The Rural Community Recovery Program (RCRP) is a one-time $10 million grant fund from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development that provides awards to political subdivisions to build strong, healthy communities through investment in rural Nebraska neighborhoods.

Established under LB1412 (2023) pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the program targets rural counties disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible projects address vacant, abandoned, or deteriorated properties and include installation of public neighborhood features (parks, playgrounds, community gardens, green spaces) and site development activities for future affordable housing.

Only political subdivisions in qualifying rural Nebraska counties are eligible to apply.

Rural Community Recovery Program (RCRP) - Nebraska Department of Economic Development Rural Community Recovery Program (RCRP) The Rural Community Recovery Program (RCRP) is a one-time $10 million fund to provide grants topolitical subdivisions to build strong, healthy communities through investment in neighborhoods across Nebraska.

Projects must be located in a rural county that has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects will address and repurpose vacant or abandoned properties for the installation of neighborhood features to promote improved health and safety outcomes or site development of future affordable housing.

The Rural Community Recovery Program is established by the Nebraska Legislature in Laws 2023, LB1412, section 254(6) , pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). RCRP funds will be awarded for rehabilitation or adaptive reuse projects designed to address vacant, abandoned, or deteriorated (VAD) properties.

Research shows that VAD properties may pose an environmental hazard to the community and environment and present a barrier to economic recovery and the production of affordable housing. Addressing these properties will improve the neighborhood built environment and revitalize communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Eligible project types include: Installation of Public Features : Projects that install neighborhood features for public use, increase access to healthy foods, conduct neighborhood cleanup, or revitalize public spaces, will improve residents’ physical and mental well-being, promote healthier living environments by allowing for safe and accessible recreation, encourage investment in the neighborhood, increase community engagement, and may provide access to fresh, healthy food.

Examples include public parks, playgrounds, community gardens, green spaces, or other similar publicly available amenities.

Site Development for Affordable Housing : Projects that intend to conduct pre-development activities for current or future affordable housing will mitigate blight of VAD properties in the neighborhood, invest in safe, quality housing in the community, and build momentum for future development of affordable housing units in the community.

For the purpose of this program, “affordable housing” is not specifically defined; required rent and income limits for the other funding source(s) will apply to the housing units.

Eligible projects will permit activities pertaining to the rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of VAD properties in communities in disproportionately impacted rural counties, limited to the following: Rehabilitation, renovation, maintenance, or costs to secure vacant or abandoned properties to reduce their negative impact.

Costs associated with acquiring and securing legal title of vacant or abandoned properties and other costs to position the property for current or future productive use. Removal and remediation of environmental contaminants or hazards from vacant or abandoned properties, when conducted in compliance with applicable environmental laws or regulations.

Demolition or deconstruction of vacant or abandoned buildings (including residential, commercial, or industrial buildings) paired with greening or other lot improvements as part of a strategy for neighborhood revitalization. Greening or cleanup of vacant lots, as well as other efforts to make vacant lots safer for the surrounding community.

Installation of neighborhood features for public use, such as parks, green spaces, recreation facilities, sidewalks, pedestrian safety features like crosswalks, projects that increase access to healthy good like community gardens, streetlights, neighborhood cleanup, and other projects to revitalize public spaces, to promote physical and mental well-being and promote healthier living environments by allowing for safe and accessible recreation.

Conversion of vacant or abandoned properties to affordable housing. Inspection fees and other administrative costs incurred to ensure compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations for demolition, greening, or other remediation activities.

Funds will be awarded only to eligible political subdivisions , including villages, cities, counties, school districts, public power districts, community colleges, natural resource districts, and all other units of local government, located in a disproportionately impacted rural county in Nebraska.

Disproportionately impacted communities or populations are those that experienced significant, negative public health or economic outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. To be classified as disproportionately impacted, pre-existing disparities were amplified as a result of the pandemic, causing more severe impacts in underserved communities.

DED has determined that 41 of Nebraska’s 91 counties are part of this disproportionately impacted and rural classification and are therefore eligible for the Rural Community Recovery Program.

Political subdivisions within communities in the following counties are eligible to apply: DED has determined that political subdivisions located within qualified census tracts (QCTs) with a population of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants are also eligible to apply.

A QCT is any census tract in which 50 percent or more of households have an income which is less than 60 percent of the area median gross income for the same year, or which has a poverty rate of at least 25 percent.

The following Nebraska QCTs—excluding those in Gage, Jefferson, and Scotts Bluff Counties, which are eligible based on classification as a disproportionately impacted county—are eligible for this program: Qualified Census Tract: A QCT is defined in 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(I), as such section existed on January 1, 2022. Nonprofit: Pursuant to the Supplementary Information promulgated with 31 C.

F. R. Part 35 the definition of nonprofit includes 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) organizations.

Crime Prevention: Comprises strategies and measures that seek to reduce the risk of crimes occurring, and their potentially harmful effects on individuals and society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence their multiple causes. Internships: Defined as the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.

Partnership with the city : Defined as An organization listed in the City of Omaha’s 2022 budget as a recipient of the Mayor's Community Services Fund; or An organization that has received a signed memorandum of support by the City of Omaha dated on or after September 1, 2022.

Rural Community Recovery Program Open Date - May 20, 2024 8:00 AM Central Time Close Date - July 22, 2024 5:00 PM Central Time June 3, 2024 5:00pm (Central) July 22, 2024 5:00pm (Central) Anticipated Award Announcement: Period of Performance End: In awarding the grants, DED will give preference to local governmental entities that applied for grants under the 2022 Rural Workforce Housing Land Development (RWLD) program.

Title File Type Date 00 Policy Memo 24-02: Required Documents for Reimbursement May 16, 2024 RCRP Letter of Intent Word May 15, 2024 Rural Community Recovery Program Development Cost Schedule Excel May 29, 2024 Rural Community Recovery Program Manual PDF May 28, 2024 Title VI – Assurance of Compliance with Civil Rights Requirements PDF June 4, 2024 Grant Management Resources This page will provide technical assistance on using AmpliFund to apply for and manage grants awarded by DED.

Simple Foundation Ready to Build on Impact Nebraska Department of Economic Development Awards $6 million for the Internships and Crime Prevention Grant Internships And Crime Prevention Program Applications Open Internship And Crime Prevention Program Applications To Open Internships And Crime Prevention Program Update Internships And Crime Prevention Program Announcement ARPA Housing Program Manager brittany. piper@nebraska.

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