Today, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) announced $6,750,112 in awards through the second funding cycle of the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF) for program year 2022.
Authorized by the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act of 2017, the RWHF helps communities create quality, affordable housing to accommodate growth.
“Nebraska’s growth and vitality as a state hinge upon our success developing affordable housing,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “Today’s awardees have shown exemplary initiative in raising funds to support local housing projects. Congratulations to the award winners! DED looks forward to supporting these organizations as they implement their housing plans.”
For the second round of the 2022 funding cycle, RWHF awards were available to eligible non-profit development organizations who supplied at least a twenty-five percent match (that is, twenty-five cents for every one dollar of funds awarded). In many cases, local financial institutions and employers partnered with the primary applicant to provide the local match. Combined, today’s ten recipients contributed more than $1.87 million in matching funds.
DED administers the RWHF program on behalf of the State of Nebraska through a competitive application process. The department then partners with recipients to provide input regarding project design, development, and implementation.
In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature approved a general fund allocation of $29,555,112 to the Rural Workforce Housing Fund. In May 2023, DED awarded $22,805,000 of these funds to 27 non-profit housing organizations. With today’s announcement, the remaining funds of $6,750,112 have now been awarded.
The award recipients, their project areas, matching dollars, and amounts awarded are listed below. For more information about the RWHF, visit opportunity.nebraska.gov/program/workforce-housing-fund. For questions, contact Nick Dropinski, Workforce Housing Specialist, at nick.dropinski@nebraska.gov or 402-580-0713.
| Rural Workforce Housing Fund Recipients, January 2024 | |||
| Recipient | Project Area | Local Match | RWHF Award |
| Cambridge Community Daycare Foundation | Cambridge | $504,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce | Columbus | $251,343 | $502,685 |
| Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation | Grand Island | $314,242 | $1,256,715 |
| Keith County Housing Development Corporation | Keith County: Ogallala, Paxton, Brule | $125,672 | $502,685 |
| Main Street Beatrice | Beatrice | $250,000 | $800,000 |
| NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska – Norfolk | Norfolk | $161,959 | $628,356 |
| Republican Valley Golden Years Foundation | Arapahoe | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| Tilden Community Alliance | Tilden | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| Wakefield Development Corporation | Wakefield | $31,418 | $125,671 |
| Wood River Vision 2020, Inc. | Wood River | $134,700 | $534,000 |
| Total | $1,873,334 | $6,750,112 | |