Nebraska

Nebraska's grant funding landscape reflects the state's deep commitment to economic diversification, rural community vitality, and innovation-driven growth across its sprawling agricultural and metropolitan regions. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) manages over fifty grant programs and initiatives dedicated to growing Nebraska and supporting citizens and businesses throughout the state. From the SBIR/STTR matching grants that help technology companies leverage federal research funding to the Community Development Block Grant program that strengthens infrastructure in small towns, Nebraska has built a comprehensive support system designed to remove barriers for businesses starting, expanding, or relocating within its borders. The state's emphasis on accessible funding reflects its understanding that economic opportunity must reach every corner of Nebraska, from the Omaha metropolitan area to the most remote rural communities in the Sandhills and Panhandle regions.

The state's approach to community development funding is particularly robust, with CDBG resources distributed through six distinct funding categories: Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Planning, Public Works-Infrastructure, Public Works-Facilities, and Tourism Development. Nebraska's CDBG program aims to provide safe and sanitary housing, suitable living environments, and expanded economic opportunities, especially for low- and moderate-income residents. The CDBG Disaster Recovery program has also played a critical role in helping communities rebuild after severe weather events, funding housing resilience planning, infrastructure restoration, and economic revitalization in affected regions across the state.

Nebraska places special emphasis on supporting innovation and workforce development through targeted grant programs. The Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype Grant offers up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars in competitive matching funds for product development, with DED reimbursing two-thirds of eligible expenses. Internship grants encourage businesses and nonprofits to create new internship positions within the state, building the talent pipeline that Nebraska needs for long-term economic competitiveness. Additional programs support women- and minority-owned small businesses, rural community technology projects, and public safety services through the Nebraska Crime Commission, creating a funding ecosystem that addresses the full spectrum of community and economic needs.