Promotional Grant Application

Promotional Grant Application

Visit North Platte
It is the mission of Visit North Platte to enhance and promote a positive image of the communities in Lincoln County, Nebraska and to assist in the development, continuation, and promotion of quality events, attractions, and amenities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike, and to help ensure that the highest standards of customer service are practiced in our establishments.

The purpose of the Visit North Platte grant program is to provide funding for activities that promote, encourage, and attract visitors to Lincoln County, Nebraska. The funds available through this program are provided from the lodging tax revenue and are to be used for the sole purpose of promoting, encouraging, and attracting visitors to and within Lincoln County, Nebraska, as the state statute §81-3701 through 81-3729 provides.

One of the ways Visit North Platte fulfills its mission is to offer grants to businesses and community organizations to assist them in hosting and promoting events and attractions. Grants are only reviewed on a quarterly basis at the monthly board meetings in January, April, July, and October.

Application deadlines are as follows:

·       January 1 deadline for events in April, May, and June

·       April 1 deadline for events in July, August, and September

·       July 1 deadline for events in October, November, and December

·       October 1 deadline for events in January, February, and March

If your event or activity fulfills the mission and purpose of Visit North Platte and you would like to learn more about the types of grants available, click 'next'.

If you have questions throughout this application please do not hesitate to contact Visit North Platte at 308-532-4729.

Are you applying for grant funds to bring or promote an event to Lincoln County, Nebraska?*

YesNo
Will your event or promotion bring people from outside the community into the community?*

YesNo

Thank you for your interest in applying for grant funds from Visit North Platte. Based on your responses, your current project does not meet the minimum criteria to receive funding. If you have questions or would like to be considered for future funding, please contact the Visit North Platte office directly at 308-532-4729.

Thank you

Before you begin:
- You must complete the entire application in one setting. There is no option to save and continue later.
- You have the option to print the entire application to prepare. Keep in mind, this may include questions that you will not see when you fill out the application.
- If your event has occurred before, you are required to upload a list of zip codes from last year, so have them accessible.
- If this is an event, you will be asked to upload a preliminary schedule of event, so have them accessible.
- There is a document upload space on the last page for supporting documentation: posters, quotes, estimates, etc.
If you have questions before you begin, please contact the Visit North Platte office directly at 308-532-4729.

There are three types of grants available from the Visitors Bureau: Promotion, Event Incentive, and Sports Incentive.

PROMOTION: used to promote, encourage, and attract visitors to come to Lincoln County and use the travel and tourism facilities within the county.
Examples include:
-Radio, TV, Newspaper advertising reaching visitors that live or reside outside of a 100-mile radius of North Platte.
-Brochure, flyer, poster printing, websites
-Social media marketing campaigns

EVENT INCENTIVE: used to offset qualified expenses while supporting new events or the expansion of current festivals and events within Lincoln County.
Examples include:
-Rental of Audio/Visual or other equipment
-Speaker or entertainment honoraria
-Facility rental fees

SPORT INCENTIVE: used to offset qualified expenses while supporting new sporting events or the expansion of current competitive events within Lincoln County.
Examples include:
-Referee or official fees, lodging & mileage for officials
-Event bid fees
Which best describes which grant or grants you are applying for?*

Promotional Grant onlyPromotional and an Incentive GrantIncentive Grant Only
REMINDER: Promotional Grant funds can only be used to attract visitors outside a 100-mile radius of North Platte.
Which Incentive Grant are you applying for?*

Event IncentiveSports Incentive
Applicants for Event and Sports Incentive Funds must show a commitment to marketing activities totaling a minimum of 20% of the total funds requested.

Deadline

Deadlines for applications will be no later than the first day of the month in the quarter prior to which the event occurs. Incentive and Promotion fund grant applications are only reviewed on a quarterly basis at the monthly meetings in January, April, July, and October.

January 1 deadline for events in April, May, and June
April 1 deadline for events in July, August, and September
July 1 deadline for events in October, November, and December
October 1 deadline for events in January, February, and March

Generation of Room Nights

Visit North Platte is funded soley from lodging tax revenue only generated through overnight stays at the lodging properties within Lincoln County, NE. Applications should show how their project will generate room nights and report on actual room nights in the final report.

Presentation

Applicants must be in-person at the Board Meeting to present on their grant describing the event and the grant request. Allow additional time for questions. Powerpoints and handouts are allowed. Powerpoints must be submitted at least 1 week before. If you provide handouts, you should bring eleven (11) for the entire Board of Directors and staff that will be present.

Presentations are to be 5-7 minutes total, including time for questions.

