September 11, 2009 (LINCOLN, NE)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $210,000 through the Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 to the City of Kearney to help with neighborhood revitalization efforts.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 is providing the emergency assistance to state and local governments to purchase, redevelop, and rehabilitate foreclosed, abandoned, and vacant properties that otherwise are already or may become inhabitable. A main focus of the program is to return safe and decent affordable housing units to the market. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 also allows for the demolition of blighted structures. The program is authorized under Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. DED administers the program.

Kearney will use its $210,000 to demolish five blighted properties, and redevelop two lots into single family housing units for homeownership through the City, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Kearney. The project serves an area in which at least 51 percent of residents earn incomes at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income. Contact Suzanne Brodine, Grants and Marketing Coordinator, City of Kearney, at 308-233-3222.

For information about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1, contact Lynn Franzen at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3781 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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CONTACT Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it