LINCOLN, NEB. (February 27, 2007)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded $4,062,172 in HOME and Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds (NAHTF) to local housing authorities, nonprofit housing and community development organizations, and a state designated community development housing organization. The funding is earmarked for 13 projects that either qualify for zone-set-aside assistance, or involve Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity as a funding source.

Set-aside projects sharing $840,000 include:

• Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska, Kearney—$150,000 HOME grant to help five first-time homebuyers, earning incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income, buy homes through a purchase, rehabilitation and resale program in Buffalo County.

• CORE Development, Inc., Neligh—$200,000 HOME grant to rehabilitate nine houses in Antelope and Holt counties owned by households earning income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

• Nebraska Housing Developers, Lincoln—$40,000 NAHTF grant to provide technical assistance to tribal-based nonprofit housing organizations and information about serving American Indians who do not reside on a reservation in Nebraska.

• Northeast Economic Development, Inc., Norfolk—$200,000 HOME grant to rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes of families earning incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income in Antelope, Boone, Knox and Nance counties.

• Northeast Housing Initiative, Allen—$150,000 NAHTF grant to purchase, rehabilitate and resell eight homes to families whose incomes are at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income in Antelope and Knox counties.

• Southwest Nebraska Community, Grant—$100,000 HOME grant to rehabilitate six owner-occupied homes of families whose incomes are at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income in Hitchcock County.

Money also was set aside for the following U.S. Department of Agriculture project:

• Southeast Nebraska Affordable Housing Council, Lincoln—$432,550 NAHTF grant to build 24 units of elderly housing for individuals/couples earning incomes at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income in Crete.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects sharing $2,789,621 include:

• Central City Housing Authority, Central City—$219,621 HOME grant to build 12 units of elderly rental housing that follow Green Building guidelines established by the Nebraska Energy Office. All units will be visitable and one unit will be fully handicapped accessible.

• Douglas County Housing Authority, Omaha—$600,000 NAHTF grant to build 12 units of rental housing, four of which are fully handicapped accessible.

• Lincoln Civic Housing Inc., Lincoln—$700,000 HOME grant to build a 76 unit rental complex in Lincoln. Four units will be fully handicapped accessible and 28 units will be visitable.

• Midwest Housing Initiatives Inc., Lincoln—Two Projects. $630,000 HOME grant to build 18 elderly rental units in York. One unit will be handicapped accessible and all units will be visitable; and $640,000 HOME grant to build 28 units of rental housing for people age 55 and older in Grand Island. Two units will be fully handicapped accessible.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Greg Cecil at 800-426-6505, 402-471-2280, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Paula Rhian at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3760, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Individuals who are hearing and/or speech impaired and have a TDD, may contact the department through the Statewide Relay System by calling one of the following numbers:
711, (800) 833- 7352 (TDD), or (800) 833-0920 (voice).
The relay operator should be asked to call DED at (800) 426-6505, or (402) 471-3111.