NOTICE OF MEETING
The Northeast Economic Development, Inc. Board of Directors will hold a meeting on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. with the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District Board of Directors meeting to follow. The meeting will be held at the following location: Niobrara Country Cafe, 89141 NE-14, Niobrara, NE 68760.
An agenda of the meeting will be available on the website, www.nenedd.org, under Board of Directors on or before September 22, 2025. The public is welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please call 402-379-1150.
This dynamic one-day summit brings together local leaders, businesses, and community advocates to explore innovative solutions for economic advancement. This event features inspiring speakers, expert panel discussions, and interactive breakouts focused on emerging trends, sustainable practices, and successful case studies in economic development. Attendees will have the opportunity to network, collaborate, and hear best practices, all aimed at fostering economic resilience.
The Summit will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P Street, Lincoln.
Register here.
From Vacant to Vibrant Webinar Series: Strategies for Rural and Small-town Renewal
Across the country, small towns and rural regions are finding creative ways to spark economic growth, fill empty spaces, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Join the NADO Research Foundation and Deb Brown from SaveYour.Town for a three-part webinar series that will offer practical, proven strategies you can put to work immediately, whether it’s reactivating vacant buildings, launching innovative low-cost business models, or building a self-sustaining network of entrepreneurs who mentor and support one another. Webinar registration links:
There is still time to register for NPPD’s Site Readiness Assistance Program webinar coming up on
Wednesday, September 17th at 11 AM CST.
When competing for an economic development project, communities often focus on what can make them stand out to the prospective business. While this is important and can be what ultimately lands the project, equally as important is ensuring that your site can check the boxes to meet the needs of that prospective business. NPPD’s Site Readiness Assistance Program (SRAP) is designed to help your community with just that.
NPPD’s SRAP assists communities in bringing land for industrial use, technology parks, or commercial mixed-use development up to industry recognized standards by helping to fund necessary due diligence items. The program is designed to encourage communities to complete these items to help make their sites more marketable.
Below is a listing of key program dates.
SRAP Key Dates for Applicants
- Informational Webinar via Microsoft Teams Webinar September 17, 2025, 10 AM CST
- Register by clicking Here [events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com]
- Pre-Application Due October 31, 2025
- Full Application Due December 5, 2025
- Awardees Announced January 16, 2026
- Deadline to complete work or apply for extension- October 31, 2026
- Deadline to complete work with Extension- December 12, 2026
If you have any questions about the Site Readiness Assistance Program, please contact the Program Coordinator, Sara Groteluschen, at smgrote@nppd.com.
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 Apply now for wildlife viewing grants
A friendly reminder that just under a month remains to get your Watchable Wildlife Grant application in for projects to develop and enhance wildlife observation and nature-based experiences in Nebraska.
Individuals, nonprofit, governmental and for-profit entities are all eligible and encouraged to apply; applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. Central Time on October 3.
These grants are funded through the Wildlife Conservation Fund, and are intended to help the public build appreciation and stewardship for natural resources through a wildlife experience.
The maximum award is $6,000. A 25% match is required, part of which may be an in-kind match. Potential projects include (but are not limited to) viewing site development such as decks or blinds, events, infrastructure, interpretive signs, equipment and plan development.
For complete details (and project inspiration), visit the Watchable Wildlife Grant website. You’ll find helpful guidelines for eligible grant options, as well as a list of previously funded projects. All application materials, including a project narrative and budget sheet, can be found there as well.
Have Questions? Contact meghan.thompson@nebraska.gov or olivia.darugna@nebraska.gov or call 308-631-7463. |
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Nebraska Department of Economic Development to Offer CDBG Certified Administrator Training in October
| The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) will host its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Certified Grant Administrator Training on October 7-9, 2025. Registration for the training is now open.
Training is available both for those wishing to certify initially and those needing to recertify. The Nebraska CDBG program requires any municipality or county that receives CDBG funds to hire and/or employ a Nebraska CDBG Certified Administrator to oversee projects.
The CDBG program is designed to develop viable communities by creating a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities, with the primary goal of benefiting low- and moderate-income persons. DED administers federal CDBG funding on behalf of the State of Nebraska to counties and incorporated municipalities within non-entitlement areas throughout the state; this includes all communities except for Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, and Grand Island. These four entitlement communities receive funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
DED offers provisional (initial) and recertification Certified Grant Administrator Training once a year for individuals who will be administering CDBG projects and assisting with their successful implementation. To become certified, individuals need to attend the three-day course in its entirety and pass an exam.
This year’s training will take place October 7-9, 2025, in Hearing Room 031A of DED’s office, located at 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., with training starting at 9:00 a.m.
To register for this training, visit this link.
The deadline to register is Monday, September 15, 2025. The individual registration fee to become certified/recertified is $125, which includes training materials and snacks. Individuals who wish to attend only certain sections of the training may register at no cost; however, partial attendance does not meet the CDBG certification requirement. The last day to receive a refund for a cancelled registration is October 1st.
For questions about the course, contact Gina Doose at 402-310-9772 or gina.doose@nebraska.gov. |
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Attend the Nebraska Enterprise Fund Small Business Conference
Get your free ticket today!
Discover strategies to grow your small business at the upcoming Nebraska Enterprise Fund Small Business Conference! Hear from entrepreneurs, industry experts, and business coaches as they share practical tips, real-world insights, and inspiration to help your start-up succeed.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale, this is your chance to learn, connect, and network with like-minded professionals.
We have 10 free tickets for the Nebraska Enterprise Fund Small Business Conference on October 17 from 8 AM – 1:30 PM. The first 10 people to contact Angela will snag them—don’t wait!
Email Angela at angela@sparkcdi.org for your free ticket.
Upcoming Events
***Register for DA Sponsored Events here.***
Todas las clases están disponibles en Español con previo aviso.
October 22 | coDA Informational Deep Dive 12-1pm Zoom
Are you ready to take the next step in your development journey? The co-Development Apprenticeship program (coDA) is a unique opportunity for aspiring and emerging developers to build their skills and portfolio through collaborative, real-world projects. Join us to find out more!
November 3 | Freddie Mac Provided Deep Dive: Manufactured Housing Development 8-10am Teams
This session will cover the evolution, types, and benefits of factory-built housing. You’ll also learn about financing options, zoning considerations, and real-world examples of successful projects
November 5 |From Vacant to Vision: a Development Workshop Build Session 3-5pm In Person
For this build session, we will focus on vacant land and explore the possibilities for how it could be developed. This session is about exploring what could take place on these sites and how they might best serve the community through thoughtful development. Together, we’ll share ideas, spark conversation, and begin to shape a vision for what’s next. |
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