{"source":"Build Scotts Bluff funding catalog- grant / lending / incentive programs with first-party citations","query":{"q":null,"applicantType":null,"fundingType":null,"level":null},"total":87,"count":25,"note":"Deterministic + cited. Parcel-specific eligibility (CDBG low/mod area, Opportunity Zone tract, TIF/blight area, federal-award matches) is resolved in GET /v1/parcel/{parcelId} (paid via x402).","results":[{"programName":"Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)- Nebraska State-Administered Small Cities Program","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) administers HUD CDBG funds for all non-entitlement Nebraska communities (every county/incorporated municipality except the entitlement cities of Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, and Grand Island). DED Community & Rural Development Division, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521; ded.cdbg@nebraska.gov; 800-426-6505. CRITICAL: only a unit of local government can be the applicant/grantee- a private parcel owner CANNOT apply directly. In Scotts Bluff County the applicant would be the City of Scottsbluff, City of Gering (county seat), Village of Terrytown, or Scotts Bluff County. LOCAL PASS-THROUGH / GRANT ADMINISTRATOR: Panhandle Area Development District (PADD), the Region 22 development district based in Scottsbluff, routinely writes and administers CDBG applications on behalf of panhandle communities (e.g., it filed Scottsbluff's and Morrill's owner-occupied rehab grants). Apply via your city/county, which typically engages PADD: 308-436-6584, nepadd.com. City of Scottsbluff Dev. Services and City of Gering also originate applications.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Acquisition of real property (an eligible CDBG activity)","Demolition / clearance of slum and blight structures","Disposition of acquired property","Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for LMI households (roofs, HVAC, electrical, energy-efficiency upgrades)","Downtown Revitalization: commercial building rehabilitation, facade/signage improvements, architectural barrier removal, historic restoration","Public Works infrastructure: water, sewer, drainage, streets, sidewalks serving a project area"],"amountRange":"Varies by category. Downtown Revitalization: $250,000 minimum to $435,000 maximum (2025-26 cycle; Scottsbluff received $435,000 in 2025). Public Works (Infrastructure/Facilities): roughly $291,997 to $630,000 per recent awards. Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation: ~$315,000 to $547,000 per community (Scottsbluff received $732,500 in an earlier round). Planning: ~$23,000 to $53,000. Economic Development: capped at $35,000 CDBG per FTE job created/retained. Statewide DED distributed ~$14.1M across 38 projects in the 2025 cycle.","matchRequired":"Local match / cost-share is required and is a scored item (Exhibit Q documents it). Exact percentage is set per category in the annual Application Guidelines; Downtown Revitalization facade/commercial loan components commonly require a 1:1 private match from participating property owners. DED's separate Infrastructure Match program can supply state match for some public-works projects. Higher local match improves competitive scoring.","applicantTypes":["municipality","county","village (incorporated)","developer (only as a sub-beneficiary/end-user through a local-government applicant, e.g. an ED business loan or facade loan)","homeowner (only as an LMI beneficiary of a city-run owner-occupied rehab program, not as direct applicant)"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/guidelines/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-CDBG-Companion-Guide.pdf","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/nebraska-department-of-economic-development-awards-14-1-million-of-community-development-block-grant-funds/"],"relevanceNote":"Strong fit for a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown IF a local government sponsors the project. CDBG explicitly allows acquisition of real property, demolition/clearance, and disposition as eligible activities, and a deteriorated low-value parcel inside a city-designated slum & blight target area meets the slum/blight national objective on an area basis- the same blight & substandard study that supports TIF also supports this. Alternatively, if the parcel is or becomes an LMI-owner-occupied home, the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation category funds repairs for households at/below 80% AMI. The catch: a private individual/LLC cannot apply directly; the City of Scottsbluff/Gering, Village of Terrytown, or the county must be the grantee (PADD typically administers), so the strategy is to get the parcel into a municipally sponsored acquisition/clearance or redevelopment project, or a downtown-revitalization area for commercial rehab."},{"programName":"CDBG Downtown Revitalization (DTR)","level":"federal","administeringBody":"Federal CDBG (HUD) dollars administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), CDBG Assistance Team, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521; ded.cdbg@nebraska.gov; 800-426-6505. DTR contact/financial packager: Gina Doose, gina.doose@nebraska.gov, 402-310-9772. Funds are awarded to a unit of local government, which administers them. For a project in Scottsbluff County, the LOCAL applicant/pass-through is the City of Scottsbluff, City of Gering (county seat), or Village of Terrytown (the municipality must apply on behalf of the downtown project; a private property owner cannot apply directly). West Central Nebraska Development District / regional grant administrators are commonly hired by these cities to package and administer DTR grants. None of these communities are CDBG entitlement cities (only Lincoln, Omaha, Bellevue, and Grand Island are Nebraska entitlement communities), so all three qualify to apply to the DED non-entitlement (State) CDBG program.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Downtown commercial building facade rehabilitation","Historic restoration of downtown structures","Removal of architectural/accessibility barriers","Business facade, signage, and code-compliance loans/grants","Downtown public infrastructure and streetscape improvements"],"amountRange":"DTR implementation: minimum award $250,000; maximum CDBG project activity $400,000 (per the 2025 Application Guidelines opportunity chart; AmpliFund lists the total ceiling as $435,000, i.e., ~$400,000 activity + up to $25,000 general administration + ~$10,000 construction management). A separate, smaller Planning (PP) grant funds the upfront downtown revitalization study (Planning caps roughly $20,000 single / $50,000 joint / $70,000 multi-community).","matchRequired":"Yes - 25% local match of the CDBG award required for DTR (per 2025 CDBG Application Guidelines opportunity chart). General administration capped at 10% or $25,000.","applicantTypes":["municipality","county"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/1036f0a1-971f-4d3f-af31-fbca2ec06495","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-CDBG-Application-Guidelines_20250603_v1.pdf","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/1036f0a1-971f-4d3f-af31-fbca2ec06495","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/da2cf49a-12c7-4549-88c1-eb1c967582ca"],"relevanceNote":"Strong fit for redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent downtown building in Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown - but the grant goes TO the city, not to a private buyer. A private redeveloper benefits by (a) getting a target building included in the city's downtown revitalization study/district, then (b) receiving a CDBG-funded facade/rehab loan or grant administered by the city (owner-participation model). Because the national objective is slum-and-blight on an area basis, the program is built precisely for deteriorated, low-value downtown parcels; tax-delinquent/substandard structures help document the blight finding. To use it, the parcel should be downtown, the redeveloper should hold or be acquiring site control (deed/purchase agreement), and the city must be willing to apply. Pair with TIF and historic tax credits for a full capital stack."},{"programName":"CDBG Area Benefit (Low/Moderate-Income Area Benefit, \"LMA\") National Objective- Nebraska CDBG Program","level":"federal","administeringBody":"Funded by HUD (24 CFR Part 570, Subpart I- State CDBG) and administered for non-entitlement Nebraska by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Community & Economic Development Division, 245 Fallbrook Blvd Ste 002, Lincoln NE 68521; (800) 426-6505 / (402) 471-3111. LMA is not a stand-alone program- it is one of four LMI national-objective tests that any DED CDBG award (Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Public Works-Facilities/Infrastructure, Planning, Tourism) must satisfy. The legal applicant must be a Unit of General Local Government (UGLG): the City of Scottsbluff (1004 Broadway, 308-630-6200), City of Gering [county seat] (1025 P St, 308-436-5096), Village of Terrytown, or Scotts Bluff County. Local pass-through / grant-writing & administration help: Panhandle Area Development District (PADD), 1620 Broadway Ste A-10, Scottsbluff NE 69361, (308) 436-6584 (writes and administers CDBG applications for Panhandle UGLGs); Twin Cities Development (TCDNE), Scottsbluff, provides technical support applying for incentives. DED program contacts: Gina Doose (Downtown Revitalization) 402-310-9772; Nicole Bartels (Public Works/Tourism) 402-314-5852; Angie Taylor (Planning) 402-480-3523; firstname.lastname@nebraska.gov.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Acquisition of real property (HUD matrix 01) that will be developed for a public or commercial purpose serving the LMI area (e.g., land for a neighborhood park, a redevelopment site)","Clearance and demolition of buildings/improvements, or relocation of structures (matrix 04)- available in Downtown Revitalization and Public Works as a secondary activity","Public facilities and improvements (matrix 03 series): water/sewer (03J), street improvements (03K), flood drainage (03I), ADA sidewalks (03L), removal of architectural barriers (03Z)","Commercial rehabilitation of privately owned downtown commercial property (14E)- the priority Downtown Revitalization activity (LMA can qualify it where the commercial district serves a primarily residential 51%-LMI area)","New construction is allowed under LMA per the DED Manual (e.g., a community center or water tower in an LMI town)","Planning activities (20A) to plan future LMA-eligible redevelopment"],"amountRange":"Varies by funding opportunity (LMA is an eligible national objective in DTR, ED, Planning, PWF, PWI, TD). Downtown Revitalization: $250,000 min - $400,000 max project activity. Public Works (Facilities or Infrastructure): $250,000 - $600,000. Tourism Development: $250,000 - $450,000. Economic Development: $125,000 - $1,000,000. Planning: $20,000 single / $50,000 joint / $70,000 max. Plus General Admin (21A) and Construction Management line items on top.","matchRequired":"Yes- varies by opportunity: Downtown Revitalization 25%; Tourism 25%; Public Works tiered 10% or $25,000; Economic Development 100% (leverage); Planning 10% villages / 20% second-class cities / 25% counties / 30% first-class cities (Scottsbluff and Gering are first-class cities -> ~30% for Planning). All-cash match preferred; in-kind allowed if accountable and reasonable. Program income is NOT allowable as match. General Admin and Construction Management costs are excluded from match calculations.","applicantTypes":["municipality","county"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/03-Chapter-3-CDBG-National-Objectives-and-Fundability.pdf","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-CDBG-Application-Guidelines_20250603_v1.pdf","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/guidelines/"],"relevanceNote":"For acquiring/redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scottsbluff or Gering, LMA is the mechanism by which the CITY (not a private buyer) can pull federal CDBG money into the parcel's neighborhood: the city can use CDBG acquisition (01) and clearance/demolition (04) to take and clear a derelict/low-value lot, then build public improvements or support commercial rehab, qualifying the whole package because the surrounding service area is 51%+ LMI. This is well-suited to a tax-delinquent or available parcel in a lower-income Scottsbluff block group. Key limits: a private owner cannot apply (only the UGLG), acquisition triggers URA appraisal/anti-displacement rules, Gering's higher median income usually forces a sub-area service boundary or income survey, and acquisition/demolition in Downtown Revitalization are only secondary to a primary commercial-rehab (14E) activity. If the parcel is in a non-LMI area, pivot the same DTR/ED application to the Slum & Blight (SBA/SBS) national objective instead."