August 1 is deadline for BECA grant program

LINCOLN, NEB. (May 30, 2006)—August 1 is the deadline for submitting applications for the next round of grants available through the Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act (BECA). There is $350,000 in available funding with a maximum grant request of $75,000.

The grants are designed to help depressed rural areas of Nebraska build and sustain programs that generate and retain wealth in the communities located in those areas.

To be eligible, at least two local governments (municipal or county) must collaborate on a project with a two-year completion deadline. The applicants also must provide a hard 1:1 cash match from sources other than state and federal programs.

Eligible projects are those that address one of the following:

• provide education and technical assistance to energize small business development and entrepreneurship

• provide technical assistance to facilitate small business transfer

• build community business capacity and leadership programs

• generate opportunities that attract and retain youth and families

• provide education about philanthropy and intergenerational transfer of wealth

• build community endowments to support above activities

All applications must be received at either the Nebraska Department of Economic Development office in Lincoln, or the Nebraska Rural Development Commission office in North Platte by Noon, August 1.

Complete guidelines and an application form can be found online at: http://rdc.neded.org

For information, contact Linda Fettig at 308-749-2291, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it