Grand Island, Neb. — Hear Grand Island is now in the running to win $120,000 to enhance its free outdoor music series in Grand Island starting in 2026.
With funding from the Levitt Foundation, Hear Grand Island hopes to qualify as a finalist to receive a Levitt Music Series Grant. The Levitt Foundation is a national social impact funder at the intersection of music, public space and community building that supports the largest free outdoor concert series in America.
The public is urged to support Hear Grand Island’s proposal by participating in the public voting process online or via text to vote starting Friday, September 5 and running through Monday, September 15. The voting will be conducted at www.levitt.org/vote.
Levitt Music Series Grants are an exciting, multi-year matching grant created by the Levitt Foundation to bring the joy of free outdoor concerts to towns and cities across the country. For the 2026–2028 grant cycle, the Levitt Foundation will award U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits up to $120,000 over three years (up to $40,000 per year), to produce 7-10 free outdoor concerts annually featuring a diverse lineup of music genres with professional musicians, activating an underused public space while creating a vibrant, inclusive community destination for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Hear Grand Island submitted the proposal for Grand Island to present the free music series in Railside, and it’s now posted on the Levitt Foundation website, where the public can vote and learn more about the proposals from across the country.
An individual may submit one vote for up to five proposals of their choosing, and there are two easy ways for the public to cast their vote:
Online at www.levitt.org/vote
Texting the keyword ‘HEARGI’ to (877) 409-5525
Reflecting the Levitt Foundation’s mission that all Levitt projects are community-driven, the public voting phase of the Levitt Music Series Grants selection process is an important way to measure community support. The number of online and text votes received for Hear Grand Island will be one of the key factors used when the Levitt Foundation determines the grant recipients this November.
Online public voting kicks off Friday at 12 p.m./CT and ends on Monday, September 15 at 7 p.m./CT. The 50 finalists will be selected through the online and text-to-vote public voting phase. The Levitt Foundation will then review the top proposals to select the Levitt Music Series Grants recipients, which will be announced on November 18, 2025.
“Hear Grand Island has become a true community treasure, and partnering with the Levitt Foundation gives us an incredible chance to elevate summer Friday nights in Grand Island,” said Melissa DeLaet, CEO of the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation. “Our community has wholeheartedly embraced this concert series, and now more than ever, we invite your support to help it grow.”
Hear Grand Island asks supporters to spread the word throughout the community to family, friends, colleagues and neighbors and rally the community to vote for the Hear Grand Island’s proposal.
About Hear Grand Island
Hear Grand Island is a free, weekly summer concert series that brings the heart of Grand Island to life every Friday night during the summer at Amur Plaza in Railside. Since its launch in 2017, the festival has showcased an eclectic mix of music—from country and rock to folk, indie, and jazz—while creating a vibrant gathering space for the community. In 2025, Hear Grand Island evolved into a true community collaboration, co-produced by event founder Brent Lindner in partnership with the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Grand Island Economic Development Corporation, Grand Island Tourism and the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation. Recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Tourism Event by the Nebraska Tourism Commission, Hear Grand Island not only celebrates local and regional talent but also strengthens downtown vitality and fosters pride of place for residents and visitors alike.