January 6, 2026 111 S. 1st St. | Norfolk, Nebraska 68701 | 402-379-1150 |www.nenedd.org Facebook

Lori Schrader
Administrative Assistant

Tell us about your family:  I’ve been married to my husband, Steve Schrader, for 30 wonderful years, and together we have three awesome kids. Our oldest, Cody, is married to Cassidy, and they’ve given us our first grandchild, Clara, who is 8 months old. They live in Omaha. Our second, Josh, lives in Chicago and works as a Communication Specialist for Citizen Action Illinois. Our youngest, Malori, is a junior at Wayne State College studying elementary education.

Tell us about your pets: We also have two dogs. Bo is our 11-year-old Black Lab, and Finn is our 6-year-old Maltese who pretty much runs the house.

What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz. I remember watching it for the first time as a little girl and being completely amazed when it shifted from black and white to color—it felt truly magical. To this day, I still collect Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

What is your Dream Vacation?  My dream vacation would be one where my entire family could travel together—my husband, children, their spouses, and our grandchildren. Growing up, my parents took my brothers and me on family vacations, and those memories are very special to me. If that isn’t possible, I’d happily settle for a vacation with just the grandkids.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is helping other employees and our clients/communities.  It gives me a sense of belonging.

What is your favorite holiday/time of the year and why?  Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love all the magic that comes with it—traditions, decorating, baking cookies, and watching the kids open their gifts. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, some of that magic has faded, but so has the stress. This past Christmas was extra special because it was Clara’s first.

What was the best gift you’ve ever received? The best gift I’ve ever received was my first car for my 16th birthday. It was a 1985 Ford Escort with a big bow sitting in the driveway. I had a birthday sleepover that night, and when we all ran outside to take my friends home, there it was. It didn’t have air conditioning (that was optional back then), but my dad insisted I didn’t need it since I’d always have the windows down—and honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

What are you grateful for? I’m really grateful for family time, even though it’s harder to get everyone together with busy schedules. I’m still hoping to get an updated family picture soon.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? If I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life, it would definitely be pizza—especially Chicago-style.

What word best describes you? If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be giver. I’m always thinking about others and what I can do to brighten their day.

Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District (NENEDD) Board of Directors held their monthly meetings on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, via conference call at these 4 locations: City of Norfolk Offices – Training Room, 309 N. 5th St. Columbus Community Building – Room 223, 2500 14th St Lied Randolph Public Library – 111 N Douglas St. Fremont Municipal Building – 400 E. Military Ave. The NED, Inc. meeting, was canceled because there were no items to include on the agenda. At the NENEDD meeting a quorum was not available during the meeting.  The secretary’s report, treasurer’s report and action item A. will be ratified at the January 28, 2026, meeting. However, a business loan was presented by NENEDD Business Loan Specialist, Jeff Christensen and temporarily approved in the amount of $50,000 to Local Rehab, LLC to start a new physical therapy clinic in Howells. The complete minutes of the December 17, 2025 NENEDD Board of Directors meeting can be viewed here: NENEDD The January Northeast Economic Development, Inc. Board of Directors and the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District Board of Directors meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, via conference call at the following locations. Norfolk City Offices at 309 5th St. in Norfolk. Columbus Public Library, 2500 14th St., Columbus, NE. Fremont City Hall – Second Floor Conference Room, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont, NE Lied Randolph Public Library – 111 N Douglas St, Randolph, NE The NED, Inc. meeting will begin at 7 p.m. with the NENEDD meeting to follow. The public is welcome to attend.

---

NENEDD’s Housing Department assisted with the following throughout the month of December: NAHTF housing management for City of Norfolk, City of Plainview, and City of Bloomfield’s rental rehabilitation grants NAHTF General administration and housing management for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehabilitation grant for congressional district 1 NAHTF general administration and housing management for City of Fremont rental rehabilitation grant NAHTF general administration for CCED new construction grant HOME housing management and general administration for NED, Inc. direct homebuyer assistance program NAHTF housing management and general administration for NED, Inc. direct homebuyer assistance program HOME housing management and general administration for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehabilitation program NAHTF housing management and general administration for NED, Inc. owner occupied rehabilitation program HOME housing management and general administration for NENEDD community owner occupied rehabilitation programs RWHF management for Albion Economic Development Corporation, Pender Community Development, Cuming County Economic Development, Greater Fremont Development Council Monthly Schuyler Housing Development Committee meetings HomeNE Webinar facilitated by South Central Economic Development District Attended Nebraska Housing Developers Board and Policy Committee meetings

---

NENEDD’s Planning Department assisted with the following throughout the month of December:

• Town Hall meetings at Meadow Grove, Osmond, and Albion

• Conservation & Environmental Review Tool Training

• CDBG Awardee Agreement Overview Meeting

The following surveys are currently active and being conducted by NENEDD.

