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Hastings receives Rural Workforce Housing Land Development funds
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced Monday that the City of Hastings was among Rural Workforce Housing Land Development Program applicants approved for funding, receiving $750,000 for workforce housing land development within the qualified census tract in Hastings.
“I'd like to thank the state for its continued support of workforce housing in our community,” Mayor Corey Stutte said. “Workforce and housing are our largest challenges as a community and this funding in this area of Hastings will go a long way toward addressing our needs.”
The Community Redevelopment Authority has an option to purchase a 3-acre parcel located at D Street between Cedar and Delaware avenues. The intent is to install a street through the middle of the parcel and build up to 24 townhomes for sale or rent for workforce housing.
The CRA would acquire the parcel and partner with HEDC to provide Rural Workforce Housing Funds for the development of the parcel by local developers.
American Rescue Plan Act funds have been set aside for the Rural Workforce Housing Land Development Program and the program is designed to provide relief to households and individuals disproportionately impacted by the pandemic by developing affordable housing.
The Rural Workforce Housing Land Development Program was created under LB1014 to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development awarded $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
The program will provide awards to eligible municipalities for projects that result in the preparation of land for workforce housing.
Funds awarded by the program may be used to support long-term housing security, to improve vacant and abandoned properties, including rehabilitation, renovation or maintenance necessary to secure vacant land or building removal and remediation of environmental contaminants, demolition or deconstruction, greening/vacant lot cleanup for conversion to affordable housing, for those households determined by DED to be disproportionately impacted.
Hastings is eligible for this grant application because it has one Qualified Census Tract that has been identified as an area where households have been disproportionately impacted.
Other communities awarded funding included Alma, Arnold, Beatrice, Bertrand, Central City, McCook, North Platte, Palmer, Pender, Red Cloud and St. Paul.
Published Date: 03/30/2023