LINCOLN, NEB. (August 13, 2008)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $806,300 in funding to two communities and a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in the state’s Southeast 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.

“Providing quality, affordable housing, be it through rehabilitating existing homes or building new homes continues to be a top priority for Nebraska,” said Richard Baier, DED director.

The three projects that received grants are:

• Village of Cedar Bluffs—$248,000 CDBG funding to establish a community owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program and rehabilitate ten owner-occupied homes.Housing Rehabilitation Program brochures were inserted in December 2007 municipal water bills and mailed out to all households. By late January 2008, 19 homeowners had requested rehabilitation pre-applications, and nine had been completed and returned. Contact Kim Thurlow at 402-628-3115 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


• City of Plattsmouth—$247,000 CDBG funding to implement a city-wide owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program. Eleven owner-occupied homes requiring “substantial” rehabilitation are proposed for completion. The City, which has previously undertaken several successful owner-occupied housing rehabilitation programs in targeted areas, will contribute $60,000 in Program Income Reuse Funds for the project. Contact Erv Portis at 402-296-2522 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


• Southeast Nebraska Community Action Council, Inc.—$311,300 NAHTF money to provide direct financial assistance to 15 first-time homebuyers to purchase either existing homes (with the availability of minor rehabilitation services) or new single-family homes. Maximum assistance available will be $15,000 per applicant purchasing homes in Cass, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee and Richardson Counties. Contact Richard Winslow at 402-862-2411, ext. 101 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