Gov. Heineman Awards $195,000 in
Community Development Grant Funding

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman has awarded more than $195,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to assist 10 communities with ongoing local planning efforts.

“These grants ensure that some of our state’s smallest communities have help in planning for future development projects and infrastructure upgrades that are vital to their continued growth,” Gov. Heineman said. “What’s made the CDBG program so valuable is that it allows us the freedom to target funding to projects that benefit small communities in particular; places where a small amount can make a real difference.”

The grants are part of Nebraska’s annual allocation of CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grants are from the second cycle of 2007 CDBG planning project funds and are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Communities receiving funding include:

Bassett will receive $25,000 to update its comprehensive development plan and zoning regulations, as well as conduct an annexation study.

Diller will receive $12,800 to perform a joint housing market study with Odell in the Griffins Area, which is a consolidated school district serving both communities.

Fairbury will receive $16,100 to conduct an affordable housing study. The grant will help survey current housing conditions and develop a comprehensive strategy to meet local housing needs.

Fillmore County receives $17,700 to develop an affordable housing study that includes strategies for meeting the needs of Exeter, Fairmont, Geneva, Grafton, Milligan, Ohiowa, Shickley, and Strang, as well as the county’s remaining unincorporated areas.

Grand Island will receive $25,000 to update a housing marketing study that addressed needs in 14 low- to middle-income neighborhoods throughout the city. The updated version will include strategies for meeting future housing needs.

Howells will receive $13,700 to update the village’s comprehensive planning, zoning and building codes.

North Loup receives $19,000 to conduct a sewer study examining the village’s existing sewer conditions and infrastructure and outlines potential future needs.

St. Edward will receive $25,000 to perform a levee protection study. It will gather base flood elevation data for Beaver Creek and outline possible strategies and cost estimates needed to protect the city against the threat of future flooding.

Sutherland will receive $25,000 to complete a plan for bringing all public facilities, including parks and recreation programs, into compliance with the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Union will receive $15,800 to conduct a feasibility study on the Wiysel Building, site of the state’s first Ford Dealership and showrooms, to determine appropriate community use for the building.