},{"programName":"Community Development Assistance Act (CDAA) Tax Credit","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), administered by the CDAA Coordinator (currently AJ Weigman, aj.weigman@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3749). This is a state program with NO local pass-through office for the credit itself; the applicant is a \"community betterment organization\" (CBO) or a local government. For a Scotts Bluff County project, the local applicant/sponsor would typically be the City of Scottsbluff, City of Gering, Village of Terrytown, Scotts Bluff County, or a local nonprofit CBO (e.g., a community foundation, downtown/Main Street org, or development corporation). Contributions/forms are processed by DED; the contributor files the resulting 1099NTC with the Nebraska Department of Revenue (Form CDN).","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["Physical facility and neighborhood development services (building/facility improvements supporting eligible services)","Employment/job training programs","Human services, medical services, day care, in-home services, emergency services, counseling","Recreational and educational services or activities","Crime prevention and home improvement services","Operating support for nonprofit community-betterment programs/projects (funded indirectly via the donor incentive)"],"amountRange":"40% state tax credit on eligible contributions. Minimum eligible contribution: $50. DED will not authorize more than $50,000 of tax credits for any single project/program per fiscal year (in practice initial certifications are often $25,000); statewide cap is $350,000 in credits per fiscal year (subject to legislative change). AmpliFund opportunity lists a $1,000 floor and $50,000 ceiling per applicant per fiscal year.","matchRequired":"No cash match required from the local government/CBO applicant. The mechanism itself is leverage: the 40% credit incentivizes private contributions that fund the project. DED evaluation favors proposals with committed private-sector contributions contingent on certification, plus local government support and self-help effort.","applicantTypes":["municipality (city/village) - e.g., City of Scottsbluff, City of Gering, Village of Terrytown","county - e.g., Scotts Bluff County","non-profit Community Betterment Organization (CBO) with tax-deductible status performing eligible activities in a community development area","tribal authority / inland port authority / designated innovation hub / agribusiness (per amended statute 77-3115)","Note: the donor/contributor who actually claims the credit is a business firm or individual (corporation, insurance company, financial institution, or individual taxpayer)"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/2d8f23dd-5381-46b0-90f5-8e9cb6922a84","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdaa/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/ded-reopens-community-development-assistance-act-applications/","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/2d8f23dd-5381-46b0-90f5-8e9cb6922a84","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Form-CDAA-1_Tax_Credit_Request_2026_Fillable.pdf"],"relevanceNote":"For acquiring/redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown, CDAA is an INDIRECT financing tool, not a parcel-purchase grant: it does not pay the applicant to buy land. Instead, a local nonprofit CBO (or the city/county) gets a building-rehab or neighborhood-development project on the parcel certified, then recruits local businesses/banks/individuals to donate to the project- the 40% state tax credit makes those donations far more attractive, effectively raising private capital that can fund acquisition, demolition, rehab, or new facility construction tied to eligible community services (job training, day care, health/human services, recreation, etc.). It fits best when the parcel is already owned/controlled by the CBO or local government and is being redeveloped for a qualifying community-service use in a distressed census tract- which the lower-income panhandle neighborhoods of Scottsbluff/Gering plausibly are. It pairs naturally with CDBG, TIF, and blight/substandard redevelopment tools for the same site."},{"programName":"Site and Building Development Fund (SBDF)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Business Innovation/Business Development division. Administered statewide from Lincoln; there is no local pass-through office. To use it locally in Scotts Bluff County, a \"local development team\" must apply- in practice the City of Scottsbluff or City of Gering economic development office working with a local economic development corporation (e.g., Twin Cities Development Association / Gering or Scottsbluff EDC) and/or the Panhandle Area Development District (PADD, Hemingford/Gering) as a partner. DED program contacts: Lorena Reichert, SBDF Coordinator (lorena.reichert@nebraska.gov, 402-314-6468); Kaitlin Kamper (kaitlin.kamper@nebraska.gov, 402-309-6463); Benjamin Goins, Attorney (benjamin.goins@nebraska.gov, 402-471-0822).","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Land and building acquisition","Building construction or rehabilitation (speculative/industrial-ready buildings)","Site preparation","Infrastructure development and improvements","Engineering and design costs","Technical assistance and planning"],"amountRange":"Typical awards roughly $250,000-$500,000 per project (as grant or, in some structures, a zero-interest loan). Total available varies by appropriation/cycle; amounts are not fixed and depend on funding availability- confirm the live figure with DED. Not verified to a current published cap.","matchRequired":"Yes- mandatory 1:1 match. The recipient must provide non-SBDF matching funds at least equal to 100% of the SBDF assistance.","applicantTypes":["local government (city/village/county)","local economic development corporation (must be part of the development team)","Nebraska nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6)"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/fd990678-de4e-4467-850e-14ff21b16030","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/business/sbdf/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/2026-2027-sbdf-qap/","https://ne.amplifund.com/public/opportunities/details/fd990678-de4e-4467-850e-14ff21b16030","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/department-of-economic-development-invites-applications-for-grant-opportunity-within-the-site-and-building-development-fund-2/"],"relevanceNote":"Low direct relevance for an individual acquiring one cheap or tax-delinquent parcel. SBDF is a community/economic-development tool: the applicant must be a local government, Nebraska nonprofit, or local economic development corporation acting as a \"development team,\" and it funds speculative INDUSTRIAL site/building readiness with a 1:1 match- not single-lot residential or small-commercial redevelopment by a private owner. It does NOT key off tax-delinquent ('delinquent') or already-funded ('funded') parcel status, nor blight/LMI tests. A low-value Scottsbluff/Gering/Terrytown parcel could only be reached through SBDF if the City or a local EDC adopts it as a speculative industrial site and applies on the community's behalf (parcelStatusMatch 'owned' if the team already holds title, or 'available' if under an option/purchase agreement). For a private holder of a delinquent or cheap lot, this is not the right primary program- CDBG, TIF, or NAHTF are better fits."},{"programName":"Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Community Development & Disaster Recovery Division. Program Coordinator: Tia Loftin, tia.loftin@nebraska.gov, 402-471-6336. LOCAL pass-through: this is a MUNICIPAL grant- only a city/village/tribe can be the applicant and grantee, so a private owner in Scotts Bluff County must apply THROUGH the City of Gering (county seat), City of Scottsbluff, or Village of Terrytown. Contact the relevant city administrator / community development or economic development office to have the municipality sponsor and own the project. The Panhandle Area Development District (PADD, Hemingford/Gering) can assist member municipalities with application preparation.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Capital construction: building or improving libraries, recreation/wellness centers, gathering spaces, convention centers, town squares, and cultural centers","Conversion, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, or reuse of historic buildings/districts (50+ years old) into public civic facilities","Planning grants: engineering and/or technical studies, architectural/engineering documents directly related to an eligible project (preliminary planning toward development or rehab)"],"amountRange":"Planning grants: $3,000 floor to $15,000 ceiling. Construction grants: $15,000 floor (note: a separate disaster/special provision sets a $100,000 floor for certain rounds), ceiling set by Grant Maximum Schedule keyed to municipal population. For communities under 10,000 (e.g., Gering ~8,500; Terrytown): up to $375,000 under Schedule A or $562,000 under Schedule B. For 10,000-19,999 (e.g., Scottsbluff ~14,000-15,000): up to $600,000 (Schedule A) or $900,000 (Schedule B). All tribal governments: $2,250,000 (A) / $3,375,000 (B). DED announces which schedule applies each cycle (Schedule A used until Fund balance reaches $3.75M, then Schedule B until it falls below $1.5M). The 2026 cycle used Schedule B; total 2026 awards were ~$1M across 15 recipients (4 construction, 11 planning).","matchRequired":"Yes. Minimum 1:1 local cost-share (CCCFF cannot exceed 50% of total project cost). At least 50% of the local match must be in cash; in-kind services may count for up to the other 50% but must be documented. Higher match levels score better (preferred in competitive review). Costs incurred before award are ineligible and cannot count as match.","applicantTypes":["municipality (Nebraska city or village)- e.g., City of Gering, City of Scottsbluff, Village of Terrytown","tribal government","municipality jointly with an eligible political subdivision (county, school district, community college area, or natural resources district), only if the municipality holds at least 50% ownership","NOT eligible as direct applicants: private individuals, LLCs, for-profit businesses, developers, nonprofits, or homeowners- they must partner with and have the municipality apply as owner/grantee","Excluded municipalities: Omaha and Lincoln, and any entity that received Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act or Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act support"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cccff/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CCCFF-Application-and-Program-Guidelines_1.7_2025.12.19-AA.pdf","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/05718d60-666f-4f96-bf6b-5c4d6b0d7da0","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/ded-announces-2026-civic-and-community-center-financing-fund-recipients/"],"relevanceNote":"Indirect but real path for a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Gering/Scottsbluff/Terrytown: CCCFF money flows only to the MUNICIPALITY, which must OWN the facility. So the redevelopment play is to get the parcel into city hands (city acquires the tax-delinquent/low-value lot or a downtown historic building) and have the city pursue CCCFF to convert it into a public library, community gathering space, town square, or cultural center- covering up to 50% of construction or planning cost. It pairs naturally with downtown revitalization and historic reuse (the program explicitly funds rehab/reuse of 50+ year-old buildings, subject to SHPO review). A private owner of a delinquent parcel could donate or sell the site to the city as the local match contribution. Statutory basis: Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-2705 et seq. (review criteria 13-2707/13-2707.01); administered under Nebraska Administrative Code Title 90, Chapter 1."