Public Funding

The City of Beatrice provides limited funding to support community events, programs, and items that benefit the community. Funding is provided through the City’s Community Development/Promotions budget, which includes funds appropriated from Keno and Lodging Tax revenues.

Organizations and members of the public may submit requests for consideration. All requests must meet the City’s funding guidelines and are subject to available funds and approval by the Beatrice City Council.

What Can Be Funded?

Funding requests must serve a public or community benefit.

Keno Funds

Keno funding is intended for community betterment purposes, which may include:

• Educational opportunities
• Activities that promote physical well-being or relieve suffering or distress
• Programs that benefit the community
• Public works or public structures
• Projects or services that supplement services normally provided by government

Keno funds cannot be used to influence legislation or participate in a political campaign for an elected official or candidate for public office.

Lodging Tax Funds

Lodging Tax funding is intended for public purposes that promote the health, safety, prosperity, contentment, and general welfare of the community.

Preference is given to events and activities that attract visitors from outside Beatrice and/or Gage County and may increase local hotel or motel stays.

How Much Can the City Fund?

The City may fund up to 25% of the total cost of an eligible event or item.

If an event has other sponsors or contributors, the City will only consider eligible expenses that remain after accounting for those contributions.

Funding is limited to the amount approved by the City Council and is subject to available funds.

Event Requirements

To be eligible for City funding:

• The event must meet the applicable community betterment or public-purpose requirements.
• The City will not fund an event where both spectators and participants are required to pay an entrance fee.
• The spectating portion of the event must take place within the City of Beatrice's two-mile zoning jurisdiction.

Item Requests

Items purchased with City funding must be owned by the City of Beatrice. City funds cannot be used to purchase items that will be owned by a private individual, organization, group, or other private entity.

When Can I Apply?

Funding applications are reviewed by the City Council quarterly during each budget year.

Application deadlines are:

• October 1
• January 1
• April 1
• July 1

Requests are subject to the funding available in the City's annual budget.

What Happens After I Apply?

Applications are submitted to the City Clerk using the City's public funding request form.

City Administration will review the application to determine whether it meets the established funding guidelines. The City Administrator will make a determination within 10 business days of receiving the application. If additional information or documentation is needed, the review period may be extended by up to an additional five business days after the requested information is received.

Applications that meet the guidelines will then be forwarded to the Beatrice City Council for consideration and approval.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that funding will be approved.

What Information Is Required?

The application will ask for information such as:

• Name of the organization or person making the request
• Amount of funding requested
• Description of the event or item
• Event name and date, if applicable
• Other funding sources and amounts
• Any in-kind services being requested from the City
• Whether the event is new, annual, or regularly scheduled
• Other information needed to evaluate the request

How Is Approved Funding Paid?

The City pays approved funding after the requesting party provides a receipt or invoice for the eligible event or item.

The City Clerk will verify that the expense matches the funding request approved by the City Council. Payment will be made for the eligible amount shown on the receipt or invoice, up to the amount approved by the City Council.

Ready to Submit a Request?

If your organization or event may qualify for City funding, complete the Public Funding Request Application below.