The State of Nebraska will be soliciting public comments from October 6, 2023 through October 24, 2023 regarding an application for Pathways to Removing Obstacles Housing (PRO Housing) funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HUD has allocated $85 million for competitive grant funding for the identification and removal of barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. Congress has directed HUD to undertake a competition using the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) statutory and regulatory framework. HUD will be accepting applications for PRO Housing grants to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. Information about the PRO Housing program is available at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/pro_housing.
The State of Nebraska is applying to request $10,000,000 in funding to further develop, evaluate, and implement housing policy plans, improve housing strategies, and facilitate affordable housing production and preservation. The application will describe the manner in which funding will be used for the production and preservation of affordable housing in Nebraska and to meet national and state objectives. The application will also cover project timelines, eligible activities, project implementation, and other criteria.
Specifically, the application documents will describe how the Department of Economic Development (DED), in partnership with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), will use awarded funding to remove barriers to affordable housing, such as:
- Barriers caused by outdated zoning, land use policies, or regulations;
- Inefficient procedures;
- Gaps in available resources for development;
- Deteriorating or inadequate infrastructure;
- Lack of neighborhood amenities; or
- Challenges to preserving existing housing stock such as increasing threats from natural hazards, redevelopment pressures, or expiration of affordability requirements.
DED will solicit public comments from October 6, 2023 through October 24, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. CT. A public hearing will be conducted at the following date and time:
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 – 10:00 a.m. (CT)
- In-Person:
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
1230 O Street, Suite 200
Lincoln, NE 68508
- Website Streaming:
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xhY3RfbcQjm0q__Obh6r6Q
An electronic copy of the application will be made available to the public on the DED website at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/reports, as well as NIFA’s website at https://www.nifa.org/community-engagement/pro-housing-grant, starting October 6, 2023. Copies of the application will be available at the in-person public hearing and may be obtained by contacting Lori Cole, DED Office Manager, by email at Lori.A.Cole@nebraska.gov or by phone at 800-426-6505 or 402-471-3746.
Public comments must be received by DED by the close of the public comment period. Comments may be submitted via email to DED.PublicComment@nebraska.gov with the subject line “2023 PRO Housing Funding Application” or mailed to Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521.
Individuals requiring sensory accommodations, including interpreter services, Braille, large print, or recorded materials, should contact Brittany Piper at 402-310-4782 or DED.PublicComment@nebraska.gov by October 10, 2023.
Los individuos que no hablan inglés y los individuos con discapacidad podrán solicitor ayuda y servicios necesarios para contactar el Departamento de Desarrollo Economico, 245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521, o DED.PublicComment@nebraska.gov.