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Gage County adopts tiered visitor improvement grant structure to support larger projects
Summary
After extensive discussion, the Gage County Board adopted a three-tier visitor improvement grant structure Jan. 7: 50% match for projects up to $50,000 (reapply after 1 year), 35% up to $150,000 (reapply after 2 years), and 20% up to $375,000 (reapply after 3 years); vote was 7-0.
The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 7 to change the county’s visitor improvement grant program from a single $25,000 cap to a three-tiered matching structure aimed at accommodating both smaller projects and larger capital initiatives.
Under the newly adopted framework, the county will provide a 50% match for projects up to $50,000 (applicants may reapply after one year), a 35% match for projects up to $150,000 (reapply after two years), and a 20% match for projects up to $375,000 (reapply after three years). The motion to adopt the tiered caps and reapplication intervals was moved by Supervisor Haxby and seconded by Lytle and passed unanimously.
Board members and tourism representatives discussed trade-offs between spreading funds to more projects and funding larger initiatives that could have greater tourism impact. Speakers noted that lodging-tax revenues fluctuate and that the pool of applicants has varied year to year; the change is intended to give the tourism committee and the board more flexibility in allocating funds.
Following the policy vote, the board approved a $50,000 visitor improvement grant to Beatrice Youth Recreation Inc. for the Hannibal Park ball field initiative, a $642,000 project intended to expand recreational facilities in Beatrice. The tourism grant includes a requirement that Gage County tourism be acknowledged per grant rules.
