Grand Island Tourism awards $1 million in grants
[GRAND ISLAND, NE, November 2025] Grand Island Tourism recently announced the awardees for the 2026 Visitor Improvement Fund (VIF) grant program. Over $1 million has been awarded in reimbursement grants to 14 non-profit and civic recipients in Hall County.
The main purpose of the grant program is to increase visibility and draw overnight guests. Grants are awarded for expansion of and improvements to facilities at any existing or new visitor attraction in Hall County. In some circumstances grantees may apply for funds to market events which impact tourism in Hall County.
Grantees include:
Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority (livestock shows) - $100,000
G.I. Community Baseball Committee (Ryder Park baseball field improvements) - $150,000
Cairo Community Foundation (splash pad) - $5,000
Nebraska Trap Shooting Association (shelter picnic tables) - $6,000
Stuhr Museum Foundation (fiber installation throughout grounds) - $275,000
Railside Business Improvement District (downtown speaker system) - $25,000
Nebraska State Fair Foundation (Aksarben Stock Show) - $100,000
Nebraska Game and Parks (Mormon Island Picnic Shelter) - $25,000
The Nature Conservancy (Platte River Prairies Education Center) - $23,650
Tha Hargis House (driveway extension for exiting) - $10,000
Heartland Public Shooting Park (mobile shelters) - $25,734.20
Greater Grand Island Community Foundation (Stolley Park train project) - $100,000
Agricultural Institute of Nebraska (Husker Harvest Days improvements) - $75,000
Grant facilitator Dana Jelinek said, “We are grateful to our grant committee who reviews each application and presents recommendations to our board. The Hall County Board of Commissioners ultimately votes on the recommendation.”
Over $1.3 million in requests were made through the 2026 application process. Grants are awarded for expansion of and improvements facilities at any existing or new visitor attraction in Hall County. In some circumstances grantees may apply for funds to market events which impact tourism in Hall County. A portion of the 2026 grant funds are being held for this purpose.
Jelinek said, “This was the largest pool of funds we’re ever had, thanks to good occupancy rates in our hotels.”
Funding for the grant program comes from an occupancy tax on hotel stays in Grand Island and Hall County.
The next grant cycle will open in July 2026 for disbursement in 2027. For information on guidelines for the grant, or to be put on a list to receive information, contact Dana Jelinek at [email protected] or 308-382-4400.
As the official destination marketing organization for Hall County, Nebraska, Grand Island Tourism works to grow the tourism economy and identify Grand Island as a destination.