The Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s (DED) Community and Rural Development Division (CRD) will conduct a public hearing and provide a public comment period for the 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan and the 2008 Proposed Annual Action Plan which involves the distribution of approximately $12 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $5 million in HOME program funds, and $600,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended); $1.5 million in Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Funds; and $10 million in Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds.  

The 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan describes the State’s five year priorities, strategies, and national and state objectives and the 2008 Proposed Annual Action Plan updates the Consolidated Plan, which includes application schedules, eligible activities, and selection criteria for projects.  The 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan and the Proposed 2008 Annual Action Plan will be available no later than April 7th on the DED website at: http://www.neded.org,  or can be requested by calling Libby Elder at (800) 426-6505 or (402) 471-3762, or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

The public hearing for both plans is scheduled for Friday, April 18, 2008, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CT) in Lincoln at the Department of Economic Development located in the Nebraska State Office Building at 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor.  The public comment period will run April 7-May 7, 2008.  The public hearing and comment period are being held due to a major change that has been made to both plans.  That change includes:

The State of Nebraska has qualified to receive a $306,000 Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) formula grant for federal fiscal year 2008 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  These federal funds will be used throughout the state to address supportive housing needs of low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.  The HOPWA program is administered through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).  The formula grant received in 2008 will be in addition to the HOPWA funding previously received by the DHHS through the HOPWA competitive grant process. 

Questions and public comments will be accepted at the public hearing.  Written comments must be mailed by May 7, 2008 to: Libby Elder, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, P.O. Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666; or emailed to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Comments will be accepted starting on April 7, 2008.  Individuals requiring sensory accommodations, including interpreter services, Braille, large print or recorded materials should contact Libby Elder by April 4, 2008.