},{"programName":"ImagiNE Nebraska Act (successor to the Nebraska Advantage Act)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Jointly administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED)- application intake, qualification, and Economic Redevelopment Area designations (DED, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521; 402-471-3111; ded.imagine@nebraska.gov)- and the Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR), which audits investment/employment and approves credits, refunds, and exemptions. There is NO local pass-through office; applicants apply directly to the State via the DED online portal. Locally, the City of Scottsbluff / City of Gering economic development offices and the Twin Cities Development Association / Western Nebraska Economic Development (Panhandle) are the practical points of contact who help structure a project and coordinate any layered local incentives (LB840, TIF), but they do not administer ImagiNE itself.","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["Investment tax credit (4% standard; 7% at higher tiers / $10M+ manufacturing investment) on qualified new investment in buildings, improvements to real property, and equipment","Wage credit (4%-9% of new-employee compensation depending on tier and wage level) usable against income tax withholding and other Nebraska taxes","Sales/use tax refund (up to 100% at the Quality Jobs Investment, Mega-Project, and Modernization tiers) on qualified property purchases","Personal property tax exemption (ag-processing/data-center equipment at mid tiers; ALL personal property at the Mega-Project tier)","Real-property investment counts toward the investment threshold- purchase of buildings/improvements placed in service after the application date qualifies (raw land generally limited)","Job-training expense reimbursement"],"amountRange":"Benefit value scales with project size; no fixed dollar cap per applicant, but credits/refunds are limited by the statewide annual 'base authority' cap (Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-6839). Credits = 4%-9% of new-employee wages (wage credit) plus 4%-7% of qualified new investment (investment credit); top tiers add up to 100% sales/use tax refund and personal property exemptions. ERA-tier project example: $250K-$1M investment yields ~4% investment credit (~$10K-$40K) plus a 6% wage credit on new payroll.","matchRequired":"No cash match. The program requires the applicant's own qualifying new investment and/or new payroll as the 'match' equivalent- i.e., the business must make the threshold investment ($250K+ at the ERA tier) and create the required jobs to earn benefits. Benefits are earned (retrospective credits/refunds), not awarded up front.","applicantTypes":["business","LLC","corporation","partnership","developer (operating as a qualified business at the location)"],"portalUrl":"https://ded-imagine.ne.gov/ImagiNEIncentive/faces/index.xhtml","sourceUrls":["https://imagine.nebraska.gov/about-the-program/","https://imagine.nebraska.gov/apply/","https://imagine.nebraska.gov/documentation/","https://imagine.nebraska.gov/frequently-asked-questions/"],"relevanceNote":"Directly relevant to redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in the Scottsbluff/Gering core IF the parcel falls in Census Tract 9537 (the only designated ERA in Scotts Bluff County per Memo 26-02). Siting a qualifying business there unlocks the lowest ImagiNE entry threshold- just $250,000 investment and 5 new FTEs- to earn a 6% wage credit plus a 4% investment credit on the rehab/new construction, versus the $1M+ thresholds required elsewhere. Because building purchase and improvements to real property count as qualified investment, acquiring and rehabbing a low-value building can itself generate the investment credit. ImagiNE is an earned, retrospective incentive (not acquisition cash), so it is best stacked with TIF/LB840 for up-front gap financing while ImagiNE rewards the jobs and capital deployed afterward. For a tax-delinquent ('delinquent') parcel, ImagiNE does not help acquire it- pair acquisition tools (tax-deed/treasurer sale, LB840) with ImagiNE once the redevelopment business is operating."},{"programName":"Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit (Microenterprise Tax Credit Act)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR), Incentives Program, Lincoln. Applications submitted directly to DOR via its secure ShareFile system (nebraska.sharefile.com); claimed on the Nebraska individual income tax return. No local pass-through office- this is a direct state-to-applicant income-tax credit. Taxpayer Assistance: 402-471-5729 or 800-742-7474 (NE/IA); PO Box 94818, Lincoln, NE 68509-4818. (Note: separate from the NE Dept. of Economic Development \"microenterprise\" grant programs, which DOR's page cross-references but does not administer.)","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["New depreciable asset / building purchases located in Nebraska (incl. net lease increase, capped at 10 years of lease term)","Repairs and maintenance of Nebraska business property (this is the hook for redeveloping/rehabbing a building you operate a micro-business out of)","Advertising expenses","Legal and professional fees","Increased employee compensation plus employer health-insurance contributions (new employment)"],"amountRange":"Credit = 20% of the combined increase in new investment + new employment over the base year, measured across the year of application and the year after. Lifetime cap of $20,000 per applicant and all related persons combined. Statewide pool of $2,000,000 of credits authorized per calendar year (through 2032), plus any unclaimed credits carried forward- allocated first-come, first-served by reservation.","matchRequired":"No cash match. The applicant must actually make the qualifying new investment/compensation increase to earn the credit (the spending is, in effect, the \"match\"). Credits are reserved tentatively at application, then earned/claimed only when the increases are realized in Years 1 and 2.","applicantTypes":["individual (sole proprietor)","individual owner of an S corporation / partnership / LLC flow-through micro-business","individual owner of a C corporation micro-business","farmer or livestock operator (only if net worth, incl. spouse/dependents, does not exceed $500,000, or the activity is ag-product processing/marketing or specialty crops)"],"portalUrl":"https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/nebraska-advantage-microenterprise-tax-credit-act","sourceUrls":["https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/nebraska-advantage-microenterprise-tax-credit-act","https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/microenterprise-tax-credit-guide","https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/incentives/microent/micro_app.pdf","https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/incentives/microent/micro_app_worksheet_m.pdf"],"relevanceNote":"Most useful when the redeveloper of a cheap/blighted Scotts Bluff County parcel will OPERATE a small owner-run business there (5 or fewer FTEs)- e.g., buying a low-value downtown Scottsbluff/Gering storefront and putting a shop, studio, or service business in it. Qualifying 'new investment' explicitly includes building purchases AND repairs/maintenance of Nebraska business property, so rehab dollars on the building you occupy generate a 20% refundable credit (up to the $20,000 lifetime cap). It does NOT subsidize acquisition or rehab of a parcel held as a passive investment or for resale- the owner must be personally, daily engaged in a real operating business. Because there is no parcel-value floor/ceiling and no delinquency or blight test, it pairs naturally with acquiring a low-cost or tax-delinquent parcel and standing up a micro-business on it."},{"programName":"Nebraska Historic Tax Credit (NHTC)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Jointly administered by History Nebraska / Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) State Historic Preservation Office, which reviews the historic certification and rehabilitation Parts 1-3 (402-471-4787; hn.hp@nebraska.gov; 402-471-0501), and the Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR), which reviews expenditures and issues credits (Parts 4-5; Policy Section, e.g. Sinway Bouzid, 402-471-5669). No local pass-through office: the applicant (property owner) applies directly through the statewide NHTC web portal. For local support in Scotts Bluff County, the City of Gering (county seat) / City of Scottsbluff planning offices, the Panhandle Area Development District (PADD, Gering), and Nebraska Main Street / Restoration Exchange Omaha can assist with downtown rehab projects, but they do not administer the credit.","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["Rehabilitation/restoration construction and hard costs meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation","Architectural, engineering, and design fees","Accounting and legal fees tied to the rehab","Costs to protect a historically significant property from deterioration (stabilization)","Adaptive reuse of historic commercial, multifamily, industrial, and institutional buildings (NOT single-family detached residences)","Pre-application soft costs incurred up to 6 months before Part 2 submission (architectural/accounting/legal/deterioration-protection costs only)"],"amountRange":"Credit = 20% of eligible rehabilitation expenditures. Per-project cap of $2 million in credits. Statewide annual allocation of $2 million (allocated each January 1, plus any unallocated credits carried forward), for calendar years beginning on/after January 1, 2024 under LB727. Minimum eligible expenditures of $25,000 to qualify.","matchRequired":"No formal match/cost-share. The credit reimburses 20% of eligible costs, so the applicant must finance the remaining ~80% of the rehabilitation. A minimum investment of $25,000 in eligible expenditures is required to participate.","applicantTypes":["individual","LLC","S-corp / partnership / pass-through entity","for-profit business / developer","nonprofit (IRC 501(c)(3))","municipality / political subdivision"],"portalUrl":"https://nhtc.ne.gov/revshsnhtc/public/login.faces","sourceUrls":["https://revenue.nebraska.gov/incentives/historic-tax-credit/general-information","https://history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation/nebraska-historic-tax-credit-nhtc/","https://history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation/federal-historic-tax-credit/","https://nhtc.ne.gov/revshsnhtc/public/login.faces"],"relevanceNote":"For a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown, the NHTC is only relevant if the parcel's BUILDING is historic (NRHP-listed/contributing or locally designated)- e.g., a deteriorated commercial building in downtown Scottsbluff or Gering. It is well suited to an investor who acquires a low-value but historically significant building ('owned') or one for sale ('available') and rehabilitates it: the state reimburses 20% of qualified costs (up to $2M), and it can be stacked with the federal 20% credit for an effective ~40% credit on a NRHP rehab, plus local TIF. It does NOT apply to single-family homes and requires at least $25,000 of investment, so it rewards substantial rehab, not mere acquisition. A purely vacant/non-historic delinquent lot does not qualify unless the owner also pursues National Register listing (Part 1)."