LINCOLN, NEB. (October 6, 2008)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development today awarded $2.57 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to nine communities to undertake Owner Occupied Rehabilitation (OOR) projects as part of the 2008 Nebraska Affordable Housing Program’s (NAHP) second funding round.

In all programs, rehabilitation activities may include the repair or replacement of windows, doors, siding, ceilings, floors, and roofs; installation of new water heaters, furnaces and/or air conditioning units, accessibility changes for persons with disabilities, and installation of other necessary health and safety related items.

Receiving funding were:

City of Benkelman—$400,000 CDBG to help at least 15 low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Benkelman will offer up to $22,000 for rehabilitation assistance depending on home inspection outcomes and the amount of funding leveraged through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. Individuals could qualify for one of several low-interest loans and repayment options based on their income levels. The Southwest Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation (SWNCBC) will administer the program. SWNCBC has assisted more than 80 homeowners through regional OOR programs since 2000.  Contact Diane Rosenfelt at 308-423-2540 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Dakota City—$250,000 CDBG to help ten low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Dakota City will publicize the OOR program via utility bills, public postings and advertising in local media outlets. The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) will score applications and administer the program. Individuals could qualify for one of several low-interest loans based on their income levels, and are required to live in their homes for at least three years. Contact Robert Peter at 402-987-3448 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Geneva—$272,000 CDBG to help ten low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. The OOR program will target homes whose “deferred maintenance” threatens to increase blighted conditions in established neighborhoods and continues depressing housing values for neighborhoods and the city. Homeowners may range from individuals, elderly, female heads of households, and young couples all on fixed incomes. The Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) will administer the program. SENDD has managed various community housing rehabilitation programs in its service area since 1980 and assisted with more than 950 rehabilitation projects. Contact Robert Higel at 402-759-3109 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Gothenburg—$236,000 CDBG to help ten low-income homeowners who are at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Homes must have moderate to severe deterioration as determined by staff of West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD), and elderly homeowners (where one resident is at least 62) will receive first consideration. The Gothenburg OOR program will provide loans based on annual income and total costs per home cannot exceed $20,000. WCNDD will administer the program. Contact Connie Dalrymple at 308-537-3677 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Nebraska City—$272,000 CDBG to help ten low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. A Housing Assessment and Strategic Plan completed in September 2006 recommended an increased focus on rehabilitation as part of neighborhood revitalization activities. The plan indicated that a few central city neighborhoods could include in-fill development and rehabilitation to preserve the existing housing supply. The 2008 OOR program fulfills the anticipated needs of housing rehabilitation in other areas of the community outside of a 2007 Southern Target Area. SENDD will administer the program. SENDD has managed various community housing rehabilitation programs in its service area since 1980 and assisted with more than 950 rehabilitation projects. Contact Scott Bovick at 402-873-5515 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Neligh—$300,000 CDBG to help 11 homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Total costs are capped at $25,000 per home through a combination of NAHP funding and leveraged funding from other programs, such as USDA Rural Development, Weatherization, and possibly, Assistive Technology/Making Homes Accessible programs and local lenders. Contact Elaine Hamm at 402-887-4066 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Ogallala—$340,000 CDBG to help 15 low-income homeowners who earn at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Homes must have moderate to severe deterioration as determined by staff of WCNDD, and elderly homeowners (where one resident is at least 62) will receive first consideration. The Ogallala OOR program will provide loans based on annual income and total costs per home cannot exceed $20,000. WCNDD will administer the program. Contact Jane Skinner at 308-284-3607 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Ord—$250,000 CDBG to help eight low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. Ord adopted a Comprehensive Plan in 2000 that “promoted housing rehabilitation programs to improve the overall quality of residential areas in the City.” In 2006, a Community Needs Assessment Survey, conducted for Ord and Valley County by the University of Nebraska at Kearney Center for Rural Research and Development indicated that nearly half of all homes required moderate to major repairs, with the largest number in Ord.  A 2008 Housing Study reported that an estimated 35-40 percent of housing stock could qualify for moderate to substantial rehabilitation, and Ord residents indicated the greatest needs were for housing for middle-income families, rehabilitation of rented homes, and a variety of housing for first-time homebuyers. Contact Sandy Kruml at 308-728-5791 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
City of Sargent—$250,000 CDBG to help eight low-income homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI rehabilitate their homes within the city limits. A needs survey distributed this past June and July indicated that 66.2 percent residents agreed that homes needed moderate to major repairs, and 72.9 percent were willing to apply for low or no interest loans to cover these. Sargent’s OOR program will begin this month with a projected completion date of October 2010. Contact Kathy Drake at 308-527-4200 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