LINCOLN, NEB. (August 13, 2008)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $1,020,000 in funding to a city and two nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in the state’s Northeast Investment Zone as part of the 2008 Nebraska Affordable Housing Program.

Grants are made available to fund housing projects statewide through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership, and Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) programs.

“In especially tough economic times, one of the best possible investments anyone can make is in owning their own home,” said Richard Baier, DED director. “Not only is it a large, tangible form of investing in one’s future, but a symbol of independence, freedom, and the ability to shelter and care for one’s family.”

The three projects that received grants are:

• City of Columbus—$400,000 NAHTF money to continue providing the Down Payment Assistance Program. As many as 30 low-income homebuyers are expected to use the program to help them purchase existing or new single family homes in Columbus. Currently, there are 44 single family homes for sale in the city, with a price range of $45,000 to $130,000. The city’s Down Payment Assistance Program has a successful track record of helping area families. The city used grants awarded in 2004 and 2005 to help 23 first-time homebuyers make down payments on homes from November 2004-March 2007. Contact Linda Walters at 402-564-8584 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


• Northeast Economic Development, Inc. (NED, Inc.)—$400,000 NAHTF money to provide direct homebuyer assistance, secure vacant lots, and construct five single-family detached homes within the Northeast Investment Zone. NED, Inc. will work with communities in its service area to market the program to families earning incomes below 100 percent of the Median Area Income, and contact local employers regarding the employer-assisted program. NED, Inc., provides services to residents of Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, rural Douglas, Madison, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, Washington and Wayne Counties. Contact Calvin Allyn at 402-379-1150 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


• NeighborWorks®Northeast Nebraska (NWNEN)—$220,000 NAHTF money to provide direct homebuyer assistance, secure vacant lots, and construct two single-family homes in Schuyler that will be developed through NWNEN’s New Construction Program in partnership with the City, Schuyler Community Schools and Schuyler Development Company. The homes will be sold to families earning incomes below 100 percent of the Median Area Income. NWNEN expanded its service area in 2006 from a 40-mile radius of Norfolk to include nine counties. Schuyler is located in Colfax County, one of the nine. Contact Roger D. Nadrchal at 402-379-3311 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it