Creative District Development Grant

Creative District Development Grant is sponsored by Nebraska Arts Council. This program provides funds to certified Creative Districts in Nebraska for significant cultural tourism projects. Applicants can use the grant funds for construction, renovation, and/or expansion of existing buildings, marketing, and physical enhancements.

Creative Districts - Nebraska Arts Council Pictured: Crane River Theater Madagascar The Nebraska Creative District Program utilizes the arts as an economic driver to support communities in Nebraska by telling their stories and elevating the value of the arts. Creative Districts are designated cultural and economic areas where innovation flourishes and neighborhoods come together in the name of art.

They provide significant economic impact by creating purposeful spaces like art galleries, theatres, and music venues, attracting employees and businesses. These are all assets and attributes that Nebraska — and every state — can effectively harness as it seeks to reinvigorate its economy. The program’s flexibility, as designed, means that it can be adapted to any size community, in any location.

As an agency, we wanted to make sure this program benefited all Nebraskans, no matter if they were in an urban or rural area. Specialty license plates , designed by artist Danielle Dewees, are available for only $5 additional cost, with proceeds going directly toward the funding of Creative Districts. For more information on the Certification Process, please read through our guidelines.

Have questions about NAC’s Creative Districts? Contact NAC Program Specialist Rachel Morgan . For more information, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Explore the officially certified Creative Districts by clicking here ! Click here to look through the Eligibility Assessment . Please use the Data Collections Instructions and this Excel Chart to fill out the Data Collection page of the workbook.

The Center for Rural Affairs’ mission is to establish strong rural communities. They offer a variety of resources, including small business training, small business loans, and home ownership loans. Center for Rural Affairs will choose five farmers markets to receive resources and assistance through a project called 2025 Rural Farmers Markets and Local Food Access.

Deadline is Friday, February 28, 2025 Nebraska Department of Economic Develop Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) Through this fund, the State of Nebraska awards funding to municipalities and tribal governments to support an array of project types that promote economic opportunity and a higher quality of life.

The Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation grant The Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation grant program is intended for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, properties in a National Register-listed historic district, or sites determined to be eligible for listing.

USDA Community Facilities Programs The USDA offers several direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund – Preserving Black Churches Preserving Black Churches is a project of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Annual grants from Preserving Black Churches are intended to preserve historically Black houses of worship—including those with active congregations and non-active congregations—and advance ongoing preservation activities.

Nebraska Department of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Communities receiving CDBG funds use the grants to provide safe and sanitary housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities.

Creative Projects and/or Public Art The efforts of the Arts program include facilitating collaborations between artists and local governments, building capacity for small and mid-sized cultural institutions, and increasing and enhancing visitor engagement through the integration of digital technology.

Don’t miss their Asphalt Art Initiative , which provides guidance and funding to cities around the world for visual art interventions on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure in an effort to make streets safer. Cultivating Healthy Environments Cultivating Healthy Environments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are partnering to support communities in cultivating and sustainable healthy environments.

Grants are open to community-based organizations addressing local environmental and public health issues. The Nebraska Film Office Grants are intended to benefit the State of Nebraska through marketing of the state as well as job creation and economic development.

Each year, Keep America Beautiful, in partnership with its corporate sponsors, awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in community grants to affiliates, nonprofits, and local governments to implement projects that help build clean, green, and beautiful places for all to thrive and enjoy.

Levitt Music Series Grants Levitt Music Series Grants are an exciting, multi-year matching grant bringing the joy of free outdoor concerts to town and cities across the county, creating vibrant, inclusive community destinations. Mid-America Arts Alliance Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA) offers many different grants and services for both artists and organizations.

The Mellon Foundation has four main grantmaking areas: Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, and Public Knowledge. All grants result from invitations issued by Mellon to institutions that have had preliminary exchanges with staff. However, qualifying organizations are welcome to submit inquiries via the grants portal.

National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups and communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions that are underserved.

National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Omaha Community Foundation The Omaha Neighborhood Grants program supports community leaders doing impactful work in their own neighborhoods; it’s about supporting residents who are making a difference right where they live and empowering neighbors to work together. The Peter Kiewit Foundation makes grants in the state of Nebraska and Western Iowa.

They have five strategic priorities, which includes College Access and Success, Youth Development, Economic Development and Opportunities, Quality of place Amenities, and Community Capacity in Greater Nebraska. T-Mobile is investing $25 Million in 500 rural towns over five years to jumpstart projects and build stronger communities. Note that eligible communities must have a population less than 50,000 to be eligible.

Visit Nebraska has two grant programs available to help market your event and community. Street Projects or Safety Plans Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Are you interested in doing a street project, a safety action plan, or infrastructure improvements that enhance access to tourist attractions and recreational areas?

The NDOT can help you identify grant funds, write a letter of support, and give technical assistance as you apply for grants. They can help pair you with potential grant funding sources on both the state and federal level. The following resources can help you plan your Creative District!

NAC public art budget template Video Overview of Program Creative Districts examples Growing Small Town Nebraska Podcast: Tin Roof Creative District Nebraska Rural Farmers Market Handbook | Center For Rural Affairs – Building a Better Rural Future Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance University of Nebraska-Kearney For more information on different types of districts, how to develop a district, and research regarding Creative Districts, visit Americans for the Arts.

Creative Districts in the News Nebraska Public Media: “Three years after launch, Nebraska’s Creative District program is growing rapidly” KOLN-KGIN: “McCook Creative District builds on town’s strong ties to art” NTV: “Creative Districts breathe life into Nebraska’s local culture and economy” League of Nebraska Municipalities: Creative Districts Showcase Next Avenue: “The Arts Thrive in These Nebraska Communities” 10|11 Pure Nebraska: “Creative District title enhances the arts, culture in downtown Kearney” Omapod: Joslyn Castle’s John Paul on developing the new Castle & Cathedral Creative District 10|11 Pure Nebraska: Muralists give parts of Carhenge a whole new look York County Development Corporation: York Creative District is Blooming with New Ideas Midlands Business Journal: “Small but Mighty: Keeping Cash in Local Economy Has Broad Community Impacts” Dundee: “Historic Dundee Creative District announces a new public art project funded by a $100,000 grant” Kearney: “Kearney receives $100,000 grant for downtown art installations” Nebraska Public Media: “Nebraska creative districts awarded over $1 million in grant funding” In the News: Creative Districts 2026 Creative District Nebraska Poster Series Creative District Development Grants Recipients FY25 The Art of Connection: Creative District presentation by Karrie Steely