Douglas County committee recommends about $5.0 million in visitor-improvement grants; board to decide July 8

The Douglas County Community Services Committee reviewed preliminary recommendations to award $5,002,374 from the countyVisitor Improvement Fund at a public meeting; the Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider final approval at its July 8 meeting.

The recommendations were prepared by the seven-member Visitors Promotion Council and county staff after a competitive application cycle. Catherine Hall, county staff who administers the program, said the fund is authorized by state statute: "The Nebraska Visitors Development Act allows for the county to collect a hotel occupancy tax and create a county visitor improvement fund," and that Douglas County may collect a 5 percent hotel tax with 2 percent available for improvement funds.

Why it matters: the Visitor Improvement Fund is paid by hotel occupancy taxes and is intended to help attract visitors and support county attractions. Committee chair Todd Simon and visitors council members told the committee the program is used both to sustain established signature events and…