Grants to Bolster Rural Tourism Projects

The Nevada Tourism Commission and the Nevada Economic Development Commission have approved 19 grants worth more than Boulder City .$327,000 for rural tourism organizations and projects, including one for

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki , who heads the commissions, said the grants would help meet some of both boards' goals by helping fund projects that would boost tourism and provide jobs in rural Nevada .

A committee sifted through 35 requests totaling $876,727 and made recommendations on the top applicants.

Only one project from Clark County made the cut. Three others from Clark County and southern Nye County were rejected.

The commissions recommended issuing Boulder City for an electronic welcome and events sign on U.S. 93 north of the city. The sign will replace an existing structure and would be built on a sandstone base with desert-friendly landscaping around it. The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce will operate the sign.$10,000 to

The recommending committee said the project is a "great way to inform potential visitors on their way to Hoover Dam who are bypassing the town that Boulder City has activities to offer the tourists."

The committee rejected three other Southern Nevada requests. They included Boulder City 's Bicentennial Park; Mesquite , requested by the Mesquite Area Chamber of Commerce; and Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce.$10,000 to build public restrooms at $12,121 for a Leadership Mesquite monument marker to welcome tourists to $50,000 for a portable stage for Pahrump for local and guest artist entertainment events, from the

Larry Friedman of the Tourism Commission, who administered the grant selection process, said the Pahrump request was an excellent proposal that "just didn't make the cut."