Visit North Platte accepting Tourism Grant Applications ahead of July 1 Deadline

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Local tourism organizers are encouraging event planners and community groups to apply for Visit North Platte’s promotional grant programs before the fast-approaching deadline of July 1.

Lisa Burke, Executive Director of Visit North Platte, discussed the trio of quarterly grants available for events scheduled between October and December 2025.

“We do a quarterly grant process, so four times a year our board accepts applications,” Burke said. “We have about $200,000 every year that we give back to our tourism partners — attractions, events, and sporting events that bring in people from out of town.”

There are three types of grants available:

• Promotional Fund Grants, which help support marketing efforts such as social media campaigns, printed materials, and advertising.

• Event Promotion & Incentive Grants, which cover operational costs like facility rental, equipment, and speaker or entertainer fees.

• Sports Promotion & Incentive Grants, which support sporting events by funding referee fees, lodging for officials, and event bid costs.

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 lodging facilities to attend the event/activity being promoted. 

Burke emphasized that all applicants must focus their marketing at least 100 miles outside of North Platte.

“Our sole purpose is to bring people in to stay in our hotels,” she said. “Visit North Platte is 100% funded by lodging tax collected at those hotels. If an event doesn’t bring visitors, it impacts our ability to fund future events.”

Sporting events have been a growing focus for Visit North Platte’s board. The organization has invested in local sports infrastructure, including $100,000 for a new pickleball and tennis complex and support for the North Platte Rec Center rebuild.

“Those indoor courts are crucial, especially in the off-season,” Burke said. “We’re bringing in two college lacrosse tournaments in October, two pickleball tournaments, and a youth tackle football tournament in early August expected to draw 30 teams.”

Grant applications are available at VisitNorthPlatte.com. From the homepage, applicants can click on the “Industry” tab in the upper right corner to access forms for each grant type. The online application allows users to save their progress and return later.

“If you have questions about what you can or can’t apply for, our contact information is right there,” Burke said. “Just don’t wait. July 1 is going to sneak up fast.”

For more information or to explore upcoming events, visit the community calendar also available on VisitNorthPlatte.com.