Tourism board looking for next project to fund

HARTINGTON - What do Coleridge’s picnic tables, Bow Valley’s community hall and Randolph’s Honey Fest have in common?

Those community initiatives and infrastructure benefited from a Cedar County Tourism Board grant.

Started in 2008, the board has dispersed more than $130,000 of lodging tax funds in an effort to promote the county.

“The things different groups asked for, all help to bring tourists in, or to make it so when you have guests in town make life easier,” said board chairwoman Chris Rasmussen.

The board may award up to $1,000 for event-specific advertising or promotional activities per project and up to $2,500 for a “brick and mortar” project such as the building of an attraction, renovation or improvement to an existing structure.

Each application is reviewed based on its intent to promote tourism by the seven-member board which includes Rasmussen, Laurel; Gary Howey, Hartington; Donna Noecker, Bow Valley; Brooke Kleinschmit, Hartington; Jacie Burbach, Coleridge; Josh Rayford, Randolph; and Dawn Casey, Laurel.

Awards are made twice per year. A 10 percent match of funds is required and can come from other founding sources including in-kind donations.

Grant application forms can be obtained by any board member or through Cedar County’s website, www.cedarcountyne.gov. Instructions for returning applications are listed on the grant application form.

The board meets twice a year to review and approve grant proposals. Applications turned in by Aug. 31 are awarded by Oct. 15; applications turned in by March 31 are awarded by May 1.

Rasmussen checks the balance of funds available before each board meeting. The amount available and the amount of grants that come in for each cycle varies.

On average, lodging tax nets about $18,000 each year, said Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling.

“If we’ve got projects going on for highways, bridges, windmills and people are living at hotels during the week, that makes a big difference,” Rasmussen said. “What I’ve noticed the amount is better when activity is going on and Cedar County stays pretty busy.”

The board considers each application carefully and is able to fund most requests.

“You really do try to help everybody. They all have good ideas and they’re all trying to make a difference,” Rasmussen said.