},{"programName":"NIFA Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBA)- down-payment/closing-cost second mortgage, layered on a NIFA First Home or Welcome Home first mortgage","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), Omaha, NE- (402) 434-3900 / 1-800-204-6432. NIFA does not lend directly to consumers; it operates through a statewide network of approved participating lenders / \"Mortgage Loan Advisors.\" A buyer in Scotts Bluff County applies through any NIFA-participating lender or local bank/credit union/mortgage broker serving Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown (found via NIFA's \"Find a Mortgage Loan Advisor\" / Buyer Connect directory). NIFA's Homeownership Team reviews/compliance-approves the file; the local lender originates and closes the loan.","fundingType":"low-interest-loan","whatItFunds":["Down payment on an owner-occupied primary residence purchase","Closing costs / prepaid items","Paired with a NIFA first-mortgage (First Home, First Home Targeted, or Welcome Home)- Conventional, FHA, USDA Rural Development, or VA"],"amountRange":"Second mortgage = up to 5% of the home's purchase price, capped at $10,000. Buyer must contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own funds. First mortgage covers the balance of the purchase (purchase-price limits below).","matchRequired":"Minimum borrower investment of $1,000 of own funds; no developer/cash match in the grant sense. The DPA itself is a repayable loan, not a grant.","applicantTypes":["individual","homeowner"],"portalUrl":"https://www.nifa.org/homebuyers-renters/homebuyer-assistance","sourceUrls":["https://www.nifa.org/homebuyers-renters/homebuyer-assistance","https://www.nifa.org/lenders-realtors/programs-eligibility","https://www.nifa.org/homebuyers-renters/first-home-program","https://www.nifa.org/homebuyers-renters/welcome-home"],"relevanceNote":"This is a consumer owner-occupant homebuyer product, so it fits the 'available' (for-sale) parcel status and an individual buyer acquiring a home to live in- NOT investor acquisition, demolition, or redevelopment of low-value/tax-delinquent parcels. It does not fund vacant-lot acquisition, rehab-for-resale, or commercial redevelopment. It is relevant to a Scotts Bluff County low-value parcel ONLY if that parcel is (or becomes) a habitable single-family home (or eligible 1-4 unit, owner-occupied) that a qualifying buyer purchases to occupy. Tax-delinquent or sub-$25k vacant parcels do not qualify until improved into an owner-occupiable residence meeting NIFA's appraisal/condition and price-limit rules. The target-area waiver is the most useful hook locally: several Scottsbluff/Gering census tracts are NIFA targeted, removing the first-time-buyer test and raising limits."},{"programName":"Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC, 9% and 4%) + Nebraska Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) is the designated housing credit allocation agency for both the federal LIHTC and the state AHTC; the Nebraska Department of Revenue co-administers the AHTC (certification/claiming). Applications are filed jointly as \"NIFA/NDED\"- the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED, \"opportunity.nebraska.gov\") co-reviews when HOME/HTF/CDBG-DR gap funds are layered in. There is NO Scotts Bluff County / City of Scottsbluff / Gering pass-through office: the developer applies directly to NIFA (Lincoln) via its online ReviewR portal. Local government's role is limited to providing site/zoning verification, public-hearing support, and any local match or CRANE/HOME participation. NIFA contact: (402) 434-3900 / 1-800-204-6432; CRANE/pipeline contact Pamela Skinner, pamela.skinner@nifa.org.","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["New construction of affordable rental housing","Acquisition plus substantial rehabilitation of existing rental housing (incl. distressed/older buildings)","Rehabilitation/preservation of existing affordable units","Adaptive reuse / conversion to rental housing","Tax-exempt-bond-financed rental developments (4% credit path)","Supportive and senior affordable rental housing"],"amountRange":"No fixed per-project dollar cap published; NIFA awards only the amount of combined federal LIHTC + state AHTC \"necessary to make the project financially feasible.\" Federal 9% credits are competitively scarce (allocated from Nebraska's annual per-capita ceiling); 4% credits are non-competitive but require ~50% tax-exempt bond financing. The state AHTC equals the federal LIHTC amount but is claimed over 6 years instead of 10 (NIFA example: a $250,000/yr allocation = $1.5M state AHTC over 6 yrs vs $2.5M federal over 10 yrs). A statewide annual AHTC ceiling exists in statute (LB 884 / Neb. Rev. Stat. Section77-2501 et seq.) but the current dollar figure could not be cleanly verified from source text- confirm with NIFA/DOR. Recent NIFA award rounds totaled roughly $6.9M-$13M in credits across multiple projects statewide.","matchRequired":"No cash \"match\" in the grant sense, but LIHTC always requires substantial leverage: the credits are sold to equity investors to raise project equity (typically ~30-70% of cost), and the balance must come from a permanent mortgage and often gap sources (HOME/HTF/CRANE, deferred developer fee, AHP). NIFA requires documented construction and permanent financing commitments at application.","applicantTypes":["for-profit developer","LLC / limited partnership (project ownership entity)","nonprofit housing developer (incl. CHDOs)","public housing authority","municipality (as co-developer/owner)","tribal housing entity"],"portalUrl":"https://www.nifa.org/developers-property-managers/lihtc-apply","sourceUrls":["https://www.nifa.org/developers-property-managers/lihtc-ahtc","https://www.nifa.org/developers-property-managers/lihtc-apply","https://www.nifa.org/developers-property-managers/forms-docs","https://www.nifa.org/news/view-article/ahtc_faq"],"relevanceNote":"This is the dominant tool for turning a cheap or tax-delinquent Scottsbluff/Gering/Terrytown parcel into MULTI-FAMILY affordable rental housing- but only as a rental project, not single-family resale. A low acquisition cost (including a tax-delinquent parcel acquired cheaply) actually improves the deal's feasibility and competitiveness. The applicant must establish site control (deed/option/purchase agreement) before applying. Acquisition-plus-rehab of a distressed building qualifies if it clears the 10-Year Rule and a Capital Needs Assessment. Combine with the matching state AHTC automatically, plus tax-exempt bonds (4% path), HOME/HTF/CRANE gap funds, and a QCT/DDA basis boost if the parcel qualifies, to close the financing gap on a small-market Panhandle deal."},{"programName":"Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Housing & Community Development Division, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521; ded.housing@nebraska.gov; 800-426-6505. LOCAL ACCESS: this is a state grant with NO local pass-through office that re-grants it- the eligible applicant applies directly to DED. For a Scotts Bluff County project, the applicant is typically the City of Scottsbluff or City of Gering (county seat), the Scottsbluff/Gering Housing Authority, the local Community Action Partnership (Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska, Gering), or a qualifying local 501(c)(3) housing nonprofit. Before applying you MUST contact the assigned regional DED Housing Program Representative for the Panhandle/3rd Congressional District (rep list at opportunity.nebraska.gov; primary program consultant for 2025 was Kylee Bischoff, kylee.bischoff@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3367). A private individual or for-profit developer must partner with/through one of these eligible applicants- they cannot apply on their own.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Homebuyer new construction (single-family for-sale units)","Purchase/Rehab/Resale (PRR) of existing units for resale to income-eligible homebuyers","Homebuyer (down payment / closing cost) assistance, secured by Deed of Trust + Promissory Note (recapture) or Restrictive Covenant (resale)","Rental new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion of non-residential buildings to affordable rental","Owner-occupied single-family rehabilitation/reconstruction (homeowner rehab)","Support activities tied to a primary activity: acquisition, demolition of blighted structures, and infrastructure improvements"],"amountRange":"Housing Development: up to $750,000 total for Primary plus Support Activities (excludes General Administration, Housing Management, and Lead-Based Paint Testing line items). Technical Assistance: up to $50,000 (one TA application per applicant per cycle).","matchRequired":"No match required. Cash match is voluntary and earns competitive scoring points; it must be unrestricted cash from the applicant's own funds, committed only to primary/support activities (not to General Admin, Housing Management, or LBP Testing), documented on the current-year Cash Match Documentation Form, and held in the project for the contract term. For-profit partner owner equity counts as leverage (entered in the Leverage Table), not as NAHTF cash match.","applicantTypes":["municipality (city/village, e.g. City of Scottsbluff, City of Gering)","county / governmental subdivision","public housing authority or agency","Community Action Agency / Partnership","community-, neighborhood-, or reservation-based nonprofit with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status and an affordable-housing mission"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/housing/nahtf/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-NAHTF-Application-Guidelines-V1.2-04242025.pdf","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Getting-Started-NAHTF-Application-Guidance_Posting.pdf","https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=58-706"],"relevanceNote":"Strong fit for acquiring and redeveloping cheap or tax-delinquent parcels in Scottsbluff/Gering/Terrytown when the end use is income-restricted (<=120% AMI) housing. A low-value or tax-delinquent lot can be brought in as the project SITE: NAHTF will fund acquisition of the parcel, demolition of a qualifying blighted structure on it, and supporting infrastructure as SUPPORT activities tied to a primary activity of new construction or purchase/rehab/resale- so the program effectively pays to clear and rebuild a derelict parcel into affordable for-sale or rental housing. Acquiring a delinquent/cheap parcel inside a designated Blighted/Extremely Blighted Area, Enterprise Zone, or Opportunity Zone (common in Scottsbluff and Gering's older cores) also earns priority scoring points. Caveat: the parcel owner can't apply directly- a city, housing authority, Community Action Partnership, or housing nonprofit must be the applicant, with any private/for-profit party participating as a development partner."