Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)

Disaster-Related Recovery

The CDBG-DR funds must be used toward disaster recovery activities, addressing disaster relief, restoration of infrastructure, and housing and economic revitalization, directly related to the 2019 disaster.

Meeting a National Objective

To qualify for CDBG-DR funding, activities must meet one of three national objectives set forth in section 104(b)(3) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974:

1. Benefit low-and moderate-income (LMI) persons, or
2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or
3. Meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs (Urgent Need).

HUD requires that at least 70% of the CDBG-DR funds be allocated and spent to benefit LMI populations. The Data for Applicants & Grantees link provides low- ad moderate-income data and other relevant information for applicants and grantees.

Most Impact and Distressed Counties

HUD has identified Sarpy, Dodge, and Douglas counties as the “most impacted and distressed” from DR-4420. Per HUD requirements, 80% of CDBG-DR funding must benefit the HUD-defined MID areas (Sarpy, Dodge, and Douglas counties). To meet the needs of other impacted counties outside of the HUD-defined MID, the State has allocated up to 20% of CDBG-DR funding to support recovery in counties that were included in the federal disaster declaration.

Slide Deck

CDBG-DR Overview Presentation

Additional Resources and Related Links

• FEMA Nebraska Disaster Declaration 4420-DR, https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4420
• Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), https://nema.nebraska.gov/

• HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR), https://hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-dr
• HUD Exchange, CDBG vs CDBG-DR: A Comparison, https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5627/cdbg-and-cdbg-dr-a-comparison/
• HUD Exchange, CDBG-DR covid-19 FAQs, https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/6006/cdbg-dr-covid-19-faqs/
• HUD CDBG-DR Fact Sheet: https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5341/cdbg-dr-fact-sheet/

Citizen Participation Plan

• Citizen Participation Plan | Version 1.1, Revised August 2021

Public Hearings

Public Hearings are held in accordance with the Citizen Participation Plan. Below is a list of past, current, or future public hearings. If no current or future hearings are scheduled, check back here and/or subscribe to our mailing list to receive emails.

• Public Comment – Substantial Amendment 3 (APA3), October 16 – November 15, 2023 PR | Archived Slide Deck
• Public Comment – Substantial Amendment 1 (APA1), December 10, 2021–January 10, 2022 PR | Archived Slide Deck
• Public Comment – Initial Action Plan, June 23-July 23, 2020 PR | Archived Slide Deck

Citizen Engagement

Below is a listing of past events. Please find announcements of upcoming community outreach and informational sessions under CDBG-DR Announcements. To stay up to date on important CDBG-DR information, please continue to follow our website and join our mailing list.

• Program Guidelines Workshops
  • Housing Programs
  • Infrastructure Match Program
  • Planning Programs
• Focus Groups, January 20, 2022
  • Housing, 10AM CT Announcement | Slide Deck | Q&A
  • Infrastructure, 1PM CT Announcement | Slide Deck | Q&A
  • Planning, 3PM CT Announcement | Slide Deck | Q&A
• Community Outreach & Informational Sessions
  • Targeted Stakeholder, Developer, & Subrecipient Outreach,  November 29, 2021 Announcement | Slide Deck | Q&A
  • Public (Beneficiary) Outreach, November 29, 2021 Announcement | Slide Deck | Q&A
• NDED-NIFA Joint Application, NIFA Qualified Action Plan 22-23
  • Overview, October 4, 2021 Announcement | Slide Deck
  • QAP Public Hearing, October 8, 2021 Announcement
  • Overview, November 15, 2021 Announcement | Slide Deck
  • QAP Public Hearing, November 19, 2021 Announcement

Public Records Request

As part of our public policy, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) aims to maintain transparency in Nebraska’s recovery processes after Winter Storm Ulmer (DR-4420). To that end, DED has developed guidelines so that any person or entity can have access to information related to activities carried out with CDBG-DR funds, while protecting the confidentiality of the information requested. DED’s goal is that every person can stay informed by following a uniform process to obtain public information regarding the management of the CDBG-DR funds and to facilitate the scope of transparency by having a reasonable framework of the steps to follow in order to have access to the information, as requested by the public.

As grantee, DED is responsible of making sure that all public information requests (PIRs) are addressed within a reasonable timeframe. Whenever possible, PIRs will be answered within ten (10) business days upon receipt if submitted by postal mail, electronically, or personally at DED headquarters.

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The minimum information that a PIR Form must contain is:

• Full name;
• Physical address; Postal address; and / or email;
• Telephone number;
• Signature;
  • If the petitioner is a legal entity, the PIR will also include:
    • The title of the representative of the legal entity; and
    • A certification that the person signing is acting as such.
• The Division or Area of DED that the petitioner believes has custody of the requested public information, if known;
• A detailed description of the public information that the petitioner wishes to obtain, examine, or inspect; subject to payment of the applicable fees;
• Format in which the petitioner wishes to obtain public information; be it hard copy or electronic.

