LINCOLN, NEB. (December 3, 2007)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the villages of Melbeta and Taylor to inspect and/or update and replace components of their wastewater systems.

“The Nebraska Department of Economic Development is committed to ensuring that all communities have the safest wastewater and water systems in place to help protect and preserve the health and welfare of each and every Nebraskan, no matter how long it takes,” said Richard Baier, DED’s director.

Melbeta will use its $250,000 CDBG funding to draft a final engineering design and construction schedule that outlines the most cost effective and easily implemented way in which to make improvements to the existing wastewater system. Melbeta’s wastewater lagoons currently do not retain water. The collection system is damaged and allows significant amounts of wastewater to enter the highly permeable soil surrounding it. The village proposed to replace the collection system piping and re-line the lagoons. Melbeta also has applied for $411,840 from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)/State Revolving Funds to complete the project.

Taylor will use its $250,000 CDBG funding for two activities: To conduct a closed circuit television inspection of its existing sewer collection system followed by construction of a new lift station, and replacement of the existing wastewater lagoon treatment facility. The village’s wastewater collection system was originally built in 1962 and consists of approximately 13,000 linear feet of sewer pipe with 36 manholes and 10 cleanouts. Wastewater flows to a single-celled, unlined lagoon located east of Taylor and adjacent to the North Loup River. Taylor was awarded a $526,000 loan and a $180,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) to complete the project.

Federal funds are made available to DED from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program to assist with the development of businesses and communities throughout the state. Funding requests for this program are administered by DED and are available to local governments and counties in Nebraska with populations less than 50,000.

The application process is a partnership of DED, the USDA RD, DEQ, and the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.

Jason Seamann at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3761, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it