Community Project Funding Submissions FY 24
Project Title: USDA Agricultural Research Service co-located facility Lincoln, NE — National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture
Recipient: United State Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Location: Lincoln, NE
Amount Requested: $25 million
Amount Awarded: $25 million
Justification: The Agricultural Research Service is principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture is a planned co-located USDA-ARS facility with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to address the most critical science gaps required to advance innovation in American agriculture. The National Center will house over 150 employees of four ARS research units. It will bring together scientists from nationally renowned land-grant universities with USDA ARS scientists across the nation to ensure the United States remains the leader in feeding and fueling a growing world.
Project Title: Seward Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements
Recipient: City of Seward, NE
Location: Seward, NE
Amount Requested: $31 million
Amount Awarded: $1 million
Justification: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the reduction of nutrient loading to nearby waters allow for the beneficial reuse of solids for agricultural purposes, and accommodate additional industrial, commercial, and residential growth. Seward contributes to the vitality of our region and our Congressional District, and this project would allow for increased growth in housing and business expansion.
Project Title: City of Milford Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project
Recipient: City of Milford, NE
Location: Milford, NE
Amount Requested: $2,722,400
Amount Awarded: $1 million
Justification: The City of Milford community has long advocated for an improvement in its water quality. The proposed water treatment plant will help reduce the levels of iron and manganese, thus improving the overall quality of the water. A water study conducted in 2021 determined the water quality in multiple wells exceed the MCL and SMCL set by the EPA. When these values are exceeded, iron, manganese, and nitrates may begin to cause problems in the drinking water and distribution system. This treatment option is the most cost-effective option to remove iron and manganese and reduce nitrate levels.
Project Title: City of Hickman Wastewater Treatment Facility
Recipient: City of Hickman, NE
Location: Hickman, NE
Amount Requested: $2,028,045
Amount Awarded: $1 million
Justification: Based on an evaluation of Hickman's current wastewater treatment facility, the City of Hickman plans to make upgrades and improvements to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. These improvements are designed to ensure compliance with regulations set by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. Upgrades to this facility will protect state resource waters, which benefits surface water through the further treatment of wastewater. Meeting higher water quality standards would also benefit public health, aquatic life, water supply and recreational activities.
Project Title: Offutt Pump Station
Recipient: Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District
Location: Offutt Air Force Base, NE
Amount Requested: $3,900,000
Amount Awarded: $200,000
Justification: The First Congressional District of Nebraska is the home of Offutt Air Force Base which is charged with space operations, information operations, missile defense, global command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, global strike and strategic deterrence, and combating weapons of mass destruction. This project is designed to remove excessive floodwater during times of high precipitation events from vital infrastructure, sensitive national security assets, and areas of affordable housing. Furthermore, this project would ensure vital transportation corridors near Offutt AFB and southern Bellevue remain open during flood events, including access to Bellevue’s Public Works Building and related facilities.
Finally, the project would help to protect federal investment in the $180 million runway and over $1 billion in recent and future investments in Offutt AFB to ensure its continued service to the First Congressional District of Nebraska and to our nation.
Project Title: Downtown Corridors Project in City of Lincoln
Recipient: City of Lincoln, Nebraska
Location: 9th and 10th Streets from K Street to I-180 bridge and O Street from 9th to Centennial Mall
Amount Requested: $4 million
Amount Awarded: $4 million
Justification:This project will include the design and construction of street, sidewalk and related improvements along the principal and arterial streets in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. This project is a city-led streetscape enhancement effort meant to improve the safety, accessibility and vibrancy of the downtown area for residents, employees, visitors and property owners.
Project Title: Northeast Nebraska Innovation Studio and Fabrication Lab
Recipient: Northeast Community College
Location: 707 West Norfolk Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
Amount Requested: $750,000
Amount Awarded: $750,000
Justification:The Innovation Studio will serve as a hub that promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with emphasis on practical learning and application. This project will provide lab space, machinery and customized training opportunities to upskill the current manufacturing workforce. The facility will help to drive innovation and remove barriers to adoption of new technologies as well as provide rural areas the skills, knowledge and resources to promote a technology-based economy.
