Commissioners give nod to Backroad tour grants

Antelope County businesses participating in the northeast The Best of the Backroad Tour of northeast Nebraska, sponsored by News Channel Nebraska and area economic development groups, will receive an economic incentive, in the form of $100.

Visitor fund committee member Rick Schuchardt, along with NCN representative Laurie Larsen, addressed the Antelope County Commissioners March 2.

Schuchardt said a discussion with Neligh Chamber of Commerce officials led to discussion about the tour and county businesses and organizations to be highlighted.

The premise is similar to the Nebraska passport program, sponsored by Nebraska Tourism.

Larsen said, "A lot of people who apply for the Nebraska passport don't get picked. With this, businesses talked to other businesses ... it exploded."

NCN's program will run May 1 through Sept. 30. Individuals interested in participating will be able to download a map or pick up a copy at a participating business.

At each stop, they will receive a stamp. Additional stamps may be earned by making a purchase or booking an overnight stay.

At the completion of the tour, participants will be eligible to win prizes, donated by participants.

"Our idea is to keep it going every year," Larsen said "We hope they bring more people with them."

According to Larsen, talk about the tour spread quickly and the program has expanded to 10 counties, including Rock, Holt, Antelope, Boyd, Boone, Pierce, Knox, Dixon, Cedar and Wayne.

As of March 2, approximately 140 businesses have signed up for the tour.

Antelope County businesses participating include the sidebar in Clearwater; Neligh Flower Shop, Lucky Joe's, Sly's Family Bar and Grill, Wanek Pharmacy, Neligh Historical Mill and the Antelope County Museum Complex in Neligh; and the Orchard Fudge Shop and Orchard Museum and community.

Buy-in costs for each business, including advertising on NCN and potential radio spots, run $350.

"It's pretty economical, but a lot of businesses are still suffering (from the pandemic)," Larsen said.

A website is also under construction and social media channels will be utilized to promote the tourism effort.

Larsen said each county is being asked to contribute $200 to assist with those costs.

Commissioner Charlie Henery said the county has a promotion grant that could be used toward it.

Several counties have also subsidized costs for participants, with visitor funds.

"Cedar County paid $200 per business.

Schuchardt said members of the visitors fund proposed to offer a grant of $75 to each participating business.

"If commissioners want to bump it up or down ..."

Henery suggested a $150 payment or even split the cost so businesses participate."

Commissioner Dean Smith said he noted for profit entities were not included on the fund's application form.

"I don't know where and how do you draw the line on what a for-profit business is going to request. I don't know how it's handled. Is it covered in the requirements of what the money has to be used for? How do you control a for-profit business?" Smith asked.

Schuchardt said funds are considered on a case-by-case basis.

"In this case, it's a regional event, as a tourist activity. It's the function of what the activity is. These businesses bring people into our communities. How do you incentivize how to do that? It's the activity it's associated with," he said.

Smith agreed.

Schuchardt said the committee gave their stamp of approval.

County clerk Lisa Payne told commissioners the payout would be submitted as a claim.

Henery said funds could be determined year to year.

"We could cut funding back if we wanted to," he said. "They (businesses) are desperate."

Carolyn Pedersen reminded fellow commissioners the visitors fund is a county program.

"These aren't state statutes. I don't have a problem with the $200, but we need to come up with an amount for the businesses," she said.

At that point, Commissioner Regina Krebs made a motion to pay $200 as the county's contribution. Eli Jacobs seconded the motion, which carried, 6-0.

Smith asked if commissioners wanted to cap the mount per participating business at $75.

Krebs suggested setting a limit of $100 per business, up to 25 businesses, and after minimal discussion, received a second from Pedersen. All commissioners voted in favor.

Schuchardt also addressed the application form, highlighting updated guidelines in an "effort to make it more transparent."

He also wants to see where promotions are being published.

"I want to know, funded in part by the Antelope County Visitor's Bureau. I want to see where that's going to be published. Describe what this is," he said.

Funding amounts for the two types of grants available through the committee have also seen an increase.

Schuchardt reported the promotion grant for advertising bumped up from $300 to $350. Improvement grants increased from $1,500 to $1,750.

Another change to the process includes turning in receipts.

In the past, receipts have not been turned in.

Schuchardt said, "If we don't require receipts and we do run into a problem, we should have language to get receipts. If you don't supply them, then apparently you won't want to work with us," he said.

Multi-year funding for a project was also addressed. Schuchardt said when a project spans multiple years, the committee will have to watch the process carefully, "so we know if questions are asked by the public, what this is for."

"If it goes on for several years, I don't think I'd let this happen. We want to be fair to everybody applying for grants. Equitable and fair," he said.

The promotion grant may be applied for multiple times, according to Pedersen.

In addition to Payne and Schuchardt, committee members include Kristin Childers of Elgin, Lynae Stelling of Orchard and Kendra Meuret, Brunswick.