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City of Fremont Downtown Revitalization Project
Nebraska Quilt Company
NENEDD wrote and is administering the grant funding from Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) to enhance and historically restore the downtown businesses in Fremont.
This façade project involved replacing the upper-story windows that were outdated and detracted from the overall historic character and visual appeal of the downtown area. The windows were replaced with new, historically appropriate units that restored the building’s original design. This improvement not only increases curb appeal but also supports ongoing economic development efforts by making the downtown district more inviting for residents, visitors, and businesses.
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Pender Honored for Housing Development, Downtown Beautification, and Infrastructure Upgrades
The Village of Pender (pop. 1,379) was recently recognized by the DED for its continued success in the Leadership Certified Community Program, including efforts to improve downtown and develop additional housing. NENEDD assisted the village by writing and administering the Downtown Revitalization (DTR) grant and writing the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF) and Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) grants. NENEDD also administered an EMCV grant for the community and wrote and administered a CCCFF planning grant to support improvements to the local library.
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Federal Opportunity Zones Application accepted through May 1st
DED opened applications through the Federal Opportunity Zones Program on Monday, March 2, 2026. DED will accept applications for eligible census tracts to be designated as Opportunity Zones through Friday, May 1, 2026.
Originally established by Congress through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Federal Opportunity Zones Program was made permanent with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025. The purpose of the program is to promote investment and drive economic growth in low-income and/or economically disadvantaged communities. Competitive applications will demonstrate the investment readiness, community benefit, and economic need that make a census tract particularly favorable for nomination as an Opportunity Zone.
Following a review of applications, DED will refer its recommendations to Governor Jim Pillen for review and approval. The U.S. Treasury Department will begin accepting Opportunity Zone nominations from governors on July 1, 2026, and continue for 90 days. Census tracts that are approved by the Treasury Department will be designated as Opportunity Zones beginning January 1, 2027. Opportunity Zones will be redesignated every 10 years.
For additional information about the Federal Opportunity Zones Program in Nebraska, visit https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/business/opportunity-zones/.
Please direct questions about the program to Ben Kresl at ded.opportunityzones@nebraska.gov or 402-471-3063.
Northeast Economic Dev. (NED, Inc.) and the Northeast Nebraska Economic Dev. District (NENEDD) Boards met Wednesday, March 25, 2026, via conference call at locations in Norfolk, Columbus, Randolph, and Fremont.
The complete minutes of the, March 25, 2026, NED, Inc. Board of Directors meeting can be viewed here: NED
The complete minutes of the, March 25, 2026, NENEDD Board of Directors meeting can be viewed here: NENEDD
The next meetings will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2026, At the Norfolk City Offices Training Room, 309 N. 5th St., Norfolk, Ne. NED, Inc. will begin at 7 p.m., with NENEDD to follow. The public is welcome to attend.
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NENEDD’s Housing Department throughout the month of March:
- NAHTF Housing mgmt. for City of Norfolk, City of Plainview, and City of Bloomfield’s rental rehab grants
- NAHTF General admin. and housing mgmt. for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehab grant for congressional district 1
- NAHTF General admin. and housing mgmt. for City of Fremont rental rehab grant
- NAHTF General admin. and housing mgmt. for CCED new construction grant
- HOME housing mgmt. and general admin. for NED, Inc. direct homebuyer assistance program
- NAHTF housing mgmt. and general admin. for NED, Inc. direct homebuyer assistance program
- HOME housing mgmt. and general admin. for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehab program
- NAHTF housing mgmt. and general admin. for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehab program
- HOME housing mgmt. and general admin. for NENEDD community owner occupied rehab programs
- HOME housing mgmt. and general admin. for NENEDD community direct homebuyer assistance program programs
- RWHF mgmt. for Albion Economic Dev. Corporation, Pender Community Dev., Cuming County Economic Dev., Greater Fremont Dev. Council
- Monthly Schuyler Housing Dev. Committee meetings
- HomeNE Webinar facilitated by South Central Economic Dev. District
- Nebraska Housing Developers Board and Policy Committee Zoom meetings
- Processing one owner-occupied rehab applications
- Conducted one Housing Quality Standards inspection
- Attended Disaster Preparedness virtual meeting
- Participated in NIFA Q&A virtual meeting
- Attended International Builders Show
- Attended NROC 1st Thursday Virtual meeting
- Conducted phone conversations with community clerks about NED, Inc. Regional Housing programs
  
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Registered Apprenticeship – Train, Retain, Sustain
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At the end of this month, businesses, non-profits, education providers, and workers will celebrate the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week, beginning April 26. This week highlights the immense value Registered Apprenticeship Programs bring to the workplace.
