Businesses and Municipalities in Western Nebraska Can Receive Grant Support from TCD

Organizations across the Nebraska panhandle can work with Trusted Community Development (TCD) to identify potential grants and receive support in applying for them. Brandy Stone, Grant Writer for TCD, works closely with local governments, business owners, and other community organizers to find potential grants that help them reach their goals.

“You won’t always get the grant you applied for, but you’ll never get anything unless you try,” she says.

TCD primarily assists with grant research and writing. It is less common to administer grants, but Stone has experience with that work as well. Keep reading if you are considering applying for grants or want to learn how they work. This process brings money into Western Nebraska and supports ideas of all sizes. 

Grant Writing Requires Forward Thinking

While all types of organizations can qualify for grants, the application and writing process requires careful planning and consideration. Municipalities need to have strategic plans and clear ideas for how specific grants can support their efforts. Companies need detailed business plans that showcase how grant funding can help them reach their goals.  

“A lot of people seek out funding for something they needed yesterday, but you can’t be behind the ball with grant applications,” says Stone.

This is also because some grant application windows are months long and take grantees even longer to review. Funding also isn’t guaranteed. Organizations that need money immediately can’t rely on grants as a source of cash.

This need for forward thinking is why TCD works closely with municipalities to identify opportunities while helping companies develop their business plans. Stone and her colleagues want to help organizations think ahead to the future and consider how they will reach their goals.

“Grants really aren’t free money,” says Stone. “People work really hard to get where they are and plan how they intend to use the funds. Most grants also have matching requirements, either monetarily or through the work required to implement them.”

Fortunately, many grants either return annually or have rolling application windows, which means teams can reapply in the next round if their project isn’t funded. This allows organizations to strengthen their visions and write stronger applications that are more likely to get approved. 

Oshkosh Receives Full $100,000 Grant for Creative District 

Oshkosh is a wonderful example of a community working with TCD to secure funding. The city originally received a $10,000 starter grant from the Nebraska Arts Council to establish a creative district. Once the town proved that it used the funds as intended, it applied for and received a fully-funded grant of $100,000 for additional creative district projects.

Oshkosh Creative District 77 will feature murals, metal sculptures, mosaics, barn quilts, and other forms of public art. Current and planned Creative District efforts include branding, signage,
marketing, themed events, and downtown enhancements. Not only do these efforts improve the quality of life in Oshkosh by making it a vibrant place to live, but they can also bring visitors to the region and grow the economy through tourism.

Stone says she celebrates when the organizations she helps receive their grants, and also mourns when they aren’t approved.

“I really like writing grants and helping folks,” she says. “I like the possibility that you can help someone be successful without breaking their bank.”

Stone Returned to Western Nebraska After the Military

Stone brings her economic development background and community experience to her role as the grant writer for TCD. She grew up in the Nebraska panhandle and moved to Colorado when she enlisted in the army. In the years following, she continued to move around the country until she left active duty, and is now a reservist.

Stone chose to return to Western Nebraska because of her three kids. They won’t be constantly uprooted anymore and can grow up in a safe community where people look out for each other. After working for a few years in economic development, Stone is happy to work on grants full-time and help TCD bring money to the region.  

“We set a goal in July 2025 to complete 30 grants over the next five years,” she says. “But we’re quickly approaching that threshold. We’ll have to reset our goals in August now that I have a clearer idea of what is possible when there’s someone working full time on grant work.”  

The best way to help TCD surpass its goals is to reach out with questions about grants and work with her to submit them. Stone can identify potential programs to apply for and provide advice for submitting strong applications. 

Contact TCD for Grant Writing Support

If you work for a Western Nebraska municipality, run a local business, or work with a community group, contact TCD to learn more about potential grant opportunities. Stone might be able to find options that work for your organization immediately, or offer support with business and strategic planning to make your application more viable. Either way, she will do her best to help you develop and execute your vision.

Learn more about TCD and how working with this organization can help you grow. These passionate economic development professionals want Western Nebraska to thrive with diverse businesses and community leaders following their passions.