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NOTICE OF MEETING
Next meeting date and time:
July 29, 2026, 7 p.m.
City of Norfolk Offices – Training Room, 309 N. 5th St., Norfolk, NE 68701
1 Million Cups – Norfolk (Weekly)
- When: Every Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.
- Where: Intersect Coworking and Incubator, 509 West Norfolk Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701
- Details: A recurring, professional networking and business incubator event where entrepreneurs present ideas and receive feedback from the community.
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Strengthening Midwest VITA Partnerships to Expand Free Tax Preparation Sites and Increase Volunteer Recruitment (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota)
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM CT
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the internal Revenue Services (IRS) will host a webinar to boost Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site creation and volunteer recruitment. The webinar covers Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) benefits for bank actions supporting VITA, features a VITA expansion roadmap from regional leaders, and highlights success stories where financial institutions played a pivotal role in free community tax preparation efforts. The event also reviews bank partnership opportunities with non-profit organizations to excel VITA expansion throughout the FDIC Kansas City Region (IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, and SD).
REGISTRATION LINK |
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Learn how to use CERT with July 21 Webinar
CERT is used to complete the environmental review process with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Join us virtually on Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m. Central Time, for a free, hour-and-a-half training webinar on this tool.
The webinar will provide:
- Insight on completing the review process through CERT.
- Tips and expectations when communicating with Game and Parks staff.
- Q&A session on the review process or current projects.
What is CERT? Nebraska’s CERT is a web-based online review tool for environmental review purposes and conservation planning.CERT allows users to submit proposed projects statewide for review of potential impacts to threatened and endangered species, as well as conservation information on biological diversity, protected lands, and other natural resources.
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2026 National Regional Transportation Conference
July 20-22, 2026
Atlanta, GA
Registration Open!
Transportation practitioners from across the country are invited to attend NADO and RPO America’s 2026 National Regional Transportation Conference for three days of keynote addresses, best practices presentations, trainings, mobile workshops, and networking. Participants will hear from national experts, engage in practical discussions, and share lessons learned on topics ranging from multimodal planning and infrastructure investment to emerging challenges and opportunities facing regions of all sizes. |
Welcoming Workforce Summit
The gathering will bring together employers, business leaders, organizations and policy makers to discuss opportunities and challenges for today’s immigration landscape.
Register Here |
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6 Regions, One Nebraska: Spring/Summer 2026
Northeast Region
Housing
The Northeast Region is launching the SPARK Developer Academy’s inaugural session July 27th-31st in Norfolk. Designed for developers, contractors, and community leaders, the academy provides intensive, hands-on training in real estate finance, zoning, funding strategies, and project management. Participants will gain access to a strong network of mentors and industry professionals—connections critical to moving housing projects from concept to completion.Leadership Development Initiative
The Northeast Elected Leadership Academy (NELA) held its inaugural class on April 28th. The Academy is a partnership of 6 Regions, One Nebraska, Northeast Community College, and UNL Extension. The program is designed to build long-term civic leadership capacity across the region. The academy is modeled after the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, established in 1993 and now mandatory for elected officials in Georgia.NELA is a one-year experience with curriculum shaped by input from nearly 100 Nebraska elected officials and community leaders to ensure relevance and immediate application. The class features a one-day intensive course followed by additional sessions throughout the year and offers practical tools, peer-to-peer learning, and two dedicated networking opportunities. For more information
 Application window opens soon!
Still deciding whether the Standard LWCF grant opportunity or SIP (Small Improvement Project) is best for you? We have a decision tree to help — and feel free to reach out if you feel this doesn’t quite answer your question! Communities can apply for one or the other, not both, within the same application window.
Right now our application website is undergoing testing, so don’t start your application online yet! The application will open on Monday, Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. You will need to submit a letter of intent by Friday, Sept. 18. The application window will close on Friday, Oct. 30, at noon Central time.  Bring your questions to virtual open-office hour July 15
Got questions for us? Have ideas or problems you’d like to discuss? We will host a Virtual Open-Office Hour at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.
This hour is available to anyone! Simply join the Zoom meeting anytime during that hour and we will be available to help.
Join Zoom meeting |
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2026 NHDA Annual Meeting & Fundraiser Event at Topgolf in Omaha
Topgolf Omaha – 908 N 102nd St – Omaha, NE
Contact carol@housingdevelopers.org for information regarding sponsorships and early registrations.
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Wed., Sept. 30 – Fri., Oct. 2, 2026
Save the Date: 2026 Investing in Rural America Conference
This year’s conference will showcase innovative strategies for rural prosperity across several key areas:
- Economic development
- Small business development
- Financial inclusion
- Workforce pathways
- And more!
This conference creates a valuable space for attendees to:
-Connect with influential rural stakeholders from across the nation
-Learn about cutting-edge approaches to rural economic vitality
-Engage in discussions that shape the future of rural America.
Click for details
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2026 CDBG Certified Administrators Initial/Recertification Training
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) will host its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Certified Grant Administrator Training September 29 – October 1, 2026, with an optional CDBG assistance offered the morning of October 2nd. Registration for the training is now open at this link |
Registration Now Open for NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference
NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference (ATC) is your opportunity to connect with Regional Development Organization (RDO) leaders and staff, elected officials, and policymakers from across the country for four days of learning, inspiration, and collaboration! Scheduled for October 19-22, 2026 in Reno, NV, the conference includes a mix of plenaries, hands-on training sessions, peer-led best practice presentations, small-group conversation cafés, and networking events.
NADO staff are currently organizing a slate of timely and engaging sessions. Attendees can look forward to content spanning regional planning, housing, data and measurement, Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), data centers, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), brownfields, Main Street revitalization, and much more. Sessions will also focus on strengthening RDO capacity, offering practical guidance on leadership development, communications, board engagement, and grants management. Ten mobile workshops will offer opportunities to explore Reno and the surrounding region that will cover a range of economic and community development issues. Click here to access the conference page for more information, a draft agenda, and the registration link.
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We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!
On November 12, hundreds of ambitious Nebraskans will convene in Kearney. This year we honor the shared courage that fuels local leadership, strengthens our hometowns, and shapes a brighter future for all Nebraskans. Join us for powerful stories, meaningful connection, peer-to-peer learning, and a celebration of what’s possible when courage is something we hold in common.
2026 Annual Celebration & Training
Thursday, November 12
Kearney, Nebraska
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Executive Director
Deputy Director
Fiscal Officer
Business Loan
Specialist
Housing Specialist
Community Planner
Sandra Goode
Zach Fisher
Administrative
Assistant
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