Grow Grand Island asks City Council to renew $500,000 annual contract, highlights events and workforce wins

Grow Grand Island representatives asked the Grand Island City Council on July 29 to renew the nonprofit’s contract with the city at an annual allocation of $500,000, continuing the arrangement the group has held for the past nine years.

The request was presented by Anya Brown, chair of Grow Grand Island, who outlined the group’s role in attracting events, supporting community development projects and leveraging private and grant dollars. Brown told the council Grow Grand Island seeks continuation of a “2 plus 2” contract (two years, review and renewal for two years) at the current funding level to maintain momentum.

The presentation emphasized the group’s leverage of public funds. “Of those completed and in progress projects, excluding Conestoga Marketplace and Epic Discovery Center, they total $6,500,000. GGI funded $2,300,000 of that, which means that we were leveraging other funding sources to the tune of $4,200,000,” Brown said.

Why it matters: the city’s food-and-beverage tax ordinance specifies that those revenues may be used, in order, for the Nebraska State Fair, to promote events that attract visitors, for recreational facilities and for community development projects. Grow Grand Island’s work falls primarily into the second and fourth categories; council members said they view the group as a lever to bring private investment to city priorities.

Event and economic impact highlights

Tom Bush, manager of Heartland Public Shooting Park, described the facility’s Olympic bunker trap — funded in part by Grow Grand Island — and how specialty shooting events draw out-of-state visitors and lodging revenue. Bush said Grow Grand Island contributed about $150,000 to secure an IPSC shotgun world qualifier, and that in 2024 events at the park returned an estimated $229,446 in lodging, food and related spending to the city.

Brad Melama, director of Grand Island Tourism, gave concrete figures on return from events: “The 2025 Nebraska Coaches Association cheer and dance championships had a direct business sales impact of $4,200,000 on our community,” he said, and noted the event contributed roughly $56,000 in combined local and state sales tax. Melama said tourism-related state and local tax receipts for Hall County were $13,700,000 in 2023 and that direct travel spending was about $178,000,000.

Workforce and downtown impacts

Emily Laudenklaus, workforce development director at the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce, credited Grow Grand Island for seed funding that helped start the Wayne State Career Scholars program and said as a direct result the city will welcome 15 interns through that program next week. Those interns will occupy four apartments in the repurposed Office Net building in downtown Grand Island.

Council discussion: contract length and fund balance

Council members expressed broad support for Grow Grand Island’s work but debated how long the city should lock in funding.

Council member Chuck Hazy said he was “supportive of their $500,000 request,” praising the board’s volunteer leadership and track record. Council member Mitch Nickerson supported continued funding but urged that the city maintain balance among the ordinance’s four priorities, saying, “The problem is I see us becoming more into the recreational quality of life and we’re tending to neglect some of these others.”

Several council members — including Mark Stelk and others who serve as liaisons to Grow Grand Island — said shorter contract windows in the past had constrained planning and that a longer term (four or more years) could help the nonprofit secure multi-year sponsorships and pursue events with long lead times. Some speakers warned that longer contracts carry a risk if leadership or organizational performance changes.

Other items discussed

Brown said Grow Grand Island is facilitating a neutral eight-week feasibility and economic-impact study of the proposed Good Life District with Invictus Advisors; stakeholder interviews began the week of the meeting and an assessment is expected in September. Brown also summarized the organization’s role in the Good Life 4 campaign and said that campaign was privately funded, not with food-and-beverage tax money.

No vote recorded

Council members discussed, but did not vote on, the FY26 funding request or a contract term change during the meeting. Grow Grand Island’s representatives said they would welcome a longer contract if the council preferred that structure; several council members asked staff to consider contract length options as part of the city’s budget deliberations.

Ending

Grow Grand Island’s FY26 request centered on continuing the current $500,000 annual allocation and on preserving the group’s ability to seize multi-year opportunities. Council members signaled general support but differed on contract term and the city’s balance of food-and-beverage tax priorities; no final action was taken during the meeting.