Working together to provide economic development opportunities for Central Nebraska.

Central Nebraska Economic Development District   

P.O. Box 130, Bassett, NE 68714                                                      

Phone: (402)684-3346    Fax: (402)684-3347   
Email: evelyn@cnedd.org

$590,000 In Affordable Housing Funds Awarded To Serve North Central Nebraska

The Central Nebraska Economic Development, Inc., located in Bassett, has been awarded $590,000 by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to provide owner-occupied rehabilitation services to 20 homes in four counties in North Central Nebraska. These four counties include: Boyd, Keya Paha, Rock and Howard. Rehabilitation services will be provided to address housing needs such as weatherization and energy efficiency, accessibility, and housing quality.

"We are excited about the opportunities this funding provides to low- and medium-income homeowners in our region. Although there have been outstanding programs provided in a number of area communities, this is the first step in providing affordable housing programs to both rural and community citizens on a region-wide basis," states Heidi Phillips, Executive Director of the Central Nebraska Economic Development District.

The Central Nebraska Economic Development, Inc. will administer this program through partnerships with Central Nebraska Community Services (CNCS) located in Loup City, Nebraska, and Community Development Services (CDS) of Plainview, Nebraska.

Interested rural and community homeowners who reside in one of the four targeted counties are encouraged to request information about the program from the following individuals:

-Boyd, Keya Paha, Rock Counties: Contact Judy Petersen, CNED, Inc. Housing Coordinator, (402) 482-5711
-Howard County: Contact Judy Hughes, CNCS, CED Director, (308) 745-0780 Ext. 107

"Improving the lives of residents in rural Nebraska through rehabilitation of their homes today, ensures that those homes will be available for future generations, and encourages citizens to work and raise their families in rural Nebraska," states Judy Petersen, Housing Coordinator for Central Nebraska Economic Development, Inc.

Central Nebraska Economic Development, Inc. is a non-profit housing organization that serves 15 counties in North Central Nebraska, including Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Sherman, Valley, and Wheeler.

October 28, 2004

Congressman Tom Osborne was the keynote speaker for the 2004 CNEDD annual meeting.  Over 40 people were in attendance at the October 28, 2004 meeting held near Burwell at the Calamus Lodge.  Congressman Osborne spoke on the importance of rural economic development, and the impact that it has on rural communities.  Congressman Osborne complimented the CNEDD on their accomplishments, and spoke of the importance of development districts and the impact they have on the communities they serve.

 A check for $50,000 was presented to the CNEDD by Mary Gambill with USDA Rural Development for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant RBEG.  See related article in this issue.

The annual meeting proved to be a success with plans for next year’s annual meeting soon underway.  The CNEDD plans to honor a dues paying member (a county, community or associate member) with an appreciation certificate at next year’s annual meeting.  Plans are also underway to honor the partners who have contributed to the success of the CNEDD, and made the development district a reality.  Thank you to those who attended the annual meeting and we look forward to seeing you at the 2005 CNEDD annual meeting.

From the (former) Executive Director, Heidi J. Phillips 

Fellow Central Nebraska Economic Development District CNEDD Supporters:

As I began thinking about topics for the inaugural issue of the CNEDD’s newsletter, several happenings came to mind that were newsworthy.

The revised Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy CEDS has been submitted to the Economic Development Administration EDA, we are currently waiting for district designation by the EDA.  An associate membership drive is currently underway, being headed up by the membership committee for the CNEDD.  Area businesses, lending institutions, utility providers and economic development organizations are being contacted and asked to become members of the CNEDD.  This is a great opportunity to network and partner on economic development projects.  A Rural Business Enterprise Grant RBEG application has been submitted to the USDA/Rural Development to compile business and community profile data that will be placed on both on the Location One Information System LOIS, and the Nebraska Economic Development Information NEDI.  This will provide greater coverage of the available infrastructure, buildings, community development programs, and business located within the communities which the CNEDD serves.  An Intermediary Re-lending Program IRP grant application was prepared, but not submitted to the USDA /Rural Development due to lack of matching funds.  We plan to raise money throughout the next year to use as match for the IRP application and submit the grant next year.  The IRP would provide funds to create an Economic Development Loan Fund EDLF program that would loan money (in conjunction with the local lending institutions) to businesses located within the 15 counties of the CNEDD.  A Community Development Block Grant CDBG application was submitted for a new Public Library for the City of Atkinson, and has been approved.  Currently I am working on a couple of business expansion projects within the region, stay tuned for updates on these projects.

An income survey for Emmet is in progress with an additional income survey planned for Valley County after the first of the year.  CNEDD is partnering with the Nebraska Business Development Center, NE Department of Economic Development and local economic development personnel in setting up several workshops in the District to provide businesses with the marketing know-how and technical tools to compete successfully for procurement of possible government contracts.   The first workshop has been scheduled for February 23 at the North Central NE RC & D meeting room in Bassett.  An additional session is planned for the southern area of the District at a later date.   

I would like to commend the following partner’s of the CNEDD.  It is because of the partnerships between the CNEDD and the North Central Nebraska and the Loup Basin RC&D, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and the Nebraska Development Network that providing economic development services to the fifteen counties that the CNEDD serves has become a reality.  “Partnerships enable growth, and promote development.  Working together regionally proves to be valuable when you live and work in a rural economy.  Without partnerships the CNEDD’s success would not be a reality today.  The CNEDD would like to thank the North Central Nebraska and the Loup Basin RC&D’s, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and the Nebraska Development Network for partnering with the CNEDD, and look forward to partnering with these agencies on future projects. 

Before I close, I would like to extend my special thanks to the CNEDD Board of Directors for their dedication to creating an Economic Development District for Central Nebraska.  Their leadership and input on economic development and the needs of our communities located within the district is greatly appreciated.