Governor delivers block grant funds

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman visits with Indianola Webelo Scouts of Pack 152, from left, fourth graders Derrek Greenlee, Patrick Sughroue, Logan Greenlee and Tanner Brooks, during the presentation of a $706,700 grant to Indianola Tuesday afternoon. Heineman told the Scouts they were lucky to grow up in a small community, a lifestyle that offers opportunities to be involved in so much. "That results in a well-rounded individual," Heineman said. The governor told the Scouts that citizenship is important to him -- and should be to youngsters like them -- because, "This is your community, our state, our country." They can make America and Nebraska better, he said, by being involved, by giving back to the community and tax payers who invest in their education, "by doing something to make a difference." (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman awarded $1.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funding during ceremonies Tuesday in Indianola and McCook.

The governor and Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development traveled together from Lincoln to ceremonially present more $1,648,400 in grant funding in the two Southwest communities and in Holdrege and Superior.

The NDED announced the awarding of the grants last fall.

Gov. Heineman said, "These projects take advantage of opportunities to convert vacant or abandoned space into more functional projects, which helps make neighborhoods safer and creates new areas for development. This program helps fuel economic growth and I'm happy to present funding that will help these communities move forward."

Despite tough economic conditions across the nation, Gov. Heineman said during ceremonies in McCook and Indianola Tuesday that Nebraska is in better financial shape than most of the rest of the country. "Compared to the rest of America, Nebraska has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the nation -- 4 percent compared to 10 percent nationally -- and we have a low foreclosure rate," Gov. Heineman said.

Two principles inherent in Nebraska make the difference, he said. "We have more common financial sense," Heineman said, "and we don't spend money we don't have." Generally, the governor said, homeowners don't take out mortgages they can't afford to repay and business owners operate in such a manner that they can pay operating debts.

And, he said, Nebraska is the only state in the nation able to address a $335 million revenue shortfall by cutting spending and not increasing taxes, "all with a unanimous vote."

The Governor said, however, he doesn't want to mislead people -- the next 12 to 14 months won't be without their challenges. "But," he said, "we're in a position to weather the storm."

The grants to McCook, Indianola, Holdrege and Superior are part of Nebraska's allocation of Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 (NSP1) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's CDBG program.

NSP1 funds provide emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment or blight within communities.

Indianola received $706,700 in NSP1 funds for the demolition of five blighted structures, including a dilapidated downtown commercial building and four dilapidated residential structures. The funding will also help build a new community emergency and storm shelter.

McCook received $629,700 in NSP1 funds for the demolition of at least six vacant and blighted structures.

The South Central Economic Development District received $312,000 in NSP1 funds for the demolition of six vacant and blighted structures in Holdrege and two in downtown Superior that will prepare the sites for future development.

More information on the CDBG and Neighborhood Stabilization programs is available on the DED web site, www.neded.org.