A Registered Apprenticeship Program is a paid, structured training program in which a worker spends time both on the job and in the classroom learning the skills and theory necessary to excel in their occupation. Traditionally embraced by the construction and trades industries, Registered Apprenticeship Programs exist in practically every industry. From teachers and nurses to bankers and engineers, there is a Registered Apprenticeship Opportunity for any business or organization seeking to strengthen its talent pool.
In Nebraska, we have embraced Registered Apprenticeship as a successful long-term career pathway for youth entering the workforce for the first time, adults changing careers/industries due to technological advances, and current employees ready to take the next step in their career. Thanks to the “Good Life, Great Careers” initiative, we are more motivated than ever to support Registered Apprenticeship Programs and meet Governor Pillen’s goals of 6,000 new apprentices in Nebraska by 2030.
Employers, industry and professional associations, economic development groups, non-profits, and educational providers are invited to learn more about Registered Apprenticeship Programs and attend events and proclamations being held statewide during National Apprenticeship Week. Visit apprenticeship.gov to see a list of events or learn more about starting your own Registered Apprenticeship Program. To learn more about the Registered Apprenticeship Program in Nebraska, email ndol.apprenticeship@nebraska.gov or visit dol.nebraska.gov.
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NENEDD’s Planning Department throughout the month of March:
Zach Fisher and Sandra Goode, NENEDD Community Planners, attended the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association (NPZA) Conference in Kearney, Nebraska from Wednesday, March 4 through Friday, March 6. There were many interesting breakout sessions involving topics such as:
- The city of Papillion’s use of drones to help develop a parking study.
- Planning for a Safer Columbus, which involves changes to existing streets to make them safer.
- Lincoln’s University Place Neighborhood project.
- TIF Financing
- How Planners are integrating AI into everyday workflows.
- Planners I Classrooms, which involves getting out into schools to teach students what Planners do.
Zach Fisher and Sandra Goode, NENEDD Community Planners, attended the Northeast Network Meeting on the Wayne State College campus on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. In addition to the meeting, they had the opportunity to view a Drone show provided by Fantasy Drone Shows and listen to their Owner and CEO, Don “Wiz” Wisnieski, discuss his path to entrepreneurial success.
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Sandra Goode & Zach Fisher, NENEDD Community Planners, attended the All the Above Energy Seminar at the Midtown Event Center on Thursday, March 26. The focus of the seminar was the need to help grow all sources of renewable energy in Nebraska to help grow economic development. There were several valuable speakers and panels that shared their expertise. |
The following surveys are currently active and being conducted by NENEDD
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Community Surveys
- City of Albion
- Village of Meadow Grove
- City of Osmond
- City of West Point
- City of Ponca
- City of Madison
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USDA Surveys
Income Surveys
- Village of Dodge
- Village of Leigh
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Downtown Revitalization
- Norfolk
- Fremont
- Columbus
- Pierce
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Public Works
- Wayne
- Craig
- Newman Grove
- Lyons
- Newcastle
- Schuyler
- Battle Creek
- Richland
- Walthill
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Planning
- Newman Grove
- Niobrara
- Decatur
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CCCFF
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Other
- Wakefield Reuse – Housing
- Wayne – RCRP
- Norfolk – ARPA QTC
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The NENEDD Community Planners are available to write or assist with both state and federal grants. The funding opportunities our Community Planners specialize in include the following:
- Community Development Block Grants – Planning, Public Works and Downtown Revitalization grants are due in September. Communities should let NENEDD know they would like to apply as soon as possible but no later than June 1 (subject to waiting list on a first come, first serve basis).
- Nebraska Game and Parks Grants – Recreational Trails Program and Land and Water Conservation Fund grants are due in August. Communities should let NENEDD know they would like to apply as soon as possible but no later than June 1 (subject to waiting list on a first come, first serve basis).
- Civic and Community Center Financing Fund – Planning and Construction grants have a pre-application deadline in January and a full application deadline in February. Communities should let NENEDD know they would like to apply as soon as possible but no later than November 1 (subject to waiting list on a first come, first serve basis).