},{"programName":"Weatherization Assistance Program (NeWAP) - Nebraska","level":"federal","administeringBody":"Federally funded (U.S. DOE, with supplemental HHS LIHEAP funds) and administered statewide by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE; formerly the Nebraska Energy Office / NDEE), Planning & Aid Division, 245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68521, (402) 471-2186. In Scotts Bluff County the LOCAL pass-through provider you apply through is Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP), Attn: Weatherization Dept., 270 Pine Street, Chadron, NE 69337, (308) 432-3393, fax (308) 432-5799. NCAP is one of eight nonprofit subgrantees statewide and is the designated weatherization provider for the entire Nebraska Panhandle; it expanded in 2015 to cover the seven southern panhandle counties including Scotts Bluff (Scottsbluff, Gering, Terrytown), Banner, Morrill, Garden, Cheyenne, Kimball, and Deuel, in addition to its core counties (Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux, Cherry).","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Attic, wall, and floor insulation","Air sealing - caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors","Door weatherstripping and sweeps","Duct sealing","Furnace/heating system efficiency inspection, tune-up, and safety (carbon monoxide) testing","Heating system repair or replacement (separate NCAP owner-occupied heating/cooling repair-replacement track)"],"amountRange":"No cash to the applicant; services delivered in-kind at no cost. Statewide average value of weatherization services provided is approximately $7,500 per home (DOE-set average expenditure per unit caps apply). Documented average annual energy savings in Nebraska is modest (~$146/yr reported by the state); heating energy use is often reduced by up to ~25%.","matchRequired":"No applicant cash match. Exception for rentals: if a furnace or water heater in a rental home is found unsafe, the property owner (landlord) is responsible for repairing/replacing the appliance at their own cost before/alongside weatherization.","applicantTypes":["individual","homeowner","renter (with landlord written permission)","income-eligible household"],"portalUrl":"https://www.ncap.info/programs-and-services/weatherization/apply-now.html","sourceUrls":["https://dwee.nebraska.gov/aid/nebraska-weatherization-assistance-program","https://dwee.nebraska.gov/aid/weatherization-assistance-program/nebraska-weatherization-assistance-program-resourcesforms","https://www.ncap.info/programs-and-services/weatherization/","https://www.ncap.info/programs-and-services/weatherization/eligibility.html"],"relevanceNote":"LIMITED fit for a parcel-acquisition / tax-delinquent redevelopment strategy. WAP is an occupant-based, income-tested home energy-efficiency benefit, NOT a tool for buying or rehabbing vacant, low-value, or tax-delinquent parcels. It cannot fund acquisition, demolition, new construction, or substantial rehab, and it requires an occupied, already-livable dwelling plus an income-qualified household. It is therefore irrelevant to a 'delinquent' (vacant/assessed <= $25k) parcel and to a 'funded' commercial parcel. Where it DOES help: after you acquire and put a low-value house back into service as affordable housing, the resident household (if at/below 200% FPL) can get a free ~$7,500 efficiency retrofit - insulation, air sealing, furnace tune-up/safety - that lowers operating costs and improves the asset, for an owner-occupant ('owned') or for your income-eligible tenant ('available'/rented, with your landlord sign-off). Treat it as an operating-cost/value-add layer on an occupied unit, not as project capital. Because roof, siding, windows, and structural/major systems are excluded, it complements but does not substitute for rehab financing (CDBG, NIFA, USDA RD)."},{"programName":"Dollar and Energy Saving Loans (DESL)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE), formerly the Nebraska Energy Office / NDEE State Energy Program (245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68521; phone 402-471-2186 / toll-free 877-253-2603; DWEE.desl@nebraska.gov). Statewide program- there is no local pass-through office; you apply through any participating Nebraska bank, savings institution, or credit union of your choice (200+ institutions / 646+ locations statewide), including local lenders in Scottsbluff/Gering. DWEE buys down a share of the lender's loan to produce the low rate. For the local utility tie-ins in the Panhandle, the property is in NPPD territory (the 1.5% NPPD variant applies, where DWEE purchases 85% of the loan; the 3% OPPD and 1% public-school variants apply only in their respective service areas).","fundingType":"low-interest-loan","whatItFunds":["Insulation (attic, roof, ceiling, wall), weather-stripping, air sealing","Replacement windows, doors, siding","HVAC: high-efficiency furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers","Water heating systems","ENERGY STAR appliances and home/office electronics","High-efficiency lighting upgrades"],"amountRange":"Loan caps by borrower/project type: $125,000 (1-2 family dwellings); $250,000 (multifamily 3+ units and telecom projects); $500,000 (businesses, manufacturers, institutions, nonprofits, ENERGY STAR partners, farm/ranch operations, public school districts); $25,000 (ENERGY STAR home electronics); $50,000 (office electronics). No money down.","matchRequired":"No applicant cash match or equity match required (no money down). DWEE effectively co-funds by buying down/purchasing a portion of the lender's loan (e.g., DWEE purchases 85% of the loan in the 1.5% NPPD variant).","applicantTypes":["individual","homeowner","business","LLC","manufacturer","nonprofit","institution","ENERGY STAR partner","farm/ranch operation","public school district","developer/builder (new energy-efficient homes)"],"portalUrl":"https://dwee.nebraska.gov/state-energy-information/dollar-energy-saving-loans","sourceUrls":["https://dwee.nebraska.gov/state-energy-information/dollar-energy-saving-loans","https://dwee.nebraska.gov/dollar-energy-saving-loans-lender-forms-and-procedures","https://dwee.nebraska.gov/state-energy-information/dollar-energy-saving-loans/15-nppd-dollar-energy-saving-loans","https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/nebraska-energy-loan-program-profile_2024-01-26_508.pdf"],"relevanceNote":"Best fit when you already OWN (or are buying and will own) a low-value Scotts Bluff County parcel with a structure and intend to REHAB it- the loan finances the energy guts of a redevelopment (insulation, windows, HVAC, water heating, lighting, solar) at 1.5%-5% with no money down, improving a cheap building's livability and operating cost. It can also finance new ENERGY STAR construction on a vacant lot you control (Form M10, 3.5%). It does NOT fund acquisition, demolition, environmental cleanup, or the purchase of a tax-delinquent parcel itself, so it is a redevelopment-stage tool layered after site control, not an acquisition tool. parcelStatusMatch is 'owned' (you hold title and are improving the building) and 'funded' (it can co-exist with other public funding); it does not match 'delinquent' or 'available' because the applicant must control/own the qualifying property and meet a lender's credit standards before the improvement loan can close."},{"programName":"Nebraska Arts Council - Arts Project Grant (with Micro Grant and Creative Districts pathways)","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Arts Council (NAC), a state agency, 1004 Farnam Street, Lower Level, Omaha, NE 68102; (402) 595-2122; nac.info@nebraska.gov. Program contacts: Rachel Morgan (Arts Project Grant), Elizabeth Palomino (Micro Grants). LOCAL pass-through/partner for a Scottsbluff parcel: The Creative Beet Art District (creativebeet.org) is the city's NAC-certified Creative District and the natural local fiscal/community partner for downtown Scottsbluff public art; a nonprofit applicant could also partner with the City of Scottsbluff. Gering/Terrytown have no certified creative district and would apply directly or via a Nebraska nonprofit sponsor.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Community murals on building walls/parcels","Public art commissions and new work development","Exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, arts festivals","Ethnic heritage and underserved-community arts projects","Artist fees, travel, marketing, production/exhibition expenses","Creative-district public art (e.g., downtown Scottsbluff via The Creative Beet)"],"amountRange":"Arts Project Grant: $2,000-$7,500 (1:1 cash match required). Micro Grant: up to $500 (no match). Mini Grant: small quick-access awards (variable). Creative District certification brings roughly $10,000 in district funds (Scottsbluff/The Creative Beet received ~$10,000 for marketing and public art); the statewide creative-district program is appropriated ~$1M/year across ~37 districts (larger district project grants up to ~$100,000 have been awarded, e.g., $100k to downtown Kearney's The Bricks - invitation/competitive).","matchRequired":"Arts Project Grant: required cash match equal to the amount requested (1:1, cash only). Micro Grant: no match required. Creative District funds: per district guidelines.","applicantTypes":["nonprofit","municipality"],"portalUrl":"https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=nebraskaarts","sourceUrls":["https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/apply/","https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/arts-project-grant/","https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/apply/micro-grants/","https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/apply/how-to-apply/"],"relevanceNote":"This is an ART-only funding source, not a real-estate acquisition tool. For a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scottsbluff, Gering, or Terrytown it best fits AFTER you control the site: it pays for a public mural, sculpture, or arts event that activates the lot or a building wall, raising visibility and value of an otherwise low-value/blighted property. It pairs naturally with acquisition/rehab money (CDBG, TIF, DED) which buys/fixes the parcel while NAC funds the public art on it. Scottsbluff is especially well positioned because it is a NAC-certified Creative District (The Creative Beet), so downtown Scottsbluff parcels can also tap district public-art funds. The applicant typically must be a nonprofit/public agency (or partner with one) - an individual owner would route through The Creative Beet, the City, or a Nebraska nonprofit, or use the smaller $500 Micro Grant as an individual artist."},{"programName":"Conservation Tree Planting & Windbreak Cost-Share (North Platte NRD, layered with Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Program and Nebraska Forest Service)","level":"regional","administeringBody":"North Platte Natural Resources District (NPNRD), 100547 Airport Rd, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, (308) 632-2749 ext. 2, npnrd@npnrd.org. NPNRD sells the trees and provides the up-to-50% windbreak cost-share via the state Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Program (NSWCP), which is funded by the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission / Dept. of Natural Resources. Apply locally: walk into or call the NPNRD office in Scottsbluff (covers all of Scotts Bluff County including Scottsbluff, Gering, and Terrytown). NRCS field staff (USDA service center at Scottsbluff/Bridgeport/Oshkosh) provide technical assistance / plans. The Nebraska Forest Service (NFS, UNL, trees@unl.edu, 402-472-2944) offers companion forestry programs but those are mostly targeted at burned forest land (Pine Ridge/Niobrara) and communities, not general panhandle parcels.