The PIR Form may be submitted to DED through the following methods:

Online: fill out the request form available on DED’s website at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/cdbg-dr-public-information-request/

Email: ded.cdbgdr@nebraska.gov

Postal Mail: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666

In person: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor, Lincoln, NE 68508

In compliance with HUD requirements and the CDBG-DR Citizen Participation Plan, DED has created a PIR Form in order to establish a clear and specific model that guarantees people’s access to public information. You may download it or fill it out via this webpage. If you require assistance in your submission, please call 800-426-6505.

• CDBG-DR Public Information Request Form

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Submitting Complaints

As part of addressing Nebraska’s long-term recovery needs, citizen complaints on any issues related to the general administration of CDBG-DR funds are welcome throughout the duration of the grant. DED aims to provide an opportunity to address all complaints received. Addressing these complaints is an essential responsibility for DED, as it establishes the importance of an open communication regarding citizens’ concerns about the programs.

It is DED’s responsibility, as grantee, to ensure that all complaints are addressed promptly and consistently and, at a minimum, to provide a timely, substantive written response to every written complaint within fifteen (15) business days, where practicable, as a CDBG grant subrecipient. This timeframe is consistent with HUD requirements.

A complaint is a formal statement of grievance submitted in writing, which will be documented, processed, filed, and answered as per 24 C.F.R. 570.86 (a)(7). DED requires the following formalities:

1. Needs to be in writing.
2. Complainant’s full name.
3. Complainant’s contact information and preferred method of notification for communications regarding complaint (telephone, physical, postal, and email addresses).
4. Nature of complaint.
5. Summary of complaint and desired remedy requested.
6. Previously contacted individuals concerning complaint.
7. Any supporting evidence.

Requirements 1-5 are mandatory. Complaints with insufficient data or submitted by a third party with no standing in the matter being submitted need not be accepted or reviewed. Anonymous complaints will not be addressed. Any individual filing a complaint on behalf of an individual or entity, shall present proper documentation confirming they have the authority to represent the complainant.

In compliance with HUD requirements and the CDBG-DR Citizen Participation Plan, DED has created a Citizen Complaint Form in order to establish a clear and specific model that guarantees people’s access to public information. You may download it or fill it out via this webpage. If you require assistance in your submission, please call 800-426-6505.

In order to ensure adequate communication with and from persons with disabilities, a complainant may request alternate formats, as needed. One of these may be to allow that a complaint be received verbally. CDBG-DR personnel or other related CDBG-DR parties receiving said complaint must assure compliance with all the requirements as described above.

The Citizen Complaint Form may be submitted to DED through the following methods:

Online: fill out the complaint form available on DED’s website at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/cdbg-dr-citizen-complaint-form/

Email: ded.cdbgdr@nebraska.gov

Postal Mail: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666

In person: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor, Lincoln, NE 68508

Complaints related to fraud, waste or abuse of government funds must be reported to DED’s Internal Auditor, the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts (APA), directly to the OIG at HUD, or any local or federal law enforcement agency. More information on Anti-Fraud, Waste or Abuse Policy.

• CDBG-DR Citizen Complaint Form

DED is dedicated to being a good steward of CDBG-DR resources while maintaining a comprehensive policy for preventing, detecting, reporting and rectifying fraud, waste or abuse. DED encourages any individual who is aware or suspects any kind of conduct or activity that may be considered an act of fraud, waste or abuse, regarding the CDBG-DR Program, to report such acts to DED’s Internal Auditor, the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, directly to the Office of Inspector General at HUD, or any local or federal law enforcement agency.

The CDBG-DR Anti-Fraud, Waste or Abuse (AFWA) Policy includes definitions and examples of fraud, waste and abuse and information on reporting and investigation.

• CDBG-DR Anti-Fraud, Waste or Abuse (AFWA) Policy

Any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to CDBG-DR funds or resources must be reported to DED’s Internal Auditor, the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts (APA), directly to the OIG at HUD, or any local or federal law enforcement agency. If you know or suspect someone has committed fraud, waste or abuse related to the CDBG-DR Program, please report by any of the means listed below.

To the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Internal Auditor:

• Online/Anonymous Email: Fill out the AFWA Submission Form, available at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/cdbg-dr-afwa-form/
• Phone: 800-426-6505
• Postal Mail: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666
• In person: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor Lincoln, NE 68508

• CDBG-DR Anti-Fraud, Waste, or Abuse Form

To the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts (APA):

• Online/Anonymous Email: Fill out the AFWA Submission Form, available at the Nebraska APA’s website: https://auditors.nebraska.gov/About_Us/SAE_E-Mail.html
• Phone: Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts confidential Hotline at 1-800-842-8348.
• Postal Mail: Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts State Capitol, Suite 2303, P.O. Box 98917 Lincoln, NE 68509-8917
• In person: Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts State Capitol, Suite 2303, Lincoln, NE 68508

Contact HUD’s OIG Fraud Hotline via phone at 1-800-347-3735 or via email at hotline@hudoig.gov.