Nevada tourism board evaluates grant requests

When the IMPACT Nevada Tourism Board met last week they recommended that the city award $9,365 in matching grants for eight projects from the $20,950 requested for 2009. The board had $9,360 available for grants and the remaining $5 was contributed by the board members.

The grants come from the city's motel tax, with the priority going to events that put "heads in beds" during the off-peak season, with the goal of generating more tax money to spend for events.

After hearing presentations from six of the eight grant applicants, each board member rated the event on a score sheet and decided how much they wanted to award for each grant. Those recommendations were then averaged to determine the final amount of the grant.

Grant recommendations will be presented to the Nevada City Council for approval.

For 2009 the board decided to recommend a $1,200 grant to the second annual Boer Goat Show to be held at the Vernon County fairgrounds during the second week of September. Marla Snead, who applied for the grant said that they already have people from Indiana who are interested in attending. She said that there were only two Vernon County families who participated in the show last year.

"Most of the people live more than 50 miles away and almost all spend the night," she said, adding that many people from Oklahoma and Arkansas attended last year.

Snead said that most of the money will go toward acquiring the judges and the prizes.

The Eagle Riders received a recommendation for a $1,800 matching grant for their national convention, to be held at the Bar-H Ranch west of Nevada during the second week of June, which coincides with Bushwhacker Days. They are expecting several thousand motorcycle riders to attend the event and camp at the Bar-H Ranch.

The Nevada Neptunes stand to receive a recommended $670 grant for their second annual two-day swim meet scheduled for June 13 and 14 at the Walton Family Aquatic Center. They are expecting about 500 swimmers and their families.

A wood bat baseball tournament sponsored by the Nevada Red Sox is recommended for a $1,700 matching grant. The tournament is slated to run June 8-13, with up to 25 teams participating. They already have teams from Minnesota and eastern Missouri registered for the tournament.

The second annual FFA steer and heifer prospect show got the tourism board's nod for a $1,125 grant. They are expecting more than 200 head of cattle for the two-day show.

The board decided unanimously to recommend a $2,500 matching grant to the Emily Ann DeBrine Memorial Golf Tournament, to be held May 9 at the Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course. They are expecting to have 72, four-person teams take part in their inaugural tournament. Money raised by the tournament will go to fund scholarships.

The Nevada Speedway was recommended for a $300 grant to help promote the races at the Speedway.

The Vernon County Arts Council was awarded a recommended grant for $130 for an art show.