Project Title: Bellevue Public Library Renovation and Expansion Project
Recipient: City of Bellevue, Nebraska
Location: 2206 Longo Drive, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
Amount Requested: $1,729,655
Amount Awarded: $1,729,655
Justification:Since the Bellevue Public Library’s construction, the City of Bellevue has nearly tripled in size. This project provides for the library’s renovation and expansion, improving the library’s ability to meet its mission and realize its potential as a community hub and economic catalyst. The new structure will be a fully accessible 23,000-square foot public facility that will enhance the quality of life and provide an environment that lends itself to educational opportunities, literacy programs, social networking, expanded economic opportunities and exposure to computers and technology.
Project Title: Lancaster County Ag Society “Ag Tech Hub” Facility Modernization Planning
Recipient: Lancaster County Agricultural Society, Inc.
Location: 160 acres located at the corner of N. 84th Street & Havelock Avenue in Northeast Lincoln.
Amount Requested: $400,000
Amount Awarded: $0
Justification:This project provides for professional services to engage the community and create private-public partnerships to modernize the 10-year masterplan for the Lancaster County Fairgrounds. Currently, the 22-year-old fairgrounds serve as a regional “Ag Tech Hub” and undergo heavy wear and tear while hosting as many as 600,000 visitors annually. This project will guide the future development of this community center with unique capabilities over its 160 acres to host ag education, ag business and community events.
Project Title:23rd Street Reconstruction. Columbus, Platte County
Recipient: City of Columbus
Location: 23rd Street in Columbus, NE
Amount Requested: $3.025 million
Amount Awarded: $3.025 million
Justification: This project reconstructs and repaves 2.69 miles of roadway on 23rd Street in Columbus, Nebraska. The project will enhance Columbus' part of the historic Lincoln Highway which sees 14,000 to 26,000 vehicles daily. Highway 30 is a major trucking and travel route for all taxpayers traveling throughout the northeastern portion of Nebraska. The benefits of this construction include upgrading the roadway, traffic flow, and longevity of Highway 30. This project would improve safety and connectivity by consolidating access, adding pedestrian facilities, and updating lighting and traffic signals. Columbus is the fourth fastest growing community in Nebraska behind Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney.
Project Title:Fletcher Avenue Grading and Resurfacing. City of Lincoln. Lancaster County.
Recipient: Lancaster County
Location: Fletcher Avenue in Lancaster County
Amount Requested: $6.4 million
Amount Awarded: $4.4 million
Justification: This project grades and resurfaces 4.5 miles of road with heavy truck traffic in Lancaster County. Fletcher Avenue—which is currently surfaced with gravel—is the first road to the south of Waverly that directly links N 84th with N 148th. Lancaster County has acquired a substantial portion of the right-of-way along this corridor needed to conduct paving and widening of the street. It therefore presents an ideal candidate to be surfaced and provided an alternate access to the heavy traffic currently traveling through Waverly. The project will grade the vertical profile to meet the minimum requirements for the new character of road, widen the road to provide a more forgiving section for motorists, and provide a smoother, safer surface than gravel for both heavy trucks and commuter vehicles.
Project Title:Randolph Street Rehabilitation. City of Lincoln, Lancaster County.
Recipient: City of Lincoln
Location: Randolph Street in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Amount Requested: $3.6 million
Amount Awarded: $3 million
Justification: The Randolph Street corridor is a key corridor for central Lincoln commuters, connecting Lincoln High School and Randolph Elementary School, as well as serving two parks and a private elementary school. The average daily traffic on Randolph Street is 6,410 vehicles per day and is expected to increase to 7,300 vehicles per day by 2045. This volume of traffic can only be made possible by a rehabilitated Randolph Street. This project will improve the transportation network and providing safe, efficient, and reliable infrastructure.
Project Title:Paving 420th Road. Seward, Seward County
Recipient: Seward County Road Department
Location: 420th Road in Seward, Nebraska.
Amount Requested: $5.2 million
Amount Awarded: $3 million
Justification: The paving project from I-80 North to State Highway 34 completes a much-needed piece of infrastructure that is not only valuable to Seward County, but to the state of Nebraska. This paving project will benefit agricultural producers, business owners in the villages of Beaver Crossing and Utica, emergency personnel, public schools and the commuting public. This will assist the members of our communities by having safer access from their homes and businesses within Seward County and surrounding areas.