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Conservation tree/shrub seedlings (evergreen, broadleaf, and shrub species) sold at-cost by NPNRD ($1.20 bare-root, $2.20 plug, multiples of 10)","Machine planting ($1.00/tree) or hand planting ($2.00/tree) by NPNRD crews","Chemical weed control around new plantings ($0.30/tree)","NSWCP cost-share reimbursement up to 50% of actual windbreak installation cost (practice NC-12 Windbreak Establishment / NC-16 Windbreak Renovation), capped around $4,500-$5,000 per landowner","Companion NFS programs: forest restoration replanting (up to 75%, burned forest land only) and community tree minigrants (public/nonprofit projects only)"],"amountRange":"Seedlings $1.20 (bare-root) / $2.20 (plug) each, multiples of 10. Planting $1.00 (machine) or $2.00 (hand) per tree; weed control $0.30/tree; plus a minimum mobilization charge. NSWCP windbreak cost-share reimburses up to 50% of actual installation cost, capped roughly $4,500-$5,000 per landowner per year (NPNRD's own page cites a $5,000 limit on the broader cost-share program; Upper Loup NRD cites $4,500 - the exact NPNRD windbreak cap should be confirmed at sign-up).","matchRequired":"Yes - NSWCP reimburses up to 50% of actual installation cost, so the landowner covers the other ~50% (plus the at-cost price of the seedlings/planting from NPNRD). NFS minigrants require an approved in-kind match.","applicantTypes":["individual","landowner","farmer/agricultural producer","LLC or business that owns the parcel","operator with landowner consent"],"portalUrl":"https://www.npnrd.org/programs/tree-planting/","sourceUrls":["https://www.npnrd.org/programs/tree-planting/","https://www.npnrd.org/programs/cost-share/","https://www.npnrd.org/assets/site/2026-tree-order-form.pdf","https://nrc.nebraska.gov/soil-and-water-conservation-program-forms"],"relevanceNote":"For a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel in Scotts Bluff County, this program is most useful when the parcel has open ground (rural edge, vacant lot acreage, or land assembled around a structure) where a windbreak, erosion-control planting, or wildlife habitat adds value. It does not fund acquisition, demolition, or buildings - it lowers the cost of greening/stabilizing land you already own (best fit: parcelStatus 'owned'). It is low-dollar but easy to layer onto a redevelopment: very cheap seedlings plus up to 50% reimbursement, rolling sign-up, and local same-county administration in Scottsbluff. It does not fit a small fully-built downtown lot and is not designed for 'available' or 'delinquent' parcels until the user takes ownership."},{"programName":"Scotts Bluff County Tourism Committee Grants (Attraction/Capital Improvement Grant and Promotional Lodging-Tax Grants)- Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau","level":"county","administeringBody":"Scotts Bluff County Tourism Committee (a committee of the Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners), operated through the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau. Apply locally to: Brenda Leisy, Tourism Director, Scotts Bluff County Visitors Bureau, Administration Building 2nd Floor, 1825 10th St., Gering, NE 69341 (mailing/submission address for grants: 2930 Old Oregon Trail Rd., Gering, NE 69341). Phone 308-633-1808 / toll-free 800-788-9475; brenda.leisy@scottsbluffcountyne.gov. Grants over $10,000 also require approval by the Scotts Bluff County Commissioners.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Capital improvements to existing public tourism attractions / recreational facilities (50/50 match)","Marketing and advertising reaching visitors outside a 100-mile radius (radio, TV, newspaper, brochures, flyers, posters, social media, website updates)","Event Incentive: A/V or equipment rental, speaker/entertainment honoraria, added prize money for local festivals/events","Sport Incentive: referee/official fees, officials' lodging & mileage, event bid fees, facility rental fees for competitive events","Agri-tourism / rural tourism promotion in Western Nebraska"],"amountRange":"No fixed cap published. Capital Improvement is strictly 50/50 matching (grant up to the approved amount must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the attraction). Promotional grants reimburse up to 1/2 of total promotion cost. Grants over $10,000 require additional Scotts Bluff County Commissioners approval. Total pool is bounded by annual lodging-tax collections (4% county lodging tax; ~3% portion goes to the Visitors Bureau for marketing, promotional grants, and capital-improvement grants).","matchRequired":"Yes. Capital Improvement: minimum 50% matching funds from the attraction/facility (50/50). Promotional: applicant provides equal matching funds and/or in-kind time; in-kind volunteer/professional time counts up to 25% of total grant application cost (must be verifiable and reasonable; documented by invoice or signed letter). Event/Sport Incentive applicants must additionally commit to marketing activities totaling at least 10% of funds requested. Funds are paid only as reimbursement after the project is complete and matching funds plus paid receipts (no cash receipts) are documented.","applicantTypes":["nonprofit","501(c)(3) or other designated non-profit organization (Capital Improvement track)","event organizers / festival & sports event hosts","attractions / facilities / activities open to the public"],"portalUrl":"https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/visitors-bureau/local-grant-applications/","sourceUrls":["https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/visitors-bureau/local-grant-applications/","https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/visitors-bureau/","https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/04-Capital-Improvement-Grant-Cover-05.26.2021.pdf","https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/CapitalImprovementGrantFebruary22.pdf"],"relevanceNote":"Limited and indirect fit for acquiring/redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel. This is a county lodging-tax tourism program, not a land-acquisition, demolition, or general-redevelopment fund. It does NOT pay to buy parcels, clear delinquent taxes, demolish, or do private commercial redevelopment, and it explicitly bars general operating, salaries, supplies, equipment, and items outside the approved application. It becomes useful only AFTER a parcel is already owned and developed into a public-facing, nonprofit-operated tourism attraction or recreational facility (e.g., a museum, trail, interpretive site, festival venue) in Scottsbluff/Gering/Terrytown: the Capital Improvement track can then fund 50% of capital upgrades to that attraction, and the Promotional track can fund marketing/events that drive overnight visitation. So it maps to a 'redevelop-then-operate-as-attraction' end-use, with a nonprofit applicant and a 50/50 match, rather than to the acquisition/cleanup phase of a distressed parcel."},{"programName":"City of Gering Tax Increment Financing (TIF)","level":"city","administeringBody":"City of Gering, Nebraska. The Community Development Agency (CDA)- which under these guidelines IS the Mayor and City Council (Gering uses the city-as-authority model, not a standalone CRA board)- approves TIF; the Planning Commission holds a public hearing on the redevelopment plan's consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. The City Engineer (or designee) is the applicant's primary point of contact. Apply locally to: City Engineer Annie Folck, (308) 436-6845, afolck@gering.org; City of Gering City Hall, 1025 P Street, P.O. Box 687, Gering, NE 69341, (308) 436-5096. Local economic-development support: Twin Cities Development Association (TCD), tcdne.org. Governed by the Nebraska Community Development Law, Neb. Rev. Stat. 18-2101 to 18-2158; cost-benefit analysis per 18-2113.","fundingType":"tax-increment","whatItFunds":["Acquisition costs of redevelopment project sites","Site preparation, demolition, grading, pre-development work","Public improvements on/adjacent to/near the project site","Architectural, engineering, and environmental services and studies","Utility extensions","Structure enhancements exceeding minimum building/design standards"],"amountRange":"No fixed cap; the TIF amount equals the property-tax increment the project generates over up to 15 years. Guideline fee examples model estimated TIF proceeds ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000+, indicating typical project sizes. TIF usually covers only a small portion of total project cost and the available amount may be speculative.","matchRequired":"","applicantTypes":["individual","business","LLC","developer","nonprofit","property owner","municipality"],"portalUrl":"https://www.gering.org/economic-development","sourceUrls":["https://www.gering.org/sites/default/files/tif_guidelines_0.pdf","https://www.gering.org/economic-development","https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/pad/research/TIF_Reports/TIF_REPORT_2025.pdf"],"relevanceNote":"Directly suited to acquiring/redeveloping low-value or tax-delinquent parcels inside Gering city limits: TIF eligible costs explicitly include land acquisition and demolition, letting a buyer of a cheap or delinquent lot in a blighted/substandard area recapture acquisition and clearance costs through the future property-tax increment. Low-value/delinquent parcels usually sit in exactly the deteriorated areas that already qualify or can be studied and designated as blighted/substandard, and the program's but-for test favors sites that would not be developed without assistance. The application accommodates a site-control/acquisition plan, so applicants need not yet own the parcel- fitting 'available' and 'delinquent' targets as well as 'owned' sites."},{"programName":"City of Scottsbluff Tax Increment Financing (TIF)","level":"city","administeringBody":"City of Scottsbluff Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA), acting with the City Council and Planning Commission under the Nebraska Community Development Law (Neb. Rev. Stat. 18-2101 et seq.). Local application/pass-through office: City of Scottsbluff Economic Development Department, Sharaya DeSersa, Economic Development Director, City Hall, 2525 Circle Drive, Scottsbluff, NE 69361; (308) 632-0052; sdesersa@scottsbluff.org. The City Manager or Economic Development Director is the applicant's primary point of contact. Applications go to City Staff first, then the CRA (conceptual approval + cost-benefit analysis per Neb. Rev. Stat. 18-2113), Planning Commission (public hearing on Comprehensive Plan consistency), and City Council (public hearing + adopting resolution). The CRA and the owner/developer then sign a Redevelopment Agreement and the CRA authorizes a TIF note.","fundingType":"tax-increment","whatItFunds":["Acquisition costs of redevelopment project sites","Site preparation, demolition, grading, and other pre-development work prior to construction","Public improvements on, adjacent to, or in the general vicinity of the project site (streets, utilities, etc.)","Architectural and engineering services plus environmental services and studies","Utility extensions","Rehabilitation, major renovation, and retrofitting of structures that exceed minimum building/design standards and prevent recurrence of blight"],"amountRange":"No fixed cap. TIF proceeds equal the financeable value of the incremental property-tax revenue the new development generates over the term (up to 15 years per Scottsbluff's guidelines; Nebraska law allows up to 20 years for extremely blighted areas). The guidelines stress TIF \"typically only pays for a small portion of a project.