Income Surveys City of Genoa Village of Verdigre Village of Dodge Village of Leigh City of Ponca

Community Surveys City of Albion Village of Meadow Grove City of Osmond City of West Point City of Ponca City of Madison

USDA Surveys Village of Walthill

Downtown Revitalization Norfolk Fremont Columbus Pierce	Public Works Wayne Craig Newman Grove Lyons Newcastle Schuyler Battle Creek Richland Walthill	Planning Newman Grove Niobrara Decatur	CCCFF Battle Creek Norfolk	Other Wakefield Reuse – Housing Wayne – RCRP Norfolk – ARPA QTC

---

The NENEDD Community Planners are available to write or assist with writing 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.

---

Business Loan Activities for December February business loan application timeline:  1-30-26 (F) – deadline to receive all application docs 2-10-26 (Tu) – loan summary is provided to the Northeast Loan Committee for their review. 2-17-26 (Tu) 10:30 AM – Northeast Loan Committee meets to review applications and make recommendation to the board of directors. 2-25-26 (W) 7:00 PM – NENEDD/NED, Inc. Board meetings to take official action  Loan Approvals: NENEDD approved a loan to Local Rehab, LLC to start a new outpatient physical therapy business in Howells. The core services will be orthopedic rehab (e.g., joint replacements, post-surgical recovery), neurological rehab (e.g., stroke, Parkinson’s), chronic pain and arthritis management, work injury rehab and return-to-work programming, and sports injury recovery and prevention. Loan Closings: Nebraska Roots Salon – Lynch Revolving Loan Funds: The Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District (NENEDD) and Northeast Economic Development, Inc. (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 Cherry Dakota Dixon Dodge Rural Douglas Holt Keya Paha Knox Madison Nance Pierce Platte Rock Stanton Thurston Washington Wayne 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. How to Apply:  A pre-application may be obtained by visiting www.nenedd.org/business-loans/ 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.  Each of the economic development districts has begun inputting project data from 2024-2025 for the public to view. Currently,  there has been an economic impact of approximately $437.9 million, 98,300 households impacted, 1,400 businesses that were impacted and 717 jobs created. These numbers will increase as projects continue to be updated. The projects include various community grants, business loans, and housing loans. Please click on the link here:  NROC Project Impact Map or scan the QR code below.  For a NENEDD-specific map, please visit our website at NENEDD.org.

---

---

2025-2026 Associate Members Diamond Platinum 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 McMill CPAs & Advisors Neighbor Works Northeast Nebraska Northeast Community College Bronze   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 County Members Antelope County Colfax County Platte County Boone County Cuming County Stanton County Burt County Knox County Thurston County Cedar County Nance County Wayne County Community Members City of Albion City of Oakland Village of Craig Village of Pilger City of Battle Creek City of Osmond Village of Decatur Village of Richland City of Bloomfield City of Pierce Village of Dixon Village of Snyder City of Clarkson City of Plainview Village of Dodge Village of Thurston City of Columbus City of Ponca Village of Duncan Village of Verdigre City of Creighton City of Randolph Village of Emerson Village of Wausa City of Crofton City of Scribner Village of Fordyce Village of Wynot City of Elgin City of St. Edward Village of Howells City of Fremont City of Stanton Village of Inglewood City of Fullerton City of Tilden Village of Leigh City of Genoa City of Wakefield Village of Martinsburg City of Hartington City of Wayne Village of McLean City of Hooper City of West Point Village of Meadow Grove City of Laurel Village of Allen Village of Newcastle City of Lyons Village of Bancroft Village of Niobrara City of Madison Village of Beemer Village of Oakdale City of Newman Grove Village of Belden Village of Orchard City of Norfolk Village of Cedar Rapids Village of Pender City of North Bend Village of Coleridge Village of Petersburg 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 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 Loren Kucera – Adjunct Faculty, Wayne State College To stay connected and informed, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter here to receive all our latest news and updates.