- Rural Workforce Housing Fund – New owner-occupied housing and rental housing units, as well as existing owner-occupied housing and rental housing units. These grants have a pre-application deadline of November and a full application deadline in January. Communities should let NENEDD know they would like to apply as soon as possible but no later than October 24 (subject to waiting list on first come, first serve basis).
- Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund – Housing development projects and nonprofit building/operating assistance grants have a pre-application deadline in February and a full application deadline in May. Communities should let NENEDD know they would like to apply as soon as possible but no later than November 20 (subject to waiting list on a first come, first serve basis).
- For more information, please contact Sandra Goode, Community Planner at sandra@nenedd.org or Zach Fisher, Community Planner at zach@nenedd.org, or call 402-379-1150.
May business loan application timeline:
- 5-01-26 (F) – deadline to receive all application docs
- 5-12-26 (Tu) – loan summary is provided to the Northeast Loan Committee for their review.
- 5-18-26 (Tu) 10:30 AM – Northeast Loan Committee meets to review applications and make recommendation to the board of directors.
- 5-27-26 (W) 7:00 PM – NENEDD/NED, Inc. Board meetings to take official action
March loans closed:
Columbus HIE, LLC – $200,000
Revolving Loan Funds: NENEDD and NED, Inc. Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) were created to help fund economic development projects within a 26-county region of Northeast and North Central Nebraska:
- Antelope
- Boone
- Boyd
- Burt
- Butler
- Brown
- Cedar
- Colfax
- Cuming
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- Cherry
- Dakota
- Dixon
- Dodge
- Rural Douglas
- Holt
- Keya Paha
- Knox
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- Madison
- Nance
- Pierce
- Platte
- Rock
- Stanton
- Thurston
- Washington
- Wayne
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The RLF provides for subordinated gap financing for businesses, in conjunction with local financial institutions; allowing the business owner the ability to start a business, expand a current business, transfer ownership or purchase an existing business. These loans are perfect for financing fixed assets such as land, building, equipment and working capital.
Loan Terms and Conditions:
Maximum loan amount is $200,000.
Real estate financing will not exceed 25 years.
Working capital and equipment loans will be financed on a short-term basis of 3 to 10 years.
Interest rates will be fixed based on the length of the loan.
Eligibility:
- At least one (1) full time equivalent job must be created or retained for each $35,000 in loan dollars.
- Loan dollars may not represent more than 40% of the total financing needs.
- 10%-20% equity is generally required.
- At least 51% of the jobs created or retained should benefit persons of low to moderate incomes.
- Bank financing is encouraged and preferred with each borrower, but not required.
- A processing fee of 1% ($200 minimum) of the loan amount must be paid by the applicant before the application is reviewed by the loan committee.
- An annual servicing fee equal to ½ of 1% of the declining loan balance will be charged to each borrower.
For more information, please contact Jeff Christensen, Business Loan Specialist,
at 402-649-7223 or jeff@nenedd.org |
NROC PROJECT IMPACT MAP |
The Nebraska Regional Officials Council (NROC) has created a project impact map which shows grant and loan funding projects throughout the region.
