PCDC Offers Business Grants to Enhance Holiday Lighting

The Phelps County Development Corporation is spreading Christmas cheer early this year with its new GO! SPARKLE grant program.

PCDC is offering $250 matching grants to downtown business owners in all Phelps County communities to expand exterior Christmas lighting.

“We wanted businesses to have a chance to ‘light up’ their businesses this holiday season and to have a part in making their downtown more vibrant,” PCDC Director of Business Services Sally Sadd said. 

Expanding Christmas lights presents a growing opportunity to attract visitors to Phelps County and to make downtown areas more inviting for current residents. In recent years, Christmas lights have been added to the Phelps County Courthouse in downtown Holdrege, creating a beautiful holiday ambiance downtown. Also, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce has expanded Holdrege for the Holidays with Christmas selfie stations and other decorations on the courthouse lawn and has grown the Winterfest celebration (this year on Dec. 13). The chamber also sponsors a Let It Glow holiday lighting competition. This new PCDC grant program builds on those efforts, continuing to enhance the holiday atmosphere and community pride.

“Downtown is the heart of every community, and lighting brings everything to life,” Sadd said. “Putting these two together for the holidays brings unity. It brings families together. It takes us back to our childhood, family traditions, and making memories.”

The GO! SPARKLE! grants will match dollar for dollar the material costs of lighting that downtown business owners incur up to $250. Only 10 grants will be awarded, so business owners are encouraged to apply early as they will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

There’s no deadline to apply, but lights must be installed and ready to light up by Dec. 1. 

“PCDC will have a quick turnaround on these grants,” Sadd said. “We will need a couple of days to approve the application, and Thanksgiving is in there, so hurry and get your applications in!”

To apply for a GO! SPARKLE grant, download an application from the PCDC website at https://www.phelpscountyne.com/business-services/go!-programs/?cat=go (click on GO! DREAM and then GO! Sparkle). You can also request an application by emailing Sally@PhelpsCountyNE.com.