Move/Expand Your Business

Business Retention & Expansion Program

The Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program creates discussion with existing businesses in Nebraska through personal interviews. These interviews provide important information on the local and state business climate that help shape the state economic development policies and programs.

Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF)

We support the development of civic, community, and recreation centers by offering grants to Nebraska municipalities.

Community Development Assistance Act (CDAA)

This Act provides tax credits to entities that support approved community betterment projects.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Community Development Block Grants provide funding for projects to encourage the use of additional federal, state, and private resources. Communities receiving CDBG funds use those grants to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities.

Customized Job Training

This program provides employee training assistance to businesses that maintain, expand, and diversify the state’s economic base.

Developing Youth Talent Initiative

The Developing Youth Talent Initiative (DYTI) creates collaboration between Nebraska businesses and public schools. The DYTI exposes students to careers in Manufacturing and Information Technology (IT) to support a youth talent pipeline for these industries in the state.

Economic Development Certified Community (EDCC)

The EDCC program recognizes communities that are economic development leaders in our state and show a readiness for growth.

Enterprise Zones

DED gives preference for various business incentive and grant programs to projects located in whole or in part within a designated enterprise zone.

Foundation Resource Directory

The Foundation Resource Directory serves as a starting point to individuals, communities, and organizations researching different funding sources.  This directory provides information on numerous foundations, both in and out of Nebraska.  Contact information, brief summaries, fields of interest, limitations, and application information is provided to better support you in your […]

HOME Investment Partnerships Fund (HOME)

HOME provides resources for affordable housing to lower-income households by strengthening the capacity of non-profit housing providers and private housing developers in the state.

Intern Nebraska

The Intern Nebraska program provides grants to businesses and non-profits who want to create new internships in the state.

Leadership Certified Community (LCC)

Communities can apply for leadership designation by demonstrating strong organizational skills and leadership abilities that promote future growth and economic development.

Local Option Municipal Economic Development (LB840)

LB 840 authorizes cities that meet certain requirements to collect tax dollars for economic development purposes.

LocationOne (LOIS)

Search the DED database for information about sites, buildings, and locations for businesses looking to grow.

National Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

The National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) is an affordable housing resource for increasing and preserving decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low-income and very low-income households, including homeless families. HTF Funds in Nebraska focus on activities related to rental housing.

Nebraska Academic Research and Development Grant

This program offers Nebraska businesses a matching competitive grant for research and development activities done in conjunction with a Nebraska college or university.

Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF)

The NAHTF is a state financial resource developed in 1996 to increase the supply and improve the quality of affordable housing in Nebraska.

Nebraska Angel Investment Tax Credit

This program provides refundable state income tax credits to qualified investors who invest in qualified early-stage companies.

Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype Grants

The Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototyping Grant is a competitive matching grant that provides financial assistance for product development to businesses operating in Nebraska.

Nebraska Seed Investment Program

This program can invest in a Nebraska business for commercialization of a product or process.

Nebraska Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Grant Program

The Nebraska SBIR/STTR Initiative is a matching grant that provides financial assistance to Nebraska businesses that are applying to or have received a Federal SBIR or STTR.

Opportunity Zones

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 authorized the governor of each U.S. state and territory to nominate a certain number of qualifying census tracts as “Opportunity Zones.” The purpose of the program is to promote investment and drive economic growth in low-income and/or economically disadvantaged communities. Investors can subsequently create “opportunity funds,” which are used to spur economic growth in designated Zones and are eligible for tax incentives.

Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF)

The RWHF provides matching grants to reduce the cost of workforce housing in Nebraska’s rural communities. Workforce housing is housing that meets the needs of working families and is attractive to new residents locating in a rural community.

Site and Building Development Fund

The Site and Building Development Fund (SBDF) supports projects that help advance business innovation and strengthen workforce recruitment.

State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)

The STEP grant helps increase the number of small businesses that export internationally and increases export value for those already doing so.