Please click on the link to view statewide projects here: NROC Project Impact Map or scan the QR code below. For a NENEDD-specific map, please visit our website at NENEDD.org. %20(1).jpg "Untitled (100 x 100 px) (1)")
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| 2025-2026 Associate Members |
| Diamond |
| Platinum |
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| Gold |
Silver |
| Bank of Dixon County |
BankFirst |
| Black Hills Energy |
Brunswick State Bank |
| Charter West Bank |
Clarkson Bank |
| Citizens State Bank |
Faith Regional Health Services |
| Cornerstone Bank |
First Bank & Trust of Fullerton |
| Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust |
Loup River Public Power District |
| F&M Bank |
Midwest Bank |
| First Community Bank |
Norfolk Daily News |
| First Northeast Bank of Nebraska |
Wayne America, Inc. |
| Great Plains State Bank |
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| McMill CPAs & Advisors |
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| Neighbor Works Northeast Nebraska |
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| Northeast Community College |
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| Bronze |
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| Bank of Hartington |
Genoa Community Bank |
| Burt County Public Power District |
Madison County Bank |
| Cedar-Knox Public Power District |
Nebraska Municipal Power Pool |
| Cedar Security Bank |
Platte Valley Bank |
| Columbus Bank & Trust Company |
Points West Community Bank |
| Commercial State Bank |
Schuyler Community Development, Inc. |
| Cornhusker Public Power District |
Scribner Bank |
| Cuming County Public Power District |
Stanton County Public Power District |
| Elkhorn Rural Public Power District |
State Nebraska Bank & Trust |
| Farmers & Merchants State Bank |
Wayne State College |
| Frontier Bank |
West Point Chamber of Commerce |
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| Antelope County |
Cuming County |
Pierce County |
| Boone County |
Dodge County |
Platte County |
| Burt County |
Knox County |
Stanton County |
| Cedar County |
Madison County |
Thurston County |
| Colfax County |
Nance County |
Wayne County |
| City of Albion |
City of Oakland |
Village of Cedar Rapids |
Village of Pender |
| City of Battle Creek |
City of Osmond |
Village of Colderidge |
Village of Petersburg |
| City of Bloomfield |
City of Pierce |
Village of Craig |
Village of Pilger |
| City of Clarkson |
City of Plainview |
Village of Decauter |
Village of Richland |
| City of Columbus |
City of Ponca |
Village of Dixon |
Village of Snyder |
| City of Creighton |
City of Randolph |
Village of Dodge |
Village of Thurston |
| City of Crofton |
City of Schuyler |
Village of Duncan |
Village of Verdigre |
| City of Elgin |
City of Scribner |
Village of Emerson |
Village of Walthill |
| City of Fremont |
City of St. Edward |
Village of Fordyce |
Village of Wausa |
| City of Fullerton |
City of Stanton |
Village of Howells |
Village of Wynot |
| City of Genoa |
City of Tilden |
Village of Inglewood |
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| City of Hartington |
City of Wakefield |
Village of Leigh |
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| City of Hooper |
City of Wayne |
Village of Martinsburg |
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| City of Laurel |
City of West Point |
Village of McLean |
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| City of Lyons |
City of Wisner |
Village of Meadow Grove |
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| City of Madison |
Village of Allen |
Village of Newcastle |
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| City of Newman Grove |
Village of Bancroft |
Village of Niobrara |
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| City of Norfolk |
Village of Beemer |
Village of Oakdale |
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| City of North Bend |
Village of Belden |
Village of Orchard |
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NED, Inc. Board of Directors
- Kurt Dostal – President – Citizens State Bank
- Loren Kucera – Vice President – Wayne State College
- Tod W. Voss, MD – Secretary/Treasurer – Village of McLean
- Sally Ganem – Board Member – Fremont City Council
- Rich Jablonski – Board Member – Columbus City Council
- Jim Hans – Board Member – Village of Wynot
- Troy Uhlir – Board Member – Madison County Commissioner
NENEDD Board of Directors
- Sally Ganem – Chairwoman – Fremont City Council
- Meghann Buresh – Vice Chairwoman – Nebraska Apex Accelerator
- Blake Denton – Secretary/Treasurer – MetLife Investment Management
- Charlie Bahr – Board Member – Columbus City Council
- Benjamin Benton – Board Member – Nebraska Business Development Center, Wayne
- Doug Huttmann – Board Member – Stanton County Commissioner
- Mason Zimmerer – Board Member – Northeast Community College
- Anthony Warrior – Board Member – Nebraska Indian Community College
- Jeff Jensen – Board Member – Norfolk City Council
Business RLF Committee
- Chad Anderson – Pierce City Administrator
- Aaron Gutz – President, Security Bank, Osmond Branch
- Loren Kucera – Wayne State College
- Adam Rief – Owner, Rief Design and Manufacturing, LLC
- Nicole Sedlacek – Economic Development Manager, NPPD
- Ryan Steffensmeier – President and CEO, First Community Bank
- Brenda Whalen – Owner, Laurel’s Hometown Market
- Brian Yosten – Owner, Cedar Valley Insurance
- Elizabeth McManigal – Loan Officer, Charter West Bank
To stay connected and informed, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter here to receive all our latest news and updates.
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Executive Director
Deputy Director
Fiscal Officer
Business Loan
Specialist
Housing Specialist
Community Planner
Sandra Goode
Zach Fisher
Adminstrative
Assistant
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