Story by The Nebraska Department of Economic Development 

For the past 42 years, the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has promoted progress and improvement among communities throughout Nebraska and around the nation. During March 28-April 2, National Community Development Week is celebrating the accomplishments of communities and projects that are encouraging economic growth and development.

Today at the State Capitol, Gov. Pete Ricketts, and officials from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and several communities gathered to publicly recognize these outstanding efforts.

Gov. Ricketts kicked off the celebration by proclaiming March 28-April 2, 2016, as Community Development (CD) Week in Nebraska and welcoming those in attendance.

“Community Development Week is an opportunity to highlight the numerous partnerships between volunteers, local organizations, government, and the private sector that help grow Nebraska,” said Governor Ricketts. “CDBG projects have provided opportunities to gain access to resources that will enable communities throughout Nebraska to prosper.”

The Governor went on to share how the CDBG program in Nebraska has helped fund 270 projects with $50 million, in combination with over $84 million in leveraged state, local, and private matching funds, and benefitted more than 240,000 people and 118 communities.

DED administers CDBG funding for all communities outside the cities of Omaha, Lincoln and Bellevue.

The Governor’s Showcase Community Award recognizes a community or communities every year that have demonstrated exceptional efforts in community development over the previous five years. This includes the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for economic and community growth, along with demonstrated success in other state and national grant, loan, and tax incentive programs, including the Civic Community Center Financing Fund, the HOME program, and the Community Development Assistance Act.

This year’s Showcase Community Award was presented to the community of Superior (pop. 1,957) with an Honorable Mention going to Red Cloud (pop. 1,020).

Superior worked on many different projects over the past five years. One was an $8 million expansion of Brodstone Memorial Hospital. With this expansion, the community has gained outstanding health care. Residents now have access to patient care, emergency services, home health services, and a family medical clinic. Along with that, 22 specialty practitioners travel to the hospital every month to meet with patients and perform procedures.

In 2015, Superior began a Downtown Revitalization, Phase I, project and was awarded $30,000 in CDBG funding for planning activities related to making improvements. Expansions took place in multiple businesses. The local Casey’s General and Dollar General stores created new facilities.

Superior became a Certified Leadership Community in 2015. The community put great effort into the application process and came together to earn this certification.

Local investments have played a big part in Superior’s development. Eleven local business facades were improved. Volunteers came together to save and restore the city auditorium and movie theatre. A partially collapsed downtown office building was removed with funding from both the City and Nuckolls County. Other projects included construction of a $1 million roadway bridge funded by the Nebraska Department of Roads and the city, Sidewalk renovations, and the addition of bike paths. A Solid Waste Management and Action Plan was also created through local funding and a $30,000 CDBG award.

Mayor Sonia Schmidt personally accepted the award on behalf of the City of Superior. Overall, Superior has shown great success locally and put tremendous effort into its community development, earning it this year’s Showcase Community Award.

Red Cloud has displayed remarkable community development planning efforts. This strong planning combined with immense collaboration was what earned them this year’s Honorable Mention.

The Republican Valley Child Development Center has created a lot of excitement for the community. Projecting a completion and opening date in late 2017, the facility will be a non-profit, professionally staffed operation. The Red Cloud Community Foundation Fund created the Republican Valley Child Development Center Planning Committee in October 2014, to provide input into the facility’s and program’s design, regularly update the community recruit fundraising volunteers, and secure 38% of the project funding before formally launching the project. To date, the project has raised around $1.1 million in private donations, and received $250,000 in CDBG Public Works funding, and $65,000 from the City. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to ensure that children receive high quality care and education. Other project highlights in Red Cloud include construction of the Cherry Corner Estates Assisted Living Center which has been tremendous for senior residents and is used for community events; and restoration of and additions to the Auld Public Library with more than $750,000 in personal donations and grants from multiple organizations, including DED, the Kiewit Foundation, the Kinder Porter Scott Family Foundation, and Glenwood Communications.

Mayor Gary Ratzlaff accepted the award on behalf of the city of Red Cloud. Red Cloud made great efforts and show a bright future ahead of them.

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