Coleridge gets Cedar County Tourism grant

HARTINGTON – The Village of Coleridge and the Cedar County Historical Society recently received grant awards from the Cedar County Tourism Board.

The board met and reviewed applications for projects and events that will support Cedar County businesses and bring visitors to the area.

Two applications for the fall 2023 grant cycle were approved.

The Village of Coleridge requested and was awarded $2,500 for a new sign for the Coleridge City Park.

The Cedar County Historical Society requested and was awarded $2,500 for its log cabin restoration project.

The cabin is located to the west on the Cedar County Museum property and is one of only two cabins to tour in the state of Nebraska.

The next deadline for grant applications is March 31, 2024. The tourism board reviews requests to publicize events or to create or improve physical structures that draw visitors to Cedar County.

Grant applications and guidelines may be found online at cedarcountyne.gov/ under “Lodging Tax Grant Application.”

Entities may apply once each calendar year for up to $2,500 in the category of Bricks and Mortar/Improvement and $1,000 in the category of Advertising/ Promotion/Publicity support.

Grant requests should include estimates/ bids related to the project or event. If funded, applicants must submit a project report to the tourism board, including documentation of expenses within 60 days.

Applications may be emailed to cedarcotb@ gmail.com (preferred) or mailed to CCTB Chairperson, P.O. Box 141, Laurel, NE 68745.

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 (to) make life easier,” board chairwoman Chris Rasmussen said.

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.