The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) awards $182,500 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to five (5) communities through the 2022 Planning Opportunity. Projects include comprehensive plans, floodplain mapping, and downtown revitalization studies.
A federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program, administered by DED on behalf of Nebraska’s non-entitlement communities, provides CDBG dollars to help communities tackle projects that enhance public health and safety, economic well-being, local vitality, and quality of life.
All the funded communities demonstrated a reasonable and collaborative approach to community development within their project design to carry out much needed studies for community-wide planning projects. These projects meet the CDBG national objective of benefit to low and moderate-income (LMI) persons on a community-wide basis under the low-moderate income area (LMA) national objective.
Arthur: The Village of Arthur, Arthur County, was awarded $43,500 for planning grant funds to assist with development of an environmental study that presents flood plain findings to support a letter of map revision submittal to FEMA to amend the flood plain designation.
Bellwood: The Village of Bellwood, Butler County, was awarded $25,500 for a planning project to update the comprehensive plan, zoning, and subdivision regulations. These updates will allow the community to address property deterioration better and provide updated steps to meet community needs.
Clearwater: The Village of Clearwater, Antelope County, was awarded $53,000 for the preparation of a downtown study to assist them in the creation of a cohesive, cost-effective, and vibrant commercial district.
Emerson: The Village of Emerson, located in Dakota, Dixon, and Thurston Counties, was awarded $33,000 for the preparation of a study that will provide a plan to redevelop the downtown area’s infrastructure. The plan identifies the existing businesses structures conditions and provides methods for coordinating the delivery of community services.
Newcastle: The Village of Newcastle, Dixon County, was awarded $27,500 for the preparation of a comprehensive development plan. The plan provides guidance for the community officials to make decisions on public and private land development proposals.
For additional information about funding opportunities available to Nebraska communities under the CDBG program, including Downtown Revitalization, visit https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/, or contact Steve Charleston at steve.charleston@nebraska.gov.