LINCOLN, NEB. (December 20, 2005)-Local government officials and staff, or others interested in procuring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in the categories of Public Works, Water/Wastewater, or Planning, or as part of the Tourism Development Initiative are encouraged to attend a free workshop in January scheduled in six locales around the state. The CDBG Application Workshop, conducted by staff from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) will focus on:

· Eligible planning and community development activities for 2006
· Low- and moderate-income requirements
· The process of submitting an application
· Questions and comprehensive answers

If requested by attendees, DED staff will address other pre- and post-award requirement topics, including procurement, property acquisition, environmental and labor standards requirements, income survey methodology, application scoring criteria, special assessments.

While the CDBG Application Guideline Workshop is free, participants are asked to complete an online registration form located at: http://crd.neded.org, to help staff better prepare for the workshop. Please register at least one week in advance of the workshop you wish to attend.

The workshop will be held:

January 12, 9 a.m. (CT)-Lincoln, Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lower Level C.

January 17, 9 a.m. (CT)-Ainsworth, City Hall, 606 E. 4th St.

January 18, 9 a.m. (MT)-Alliance, Alliance Public Library, 1750 Sweetwater Ave.

January 19, 9 a.m. (CT)-North Platte, Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Road, Sioux Room

January 25, 9 a.m. (CT)-Norfolk, Lifelong Learning Center, 801 E. Benjamin Ave.

January 26, 9 a.m. (CT)-Hastings, Holiday Inn, 2205 Osborne Drive

The grant, administered through the Nebraska Department of Roads, requires a 20% local dollar investment, yet also presents significant economic opportunities for the area. Broken Bow economic development leaders secured 14 acres of donated land, donation of a historic barn to serve as the center, and local donations in excess of $30,000. Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for late summer 2006.

For more information about the workshops, contact Jen Bolen, Consolidated Plan Coordinator, at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6280, or e-mail her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jen Bolen at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6280, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it