(North Platte, Nebraska, October 27, 2023) – Local event organizers continue to work hard to create fun
and exciting events in North Platte that bring in visitors and contribute to the economic vitality of our
community in addition to giving locals and visitors options for unique activities.
Visit North Platte operates under an agreement with the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners to
facilitate the Nebraska Visitors Development Act. Grant funds, marketing, and operating expenses for
Visit North Platte are funded by lodging taxes collected and remitted by lodging properties from
overnight stays in Lincoln County.
The Visit North Platte Board of Directors approved grant funding at the monthly meeting held on
October 25, 2023. The applications totaled $3,105 in requests and a total of $3,105 was awarded.
• Approved $1,855 in promotional and incentive funding to North Platte Pickleball for their
Platte Valley Paddle Battle Tournament. The North Platte Pickleball Club is hosting a
tournament on March 23-24, 2024, at the North Platte Recreation Center. As the sport of
pickleball continues to grow in popularity, hosting tournaments like the Platte Valley Paddle
Battle give our community the opportunity to draw in competitors from surrounding
communities while also offering recreational opportunities for our local residents.
• Approved $1,250 in promotional and incentive funding to Dusty Trails for their guided Sandhill
Crane and Prairie Chicken Tours. These funds will be used to promote the Sandhill Crane and
Prairie Chicken tours through online advertising and to purchase new signage for the tours. The
largest saturation of the Sandhill Crane migration is something that can only be experienced in
central Nebraska. According to a study conducted in 2017, the overall economic impact of the
annual migration on central Nebraska was $14.3 million, and it supported 182 year-round
equivalent jobs. Local tourism related to birding has been on the rise in Lincoln County and has a
growing economic impact on our area.
The next round of funding is now open, with a January 1 deadline for events or projects occurring in
April, May, and June of 2024. These applications will be considered at the regular monthly Board of
Directors meeting scheduled for January 24, 2024. Anyone interested in submitting a grant application is
encouraged to contact the Visitors Bureau at 308-532-4729 and discuss their project with a staff
member.
Grant funds, marketing, and operating expenses for Visit North Platte are funded solely through the
lodging taxes that are collected and remitted for overnight stays by lodging properties in Lincoln County.
It is thanks to the efforts of the lodging property partners located within the county that funds are
available to attract more visitors, which have a significant impact on the economic well-being of our
Lincoln County communities.