\" Fee examples in the guidelines model projects with estimated TIF proceeds from $50,000 up to $1,000,000+, indicating the practical range of deals. Interest rate on the TIF note is set by the market when the note is issued.","matchRequired":"Yes, implicitly substantial. TIF covers only eligible costs and \"typically only pays for a small portion of a project\"; the developer must finance the balance through equity, bank loans, and other sources (the application itemizes Equity, Bank Loan, TIF, and Other as financing sources). The City assumes no responsibility for project expenses beyond the granted increment and will not buy or sell the TIF note/bond. No fixed percentage match is stated, but the applicant must demonstrate financial ability to complete the project.","applicantTypes":["individual","developer","business","LLC","nonprofit","property owner/redeveloper"],"portalUrl":"https://www.scottsbluff.org/departments/economic_development/index.php","sourceUrls":["https://www.scottsbluff.org/departments/economic_development/index.php","https://cms6.revize.com/revize/scottsbluffne/Document%20Center/Departments/Economic%20Development/TIF%20Tax%20Increment%20Financing%20Guidelines%20&%20Application%202020.pdf","https://www.scottsbluff.org/community_redevelopment_authority/index.php","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/micro-tif/"],"relevanceNote":"Strong fit for acquiring/redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel inside the City of Scottsbluff. Low-value and tax-delinquent parcels typically sit in the deteriorated areas that qualify as blighted/substandard, and TIF explicitly reimburses acquisition, demolition, site prep, environmental work, and infrastructure - the heaviest costs of rehabbing a distressed lot. Because the increment is generated by the new improvement, a near-worthless parcel that gains substantial value after redevelopment produces meaningful TIF. The developer must obtain site control (deed or purchase agreement) and finance most of the project; TIF backfills eligible costs over up to 15 years. For a single small parcel, the expedited Micro-TIF track (Neb. Rev. Stat. 18-2155) reduces the process burden."},{"programName":"City of Gering- LB840 Economic Development Fund (Economic Development Grant/Loan)","level":"city","administeringBody":"City of Gering, Nebraska. Applications are reviewed by the Gering LB840 Citizens Advisory Review Committee (chair Galen Larson) and approved by the Gering City Council. Apply through Gering City Hall, 1025 \"P\" Street, P.O. Box 687, Gering, NE 69341; phone 308-436-5096. The program operates under Nebraska's Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act (NRS 18-2701 et seq., \"LB840\"), with state-level guidance from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NEDED; contact Amanda Sindelar, amanda.sindelar@nebraska.gov, 531-350-7721).","fundingType":"forgivable-loan","whatItFunds":["Forgivable loans (grants) to qualifying businesses for fixed assets and/or working capital","Non-forgivable low-interest loans with repayment terms (committee may split an award into part grant/forgivable, part loan)","Loan guarantees for qualifying businesses","Grants for public works improvements essential to the location or expansion of a qualifying business","Real estate acquisition, options and renewals (statutorily permissible LB840 use)","Job training; staff/program administration; relocation incentives (statutory LB840 uses)"],"amountRange":"Variable; sized to project need and job impact. Recent awards range from a ~$13,000 forgivable-over-5-years loan (16th Empire restaurant, code-required fire/exhaust work) to a $25,000 grant (Old West Balloon Fest, tourism). Larger fixed-asset/working-capital and public-works awards are possible within the fund's annual budget. No fixed published cap on the application; the committee sets the structure case by case.","matchRequired":"Yes (de facto). The application requires the applicant to document their own equity investment (amount and source) plus bank financing, so LB840 is gap/leverage financing rather than 100% funding. No single fixed match ratio is published; the committee evaluates total project cost vs. owner investment and lender commitments.","applicantTypes":["business","for-profit company (proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation)","developer","startup/new business with experienced owners"],"portalUrl":"https://www.gering.org/economic-development","sourceUrls":["https://www.gering.org/economic-development","https://www.gering.org/sites/default/files/lb840_ed_grant_application_form.pdf","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/lb-840/","https://ruralradio.com/kneb-am/news/gering-council-approves-lb840-economic-development-loan-for-scottsbluff-restaurant/"],"relevanceNote":"For acquiring or redeveloping a low-value parcel in the Gering area, LB840 is the most flexible local cash tool: real-estate acquisition, public-works/infrastructure, and code-required building improvements are all permissible uses, and assistance can be a forgivable loan (effectively a grant) if jobs are created and retained. It is business/job-driven, not parcel-status-driven, so it fits a parcel the applicant already owns or one being acquired for an eligible business use; it is not a fit for a purely speculative hold with no business/job plan. Because Gering has funded a project on a Scottsbluff parcel where Gering residents were employed, a redevelopment just across the county/city line can qualify with a documented Gering benefit. Pair LB840 with TIF and Brownfields/CDBG (all named in Gering's plan) to cover acquisition + cleanup + vertical redevelopment of a cheap or distressed parcel."},{"programName":"City of Scottsbluff- LB840 Local Option Municipal Economic Development Fund","level":"city","administeringBody":"City of Scottsbluff Economic Development Department (administering body). Apply directly to the City: Sharaya DeSersa, Economic Development Director, City Hall, 2525 Circle Drive, Scottsbluff, NE 69361; phone (308) 632-0052; email sdesersa@scottsbluff.org; hours Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. A city Program Administrator screens applications and a Citizen/Application Review Committee reviews and recommends; the Scottsbluff City Council gives final binding approval at a public meeting. Statewide framework guidance and the program guide are provided by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), contact Amanda Sindelar, amanda.sindelar@nebraska.gov, 531-350-7721, but DED does NOT award these funds- they are local sales-tax dollars controlled solely by the City.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Direct loans or grants to qualifying businesses for fixed assets and/or working capital","Forgivable loans tied to job-creation/performance (committee may split an award part-grant/forgivable, part-repayable non-forgivable loan)","Loan guarantees for qualifying businesses","Purchase of real estate by the City or a qualifying business for economic development (including options and renewals/extensions of options), with sale proceeds returned to the ED Fund for reuse- e.g. assembling/holding a site for eventual conveyance to a qualifying business such as an industrial park","Grants for public works improvements essential to a qualifying business's location/expansion","Job-training grants or loans"],"amountRange":"Small Business Assistance: historically capped at $10,000 or 50% of project cost; raised by 2025 amendment to a maximum of $25,000 per business (10% owner equity required). Larger LB840 business loans/grants are negotiated case-by-case and have ranged widely- recent Scottsbluff awards include $200,000 (Iron Works Welding, Gardner Technologies), $750,000 (Papa Moon Vineyards/Winery), and $1.5 million (Prime Metal Products, the largest award the city has made). City-wide annual appropriation is statutorily capped (first-class city: lesser of voter-approved amount, $4 million/yr, or 0.4% of taxable valuation).","matchRequired":"Yes for the Small Business Assistance track: minimum 10% owner equity in the project (cash, remodeling, equipment, facade/signage, rent, or utility costs qualify as equity) PLUS support from an additional financial partner (e.g., a bank loan). Larger awards effectively require lender/investor commitments and leverage; the city will not 'unduly enrich' a business relative to the public benefit, so private investment and outside financing are expected.","applicantTypes":["business (for-profit corporation, partnership, LLC, or sole proprietorship)","manufacturer","retailer","developer/housing builder","childcare/early childhood education provider","tourism business","headquarters/R&D/telecommunications business"],"portalUrl":"https://www.scottsbluff.org/departments/economic_development/lb840_plan___application.php","sourceUrls":["https://www.scottsbluff.org/departments/economic_development/lb840_plan___application.php","https://www.scottsbluff.org/departments/economic_development/index.php","https://cms6.revize.com/revize/scottsbluffne/Scottsbluff%20LB840%20Application.docx","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/lb-840/"],"relevanceNote":"LB840 is the most direct city money for putting a cheap or distressed Scottsbluff parcel back into productive use, but it is business-driven, not parcel-driven: the assistance must flow to a 'qualifying business' and an 'eligible activity.' For acquiring a low-value parcel, the cleanest fits are (a) the City itself buying real estate to hold/convey to a future qualifying business- i.e., you partner with the City on a redevelopment site- or (b) you (as a qualifying business: manufacturer, retailer, housing developer, childcare provider, tourism, etc.) buying/rehabbing the parcel and getting a grant/forgivable loan toward fixed assets, with the small-business track giving up to $25,000 against a project where you put in 10% equity plus a bank partner. Housing rehab/new-build on a vacant or low-value lot is eligible through the Workforce Housing Plan (the Scotts Bluff County housing shortage is already documented). Note this does NOT directly cure a tax-delinquent parcel's back taxes- it funds the redevelopment business activity, and you typically need site control (deed or option) before or as part of the deal. Tax-delinquent acquisition itself runs through the county treasurer/NRS process; LB840 then funds the build-out."},{"programName":"City of Gering Occupation Tax Grant Program (Hotel Occupancy / Lodging Tax Grant)","level":"city","administeringBody":"City of Gering, administered through the Gering Visitors Bureau (Convention & Visitors Bureau). Funded by the city's hotel/lodging occupation tax. Apply through: Gering Visitors Bureau, 1050 M St, Gering, NE 69341; phone (308) 436-6886; contact Karla Niedan-Streeks, Executive Director (karla@visitgering.com). Applications are vetted by the Gering Visitors Bureau Board of Directors / Occupation Tax Grant Application Advisory Committee and approved by the Gering City Council.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["tourism promotion and advertising","convention/hospitality industry promotion","events (group, sports, recreation)","visitor attraction exhibits and facilities","wayfinding signage and visitor transportation","arts promotion tied to tourism"],"amountRange":"Two tiers: \"Minor\" grants of $10,000 or less and \"Major\" grants of $10,001 or more. No published per-award maximum beyond available lodging-tax revenue; recent council approvals have run in the ~$20,000 range across multiple requests in a cycle.","matchRequired":"No cash match is formally required in the published criteria, though projects with leveraged/other funding and clear tourism ROI are favored. (Unverified whether an informal match expectation applies.)","applicantTypes":["nonprofit","municipality"],"portalUrl":"https://visitgering.com/apply-for-a-grant/","sourceUrls":["https://visitgering.com/apply-for-a-grant/","https://visitgering.