LINCOLN, NEB. (November 14, 2007)—The cities of Hastings and Wayne have each received $255,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to construct speculative buildings that attract new or expanding companies. The projects will create 23 full-time jobs—13 in Hastings and 10 in Wayne for low-to-moderate-income wage earners.

The city of Hastings will apply its $250,000 award toward construction of a 97,500-sq.-ft. building in North Industrial Park. Located on six acres, the shell building will feature 26-ft. side walls, and provide for a 25-ft. bay capacity and 60-ft. column spacing. It will be designed to specifically attract warehouses, machining, plastic extrusion or metal fabrication businesses, which dovetail with Hastings’ existing industries. The remaining $5,000 will be available to the city for administrative costs. The Hastings Economic Development Corporation will match the CDBG funding, bringing the total project to $1,234,795.

During the past 30 years, the Hastings Speculative Building Program in the Hastings Industrial Parks have accounted for the attraction or expansion of seven industries, creating more than 750 new manufacturing jobs and capital investments totaling over $100 million according to Dee Haussler, HEDC executive director.

The city of Wayne will use its $250,000 award to build a 20,000-sq.-ft. metal shell speculative building on 6.57 acres in Kardell Industrial Park. Wayne Area Economic Development, Inc. will market the facility to light manufacturers that specifically manufacture products used by the ethanol industry. Wayne is strategically located near a number of ethanol facilities in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.  The remaining $5,000 also will go to the city for administrative costs involved with the project. The city, Wayne Industries, and Wayne Area Economic Development will provide $399,100 matching funds bringing the total project to $654,100.

Federal funds are made available to Nebraska from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The in-state portion of the CDBG program is administered by DED.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Hastings project— Stew Jobes at 308-385-6355, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wayne project—Sheryl Hiatt at 402-589-0027 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it