative District initiatives including sculpture bases, signage and marketing.
The Keith County Board of Commissioners approved three grant requests from the county visitor committee on Feb. 26, using lodging‑tax supported visitor funds.
1) Boot Hill Committee — $2,500 for new brochures. The board approved the request to print updated visitor pamphlets that document the history and burials at Boot Hill and to distribute them at visitor locations.
2) Keith County Ag Society — $17,500 (50% of a $35,000 project) to improve concrete, parking and handicap access at the fairgrounds' main entrance. The society revised prior plans and obtained new bids; the county's share covers concrete installation and accessibility improvements.
3) Western Trails Creative District (KCAD) — $50,000 toward a larger $249,000 project that includes sculpture pad construction for a statewide rotating "Swan" public‑art program, primary wayfinding and gateway signage, banner updates, and cultural programming. Commissioners discussed whether some signage items must be categorized as improvements rather than promotions for grant accounting; tourism staff said specific line‑item breakdowns will be administered through the visitor committee and the county's grant process.
All three requests were approved by roll call during the meeting. Tourism Director Sean Rubick briefed the board on recent outreach and an active show schedule; he said the Creative District work aims to improve arrival wayfinding, gateways and rotating public art that staff believe will boost visitation over multiple years.