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gering-Occupation-Tax-Criteria-Application-REVISED-October-2024-fillable.pdf","https://www.gering.org/boards-commissions","https://us.fundsforngos.org/type-of-grantgrant/city-of-gering-occupation-tax-grant-program-2026-nebraska/"],"relevanceNote":"LOW relevance to acquiring or redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel. This is a hotel/lodging occupation-tax grant for tourism promotion and visitor-attraction development, administered by the Gering Visitors Bureau- it does not fund land acquisition, demolition, facade improvement, rehab, or general real-estate redevelopment, and it explicitly excludes general maintenance/structural replacement of existing facilities. The HINT suggesting a facade/improvement program is INCORRECT for this program. It could only touch a parcel project at the margin if the end use is a bona fide public-facing visitor attraction (e.g., a museum/event venue) AND the request is for tourism promotion, exhibits, or new-attraction construction rather than acquisition. For parcel acquisition/redevelopment in Gering, the correct city tool is instead the separate City of Gering LB840 Economic Development Grant (lb840_ed_grant_application_form.pdf on gering.org) and TIF, not this occupation-tax grant."},{"programName":"Panhandle Improvement Project Cash Fund","level":"state","administeringBody":"Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) administers the fund directly via the AmpliFund grant portal. There is NO local pass-through office and NO PADD involvement (the hint suggesting PADD/regional revolving fund is incorrect- this is a state-direct DED grant). Program/legal contact: Benjamin Goins, DED Attorney, benjamin.goins@nebraska.gov, 402-471-0822; Opportunity Manager listed as Kaitlin Kamper. A locality interested in the county track would apply as Scotts Bluff County government (county board), not through Scottsbluff/Gering city offices.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["County fairgrounds renovation or construction (county track, up to $995,000)","Renovation of a village community facility that serves the surrounding rural area, for villages with population under 10 (village track, up to $5,000)"],"amountRange":"County fairgrounds track: up to $995,000 per grant. Village community-facility track: up to $5,000 per grant. DED reserves the right to partially fund any request.","matchRequired":"Not specified in DED program materials or the statute; no match percentage is published. Treat as unverified- confirm with DED before assuming none.","applicantTypes":["County government (a county in Nebraska's 3rd congressional district that operates county fairgrounds)","Village government with a population of fewer than ten (10) residents"],"portalUrl":"https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/f17a4578-e1c2-495b-8aa9-cb70e9c092dc","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/incentives/panhandle-improvement-project-cash-fund/","https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1213.03","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/f17a4578-e1c2-495b-8aa9-cb70e9c092dc","https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/209f82a1-a029-480a-8271-90d1a7cb54c5"],"relevanceNote":"Low/effectively no relevance to the user's goal. This is NOT a parcel-acquisition or redevelopment tool. It is a narrow, earmarked state grant for (a) county fairgrounds capital projects and (b) renovation of community facilities in villages of fewer than ten people. The user's target parcels are in Scottsbluff, Gering, and Terrytown- none of which qualify (populations far exceed 10), and the county track funds only the fairgrounds in Mitchell, not buying/rehabbing cheap or tax-delinquent lots. It also cannot be tied to a specific parcel status ('delinquent', 'owned', etc.) because parcel ownership/value is irrelevant to its eligibility. The fund sunsets January 1, 2027 with money sweeping out after July 31, 2026, so even the eligible county-fairgrounds use has minimal remaining runway. For real parcel redevelopment in this area, the user should look instead at TIF/blight (Community Development Law), DED CDBG, NIFA, Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund, or PADD's actual revolving loan fund- not this program."},{"programName":"Oregon Trail Community Foundation- Community (Competitive) Grant Program","level":"foundation","administeringBody":"Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF), a community foundation based in Scottsbluff, NE. Office: 417 Valley View Dr, Ste 700, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 / PO Box 1344, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Phone 308-635-3393. This is the local administering body itself (no pass-through)- apply directly to OTCF. Serves the Nebraska Panhandle (Scottsbluff, Gering, Terrytown, Mitchell, Bayard, Hemingford, etc.) plus Goshen and Platte counties, Wyoming.","fundingType":"grant","whatItFunds":["Nonprofit programs and projects in education, arts, history/historic landmarks, healthcare, human services, environment/wildlife preservation, and recreation","Project-specific charitable activities run by 501(c)(3) organizations serving the OTCF region","Small community-benefit initiatives (some donor-restricted funds carry field-of-interest or sub-geographic limits)"],"amountRange":"Typically ~$1,000 to ~$25,000 per grant. OTCF awards roughly $125,000+ in community grants annually (total giving across all funds is larger, ~$540K+/yr).","matchRequired":"No formal cash-match percentage published. OTCF favors projects with diversified/leveraged funding and sustainability beyond the grant; partial funding of a larger budget is common, so other committed funding sources strengthen an application.","applicantTypes":["nonprofit","501(c)(3) public charity","governmental/public tax-exempt entity (e.g. school, library, municipality) for charitable purpose","organization using a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor/agent"],"portalUrl":"https://otcf.eformsolutions.com/landing/sign-in","sourceUrls":["https://www.otcf.org/","https://www.otcf.org/grants","https://otcf.eformsolutions.com/landing/sign-in","https://www.tgci.com/funder/oregon-trail-community-foundation"],"relevanceNote":"Limited direct fit for acquiring or redeveloping a cheap/tax-delinquent parcel for private gain. This is a charitable competitive grant for nonprofits, and OTCF explicitly excludes capital campaigns, individuals, and for-profit business ventures- so it will NOT fund a private investor or LLC buying/rehabbing a parcel. It CAN help only if a qualifying 501(c)(3) (or a sponsor like a CDC, land trust, historical society, Main Street/downtown nonprofit, or habitat-type housing nonprofit) controls the parcel and runs a charitable program tied to it (e.g., a community garden, museum/interpretive use, environmental cleanup education, arts/recreation space). Grants are also modest (~$1,000-$25,000), better suited to program costs than to acquisition or major construction. Best used as gap/soft-cost funding layered onto larger acquisition/redevelopment sources."},{"programName":"Opportunity Zone Investment Incentive (Qualified Opportunity Fund capital-gains tax incentive)- OZ 1.0 (2018) and OZ 2.0 (OBBBA 2025)","level":"federal","administeringBody":"Federal tax incentive administered by the IRS / U.S. Treasury (CDFI Fund tracks designations). It is NOT a grant program and is NOT administered or overseen by any state/local office- the investor self-executes via their tax filing. State role is limited to NOMINATING tracts: the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) collects nominations and the Governor submits them to Treasury. LOCAL pass-through to apply/use it: there is no application office- but for the Scotts Bluff designated tract, coordinate locally with the City of Scottsbluff (or City of Gering) economic development / planning, the Twin Cities Development Association (Scottsbluff-Gering area econ dev, Gering NE), and a Nebraska CPA/tax attorney to structure a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF). DED OZ contact: ded.opportunityzones@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3063. The tax benefit itself is claimed on the investor's federal return; no agency 'approves' an individual deal.","fundingType":"tax-credit","whatItFunds":["Acquisition of real property (land and buildings) inside a designated OZ tract, when bought by/contributed to a QOF","New construction / ground-up development on OZ parcels","Substantial rehabilitation of existing buildings (QOF must roughly double the building's basis within 30 months under OZ 1.0; OZ 2.0 lowers the rural-area substantial-improvement threshold to 50%)","Equity in operating businesses located in the zone (Qualified Opportunity Zone Business)","Mixed-use, commercial, and multifamily/housing redevelopment in the zone"],"amountRange":"No fixed dollar amount or award- the benefit scales with the investor's deferred capital gain and the project's appreciation. Value = (a) deferral of federal tax on the rolled-in gain; (b) ~10% basis step-up after a 5-year hold (OZ 2.0 keeps the 5-yr/10% step-up and dropped the 7-yr/15%; OZ 1.0 offered 10% at 5 yrs and 15% at 7 yrs); (c) FULL exclusion of capital-gains tax on all appreciation of the QOF investment after a 10-year hold. Rural Qualified Opportunity Funds (QROF) under OZ 2.0 get a 30% basis step-up. There is no cap on the amount that can be invested.","matchRequired":"No match in the grant sense. The investor self-funds the entire project; the 'incentive' is purely the reduced/eliminated federal capital-gains tax. Capital deployed is 100% private equity (the rolled-over gain plus any additional capital).","applicantTypes":["individual (investor with capital gains)","LLC","partnership","corporation","developer","business","any taxpayer with eligible capital gains who forms or invests in a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF)"],"portalUrl":"https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/business/opportunity-zones/","sourceUrls":["https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/business/opportunity-zones/","https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Eligible-Census-Tracts-in-Nebraska-Federal-Opportunity-Zones-Program.pdf","https://opportunityzones.com/location/nebraska/","http://censusreporter.org/profiles/14000US31157953700-census-tract-9537-scotts-bluff-ne/"],"relevanceNote":"Strong fit for acquiring/redeveloping a cheap or tax-delinquent parcel ONLY IF the parcel sits inside Census Tract 9537 (31157953700), the single OZ tract in Scotts Bluff County, which covers a high-poverty (35%) low-income core within the Scottsbluff/Gering area. A buyer with capital gains can route those gains through a QOF to buy a low-value/tax-delinquent lot here, defer the gains tax, and- after substantially improving and holding 10 years- pay ZERO federal tax on the project's appreciation. It directly rewards exactly the acquire-then-redevelop pattern (acquisition + substantial improvement). It does NOT provide upfront cash to acquire the parcel; the buyer needs their own capital (ideally prior capital gains). For parcels outside tract 9537, this program does not apply. Best stacked with local TIF and state incentives to close the acquisition/rehab gap."}]}