LINCOLN, NEB. (September 24, 2008)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded $1,358,915 in funding to a Community Housing Development Organization and a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in the state’s Western 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.

The three projects that received grants are:

• Western Nebraska Housing Opportunities, Scottsbluff—$998,915 NAHTF money to convert a four-floor brick building built in 1965 that previously housed a Bible college into a 16-unit apartment complex for qualified households earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. There will be three or four apartments per floor featuring additional storage space that can be rented for an extra fee. A one-story lift will be installed so that handicapped individuals can easily access apartments on the first level. Three units on this floor and an extra room designed for guests with special needs who may be visiting tenants will be made readily accessible. Each floor also will feature a common laundry facility. Contact Rawnda Pierce at 308-635-6710 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Kearney—Two projects. The first project will use $260,000 NAHTF money to offer an Acquisition/Rehabilitation Program to at least eight low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Frontier, Furnas, Gosper and Red Willow Counties. Qualifying homebuyers will receive down payment, closing cost, and rehabilitation assistance so that their homes can meet minimum standards for rehabilitation within six months of occupancy. During the past 11 years, Mid-Nebraska’s Housing Department has successfully administered rehabilitation projects in the communities of Nelson, Red Cloud, Harvard and Franklin; and counties of Buffalo, Franklin/Webster, Gosper, Frontier, Furnas, Red Willow, Harlan, Kearney and Phelps.
• The second project will use $100,000 HOME set-aside funding to rehabilitate at least six homes in Frontier, Furnas, Gosper and Red Willow counties. MID-Nebraska is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Assistive Technology Partnership, Lead Hazard Control, and Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income homeowners implement necessary changes. 

Additionally, Mid-Nebraska assisted 11 first-time homebuyers through two previous Purchase, Rehab, and Resale projects in Buffalo County.

CONTACT: Jackie L. Harpst at 308-865-1354, ext. 118 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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