Dear Valued NENEDD Member,

As we close out 2025, we would like to take a moment on behalf of the NENEDD Board of Directors and staff to thank you for your continued partnership and support of the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District (NENEDD). Your community’s membership is essential to the work we do, and together we continue to strengthen Northeast Nebraska’s economy, infrastructure, and quality of life.

This year was an especially productive one for NENEDD and our member communities. We now proudly serve 127 members, including five new members who joined us in 2025: First Community Bank of Beemer, Cornhusker Public Power District of Columbus, Elkhorn Rural Public Power District of Battle Creek, the City of Oakland, and the City of Randolph.

Across our organization, staff capacity and expertise continued to grow. We welcomed a new Administrative Assistant, Lori Schrader, whose support has strengthened our fiscal and business loan operations. Executive Director Mandy Gear successfully completed her recertification to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects, and Fiscal Officer Jill Godfrey obtained her CDBG certification, ensuring NENEDD remains well-positioned to administer complex federal and state programs on behalf of our members.

Throughout 2025, NENEDD staff partnered with communities across the region to secure more than $2.7 million in federal and state grant funding to move important projects forward. Highlights from the year include the successful award and/or administration of multiple CDBG, Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF), Civic and Community Cener Financing Fund (CCCFF), Rural Community Recover Program (RCRP), and Qualified Census Tract grants supporting community centers, water systems, parks, housing, streets, and downtown businesses. Our Planning Department also facilitated income and community attitude surveys in more than a dozen communities, helping local leaders make informed, data-driven decisions.

In addition, NENEDD continued to administer and close out numerous ongoing projects, ensuring compliance, accountability, and timely progress while advancing new initiatives in housing and economic development. Through our Housing Department, staff completed multiple housing rehab projects, providing over $156,000 in support to the region with additional projects underway. In 2025, new homeowners across Northeast Nebraska were provided $120,000 in direct homebuyer assistance through NENEDD’s regional housing revolving loan fund. Our Business Loan Department approved and closed 24 business loans totaling more than $2.6 million, while also providing technical assistance to over 100 business loan inquiries.

These accomplishments reflect the value of NENEDD membership. As a reminder, your membership provides access to a wide range of services at no additional cost, including income and attitude surveys, town hall facilitation, strategic planning, grant identification and writing, and general administration of federal and state grant funds. NENEDD also offers additional contracted services, often at low or no cost, such as housing management, fund management, construction management, environmental reviews, and Davis-Bacon compliance.

Looking ahead to 2026, we remain committed to supporting your community’s goals and identifying opportunities that align with your priorities. We look forward to continuing to work with you and welcome the opportunity to attend an upcoming board or council meeting to provide a brief, tailored update on available resources and funding opportunities.

Thank you again for your partnership and trust in NENEDD. We are proud to serve our member communities and look forward to another successful year ahead.

 

Warm Regards,

Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District Staff

2025 NENEDD – By the Numbers

  • 127 total member communities and organizations
  • 5 new members welcomed in 2025
  • $2.7 million+ in grant awards
  • 19 businesses utilized CDBG DTR grant funding
  • $2.6 million+ in business loans approved and closed
  • 24 business loans supporting regional entrepreneurs
  • 100+ business loan inquiries assisted
  • Dozens of state and federal grants administered or closed out
  • 15+ communities supported through income or community attitude surveys
  • $156,470 in housing rehabilitation projects completed across the region
  • $120,000 in down-payment assistance to new homeowners across the region