Welcome to Hastings Mural, (Dallas Nau, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — The City of Hastings had a banner Community Development Block Grant application year in 2024.
Working with the Holdrege-based South Central Economic Development District, the City of Hastings applied for and was awarded $1.25 million for three CDBG projects within the Downtown Revitalization and Public Works categories.
- $435,000 Downtown Revitalization to make improvements within the Business Improvement District. These funds are in addition private investments in development projects. Businesses interested in receiving funds would have to go through an application process.
- $480,000 CDBG Public Works Program to renovate the Revive Ministries facilities in the former Motel 6 hotel at 2205 Osborne Dr. East where Revive will provide outpatient substance abuse health care.
- $335,900 CDBG Public Works Program for public water line delivery improvements to provide fire protection for the K&K Manufactured Home Community at 1203 E. Park St.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced the award recipients on Nov. 8, but Lori Ferguson, Community Consultant with SCEDD, provided an update about the grant awards during the Hastings City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.
There was $10 million awarded in CDBG grants in 2024.
This is the fifth Downtown Revitalization grant Hastings has received.
Chad Bunger, Director of Development Services for the City of Hastings, said SCEDD is an outstanding partner.
“The basic process is we come up with some decent ideas for grants and then they turn them into really great applications,” he said.
To have three grant applications funded in one cycle is unique.
Ferguson said she was unsure whether three CDBG awards during one year was a record, but it is an impressive feat.
“But to get three in one application cycle, if it’s not (a record) it should be,” she said. “That’s $1.25 million being invested into your community by the Community Development Block Grant program.”
She said it takes tenacity, perseverance and vision on the part of city to have so much success.
“You can’t be successful in the Community Development Block Grant world without some vision about what you want to accomplish, so kudos to you,” she said.
The grants require a 30% match from recipients. In this case, the Community Redevelopment Authority will provide the match for the Downtown Revitalization grant.
The property owners will provide the match for other the two grants.
“It’s fairly unique, but I’m super proud of what we did this year for grant applications and real thankful for everybody who helped,” Bunger said.