Board meetings are typically the fourth (4th) Wednesday of the month beginning at 8:30am. Grant presentation will begin at 8:30am. You will be notified one (1) week in advance of your specific time. If you need to request a specific time, please contact the Visit North Platte office.
Name of Person or Persons Planning to Present to the Board of Directors*
This can be changed or adjusted closer to the presentation
Exclusions

No grant funds can be used for general operating costs, salaries, or anything that would violate Nebraska Development Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-3701 through 81-3724, et seq. (as amended from time to time). All grants are discrectionary.

Grants are not eligible if all required permits are not obtained.

You will not receive funds to advertise with local TV, Radio and Newspapers (KNOP, Eagle Radio Stations and Husker Radio Stations, and the Telegraph or Bulletin). Advertising with these agencies DOES count towards your match.

Crediting Requirements

"Sponsored in part by Visit North Platte" is required on all marketing material for approved event.

Announcement of Award

All applicants will be notified in writing within ten (10) working days after their presentation with the decision as to their application.

Final Reporting

Final report is due to Visit North Platte within forty-five (45) days after the event/activity is complete. The report must outline if the objectives of the grant were met, if not, what were the circumstances that lead to the deficiency. No money will be released until the final report and all required documentation is turned into Visit North Platte's office.

Payment will NOT be made for unpaid invoices or invoices without proof of payment. No Cash receipts will be accepted for reimbursement.

Final reports MUST include paid invoices and copies of proof of payment. Proof of payment may be copies of canceled checks, credit card receipts, or copies of bank statements with confidential information redacted.

Final reports and documentation not submitted within ninety (90) days after the end of the event, or the completion of the project will be considered delinquent, and the grant award will be forfeited. The exact calendar date will be included in the Grant Agreement contract.

Accounting

If you are awarded funds you will be required to maintain receipts of expenditures of grant funds for auditing purposes for a period of three (3) years following the event, and to make these records available to Visit North Platte upon request.

Review Process

Grants are discretionary, based upon available funds, other anticipated uses, appropriateness, and anticipated effectiveness of proposed use all in compliance with the Nebraska Revised Statute §81-3701 through 81-3724.
To begin filling out the application, click 'Next'.

Contact Information
Event Name*
Organization Name*
Contact Person *
Title *
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Name award check should be made out to*
Address check should be mailed to, if different than above

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Email*
example@example.com
Start Date of Event*

MonthDayYear
If applying for multiple events, put first date
Is this a multiple day event?*

YesNo
End day of Event*

MonthDayYear
If a multi-day event, or multiple events, put end date
Please Provide a brief description of your event*

Sports Incentive Grant
If applicable, what is the national governing body for your event?
Is this a competitive event?*

YesNo
How many competitors are you estimating? *
Please explain how you came up with that estimate.*
Ex. estimated 48 teams of 7 team members per team=336 competitors
Estimate percentage of competitors that will be from outside a 100 mile radius of North Platte.*
%
Are you charging a registration fee for competitors?*

YesNo
Is this fee per individual or per team?*

IndividualTeam
What is the registration fee? *
$
What is your marketing budget? *
This application must show a commitment of a minimum of 20% of the ask amount to be dedicated to marketing efforts.
What is your marketing plan for this event? *
Indicate where you are marketing this event and the amount you are dedicating to each entity
Do you plan to charge an admission for spectators?*

YesNo
What is the admission charge per person? *
If undecided, please estimate. If different charge per age group, put in admission range (Ex. $10-$25)

BUDGET WORKSHEET
- Please upload coverage maps of all broadcast and print media purchases to show reach outside Lincoln County.
- Your spend on advertising within a 100-mile radius of North Platte can ONLY be counted toward your Match (Ex. KNOP, Eagle Radio Stations, Husker Radio Stations, North Platte Telegraph, or the Bulletin).
- You must include bids for all line items included in the grant request column.
- Match is the funds you are committing to spending on the project. Match can also be ‘in-kind’ items.
- Contact Visit North Platte if you would like a sample budget worksheet.
- Event and Sports Incentive applications must indicate a minimum amount equal to 20% requested amount committed to promotion of event.

Upload Event Poster

Browse Files

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Upload supporting document

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Ex. quotes, estimate, etc. Cancelof
Upload supporting document

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Ex. quotes, estimate, etc. Cancelof
Should be Empty:

	Choose Activity	Describe Activity	Grant Request	Match	Total Spend
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Total

	Describe Activity	Grant Request	Match	Total Spend
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
INCENTIVE FUND TOTAL

	Grant Request	Match	Total Spend
PROMOTIONAL FUND TOTAL
INCENTIVE FUND TOTAL
PROMOTIONAL + INCENTIVE FUND TOTAL