The Sumtur Amphitheater at Walnut Park in Papillion has received a state grant of $300,000 for development and improvement of the facility. The Washington County town of Kennard also received $50,000 for their Municipal Auditorium.

The awards are part of nearly $1.3 million handed out by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The grants went to municipalities statewide for the development or improvement of civic, cultural, and convention centers.

“Projects such as these help bring visitors to our communities,” said Gov. Dave Heineman. “These are important public facilities for the continued well-being of our communities.”

Other municipal governments receiving grants for the following projects and grant amounts include:

• $200,000 - Gering Civic Center
• $100,000 - Humphrey Community Building
• $300,000 - Scenic Park East Memorial/Interpretive Center in South Sioux City
• $48,676 - Atkinson Community Center
• $40,000 - Creston Community Center
• $35,750 - Bancroft Community Building
• $28,000 - Firth Community Center
• $50,000 Carnegie Cultural Center in Randolph
• $40,000 - Tobias Library/Museum
• $100,000 - Tekamah Library

A municipality receiving a grant from the Fund must own the civic, cultural, or convention center for which grant assistance is sought. The grant amount can be up to fifty percent of the cost of construction, renovation, or expansion of the center. The maximum grant amount is also determined by the population size of a municipality.

Revenues for the grants come from the Local Civic, Cultural, and Convention Center Financing Fund. The Nebraska Legislature created the Fund in 1999 at the same time it approved state financing assistance for the development of the Qwest Center in Omaha.