DED announces grant award winners
LINCOLN — The community of Laurel is one of 22 Nebraska communities to receive funding from the Neb. Department of Economic Development under Nebraska’s Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) grant program.
Administered by DED on behalf of the State of Nebraska, and eligible to municipalities, the CCCFF program is designed to support communities as they plan and execute projects — from new city parks and aquatic centers, to restored or repurposed historic auditoriums and everything in-between — that preserve, develop or improve local amenities and create a higher quality of life.
“We have some of the best communities anywhere in the world right here in Nebraska,” said DED Director Anthony L. Goins. “Part of that is because we continue to invest in the places where we live. We also have leaders who truly care about what it’s like to raise a family in their town. Programs like CCCFF are invaluable because they enable us to devote resources that help our communities achieve their goals.”
The City of Laurel will receive $562,000 to be used for a new Civic Center.
Keith Knudsen, a co-chair of the Laurel Community Center Committee said the grant it good news for the community’s future.
“Right now our focus is helping our family, friends and community members get through this pandemic,” he said. “This grant will definitely be something for us to celebrate in the future.”
The grant is a testament to the community’s strength, Knudsen said.
“The grant award reinforces that our community has great people and that there are a lot of progressive things happening in Laurel. Our community is second to none,” he said.
Knudsen said the City of Laurel and the Laurel Community Center Committee will be releasing more information about the project to the community in the near future.
The 22 selected projects officially announced last week — which represent the CCCFF program’s 2020 application cycle — were submitted to DED for consideration earlier this year.
Nebraska municipalities requested over $8.7 million in state aid to support their projects. More than $5.3 million was up for award. Awards were available under the categories of Planning and Construction. A total of $5,397,775 will ultimately be distributed.
Projects being awarded under the Planning category, and their descriptions, are listed below:
City of Ainsworth, Pool/Park Feasibility Study: $3,000
City of Alma, Auditorium Feasibility Study: $12,500
City of Lexington, Indoor Recreation Center: $15,000
City of Tilden, New Civic/Community Center Study: $9,250
City of Wayne, Civic Activity Center Study: $10,000
City of Wood River, Public Library/Senior Center Study: $12,500
Village of Dorchester, Community Facilities Master Plan: $15,000
Total: $77,250.00
Other projects being awarded under the Construction category, and their descriptions, include:
City of Alliance, Sunken Garden Restoration Project, $483,770.50
City of Arapahoe, Public Library Renovations, $372,172
City of Atkinson, Community Center Renovations, $58,866
City of Bridgeport, Tennis Court Renovation, $99,900
City of Cambridge, Municipal Swimming Pool Renovation, $310,000
City of Grant, New Swimming Facility, $562,000
City of Hebron, New Aquatic Facility, $562,000
City of Hooper, Project Dream Baseball Field Renovation, $80,000
City of Norfolk, Johnson Park Improvements, $1,125,000
City of Scottsbluff, Rebuild and Renew 23 Club Baseball Park, $74,171.50
City of Scribner, Mohr Auditorium Renovations, $60,000
City of York, City Auditorium Renovations, $562,000
Village of Roseland, New Community Center, $375,000
