Event Incentive and Promotional Grant Only Application

Event Incentive and 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 fit our mission and purpose. 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 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.

Is the Event you are applying for hosted in Lincoln County, Nebraska?*

YesNo
Will your marketing efforts bring people from outside the community into the community?*

YesNo
Will your marketing efforts reach visitors outside a 100-mile radius of North Platte?*

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

There are three types of Grants available from Visit North Platte: Promotion, Event Incentive, and Sports Incentive.

All three grants are reimbursable 80/20 grants. Reimbursable grants are a type of grant that require the grantee to use their own resources to fund a project before being reimbursed for expenses.   80/20 means the grantee is responsible for covering at least 20% of the total project cost or using 20% of the project cost as in kind.

PROMOTION:  Promotional Grants are used to promote, encourage, and attract visitors to come to Lincoln County. These grants are designed to market to visitors outside of a 100-mile radius of North Platte who will be utilizing our lodging facilities to attend the event/activity being promoted.

Examples of items that are eligible for Promotional Funds include:
-Radio, TV, Newspaper advertising
-Brochure, flyer, poster printing, websites
-Social media marketing campaigns

EVENT INCENTIVE: Event Incentive Grants are used to offset qualified expenses while supporting new events or the expansion of current festivals and events within Lincoln County that attract visitors who live outside of a 100-mile radius of North Platte who will be utilizing our lodging facilities to attend this event.

Event Incentive Funds are not meant to be a permanent source of funding for grantees. All events are expected to strive to be sustainable.

Examples of items that are eligible for Event Incentive Funds include:
-Rental of Audio/Visual or other equipment
-Speaker or entertainment honoraria
-Facility rental fees

SPORT INCENTIVE: Sport Incentive Grants are used to offset qualified expenses while supporting new sporting events or the expansion of current competitive events within Lincoln County that attract competitors and spectators who live outside of a 100-mile radius of North Platte who will be utilizing our lodging facilities to attend this event.

Sport Incentive Funds are not meant to be a permanent source of funding for grantees. All events are expected to strive to be sustainable.

Examples of items that are eligible for Sports Incentive Funds include:
-Referee or official fees
-Lodging for officials
-Event bid fees

This grant application is for

EVENT INCENTIVE

You may also request

PROMOTIONAL GRANTS

for this event through this application.

You do NOT need to fill out separate applications for the same event.

If you need to apply for an Sports Incentive Grant or ONLY a Promotional Grant, please click here and choose the correct application.
REMINDER: Promotional Grant funds can only be used to attract visitors who live outside a 100-mile radius of North Platte.
Which Grant/Grants are you applying for?

Event Incentive OnlyEvent Incentive and Promotional

Before you begin:
- You must complete the entire application in one sitting. There is no option to save and continue later.
- You have the option to print the entire application before you begin. To do so, right click, print.
  - When printed, the document may show questions that you will not be required to answer.
- If your event has occurred before, you are required to upload a list of zip codes from the latest year, so have those accessible.
- There are document upload spaces on the last page for supporting documentation: posters, quotes, estimates, etc., so have all those documents accessible.
- While completing this application you may come across words you are not familiar with. Before you begin, please review the 'Definition' section to make sure you understand the questions and expectations of this grant.
If you have questions before you begin, please contact the Visit North Platte office at 308-532-4729.
Definitions:

• 80/20: Requested grant amount can cover, up to, 80% of the total project cost. The grantee is required to cover a minimum of 20% of the total cost of the project.
• In-Kind: Goods or services provided as opposed to money (Example: volunteer hours, donations, etc.).
• Match: The monetary, or in-kind, funds the grantee is agreeing to contribute to the project.
• Quid Pro Quo: A favor or advantage expected in return for grant funded.
• Reimbursable: To be paid back from Visit North Platte after money has been spent.
• Room Nights: The overnight stays utilized at hotels and motels within Lincoln County.

Deadline

Deadlines for applications will be no later than the first day of the month in the quarter prior to which the event occurs. Promotion and Incentive 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 solely from lodging tax revenue only generated through overnight stays at the lodging properties within Lincoln County, NE. Applications should show how the project will market to visitors outside a 100-mile radius and will generate room nights. All grants approved will be required to report on actual room nights in the final report.

Presentation

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

Presentations are to be no more than 5-7 minutes total, including time for questions.

Board meetings are typically the fourth (4th) Wednesday of the month beginning at 8:30am. Grant presentations will begin at 8:30am. You will be notified a minimum of one (1) week before the Board Meeting of your presentation time.
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 discretionary.

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 Huskeradio Stations, and the North Platte Telegraph or North Platte Bulletin).  Advertising with these agencies DOES count towards your match in the grant.

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) business days after their presentation with the decision as to their application.

Quid Pro Quo

By receiving funds from Visit North Platte, there will be a Quid Pro Quo agreement put into place.

Final Reporting

Final report is due to Visit North Platte within forty-five (45) days after the event/activity is complete; the exact date will be included in the Grant Agreement. The report must outline if the objectives of the grant were met, if not, what were the circumstances that led 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.

The ONLY acceptable forms of payment for reimbursement or proof of match include: check, debit card transactions, and credit card transactions.

No Cash or Cash Apps will be accepted for proof of match or reimbursement.

Final reports MUST include paid invoices and copies of proof of payment. Proof of payment may be copies of canceled checks, credit card statements, 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.

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 or Activity 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 *
Alternate Phone Number
To get in touch with Presenter directly
Email*
example@example.com
Provide a list of all persons included in this project and their role. *

Please provide a brief description of your event*
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
Is this a first time event?*

YesNo
How many times has this event occurred in the past? *
Upload zip codes collected from the last time this event occurred.*

Browse Files

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Is this an annual event or do you anticipate it becoming an annual event?*

YesNoUnsure

BUDGET WORKSHEET
- Please upload coverage maps, and quotes, of all broadcast and print media purchases to show marketing reach outside Lincoln County.
  - You will not be considered for funding without proof that marketing efforts are reaching outside a 100-mile radius of North Platte.
- Your spend on advertising within a 100-mile radius of North Platte can ONLY be counted toward your Match (Ex. KNOP, Eagle Radio Stations, Huskeradio Stations, North Platte Telegraph, or the North Platte Bulletin).
- You must include copies of all quotes for all line items included in the grant request column.
- You must show 20% of your Grant Request as Match.
  - This can be in Promotional, Incentive, or both.
  - Match are the funds you are committing to spending on the project.
  - Match can also be in-kind items. In-kind labor can be calculated at a rate of $33.49/hour.
  - Proof of Match must be check, credit card transaction, debit card transaction, or signed proof of volunteer hours.
- You must show 20% of your Grant Request dedicated to marketing outside a 100-mile radius of North Platte.
- Contact Visit North Platte if you would like a sample budget worksheet.
Example of Budget Worksheets when only requesting Event Incentive Grant Funds:
Example of Budget Worksheets when requesting Event Incentive and Promotional Grant Funds:

Incentive Activities*

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

Total Fund Activities

	Grant Request	Match	Total Spend
Promotional Fund Total
Incentive Fund Total
Promotional and Incentive Fund Total

Upload Event Poster

Browse Files

Cancelof
Upload supporting document

Browse Files
Upload zip codes from previous years Cancelof
Upload supporting document

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

Browse Files
Ex. quotes, estimate, etc. Cancelof
If you do not receive a 'Thank You' email after your submission, please contact Sydnee Nel at snel@VisitNorthPlatte.com or 308-532-4729 to verify your application was received.
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Event Incentive and Promotional Grant Application