Economic Recovery Act

[Coyote]

Nebraska legislative team drills down into details of spending $335 million in North, South Omaha
Funding, mostly federal, aims for ‘transformational’ change in areas hardest hit by pandemic

After hearing highlights from meetings held earlier this week with North and South Omaha leaders, a special legislative committee on Thursday moved closer to resolving a $335 million question. That is: How best can the panel identify projects that will spark wealth-building, well-paying jobs and generational change in the poorest areas of Nebraska? The committee, led by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, is tasked with defining specifically how to invest the $335 million that Nebraska lawmakers earmarked earlier this year to North and South Omaha and other communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Pete Ricketts and others have described the so-called Economic Recovery Act as historic landmark legislation that would likely focus on efforts such as business parks, job training and creation, loan programs and affordable housing. With such big expectations should come much community discussion and buy-in, said Wayne, co-sponsor of Legislative Bill 1024 and chair of the seven-lawmaker committee overseeing the allocation process. “We want to be overly transparent,” he said. “Any time we get new data points, we’ll share.” So on Thursday, the committee and representatives from engineering and design consulting firm Olsson met with community leaders at the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus to share results of four “stakeholder” meetings held earlier this week in North and South Omaha.

[ita]

Based on the article, it seems like a site has already been identified for the North Omaha business park they plan to use $60 million of the funds. It mentions a former landfill. Where would that be in North Omaha?

[Coyote]

Based on the article, it seems like a site has already been identified for the North Omaha business park they plan to use $60 million of the funds. It mentions a former landfill. Where would that be in North Omaha?

All that I know is: “Already designated in the $335 million package is a $60 million North Omaha business park near the airport and about $20 million for affordable housing.” But I don’t where this business park is on North Omaha. Have you found where it is?

[ita]

Special committee invites Omaha residents to meeting on revitalizing city

Omaha residents are invited to the discussion on how to spend millions of dollars designated to improve their neighborhoods.

A special committee wants input on how to spend $335 million to help north and south Omaha and other areas disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

From North 16th Street you can see a bit of the Omaha skyline. Lots of growth and development going on just a few blocks away, not so much along North 16th with empty storefronts and barred windows.
...
State Senator Justin Wayne says progress is being made and they’re developing an airport business park to bring jobs to the area and its working.

“We have a group of contractors that are coming together to create an association they’re actually looking for a building so they can start expanding. We have Pacific Engineering which is a federal contractor that’s coming here to Omaha, we just recruited another business hopefully we’ll announce here in the next two weeks,” said Wayne.
...
Here are the Economic Recovery Special Committee’s four meetings:

Monday, September 19: Metropolitan Community College — South Omaha Campus, Center for Advanced Manufacturing (cam), Room 120 at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, September 20: Metropolitan Community College — South Omaha Campus, Center for Advanced Manufacturing (cam), Room 120 at 5 p.m.
Wednesday, September 21: Omaha Public Schools — Teacher Administration Center (TAC), Auditorium at 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 22: Metropolitan Community College — Fort Omaha Campus, Swanson Conference Center (Building 22), Room 201 at 11 a.m.

[Coyote]

Economic Recovery Special Committee to hear ideas on how to spend the $335 million in recovery funds

[Coyote]

A pro baseball team and Q Street revival are among ideas for South, North Omaha grants
Public hearings continue on how to use $335 million in Nebraska Economic Recovery Act

Ideas to bring long-term economic vitality to South and North Omaha streamed in Monday as a series of public meetings kicked off on how to spend millions in federal recovery funds. Proposals ranged from funding a professional baseball team to replacing leaded water pipes in poor households to a multimillion-dollar revamp around the Q Street business corridor. An estimated 75 people attended the hearing before a special legislative committee at the Metropolitan Community College’s south campus. About a dozen people spoke, each for an allotted three minutes.


a’Ron Burns, a senior at Central High, School, represents a family corporation seeking $10.5 million. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

‘Transformational’ wanted

While lawmakers presiding over the hearing said they wanted “transformational” initiatives, they also welcomed smaller thoughts that could wind up combined with others. Their overall objective: to identify a slate of projects that best creates good-paying jobs and lasting economic growth in the targeted areas. Certain guidelines accompany the $335 million that comes largely from the state’s allocation of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, including that they be spent by 2026. “We’re looking for big ideas, things that can fundamentally change east Omaha,” said State Sen. Justin Wayne. Wayne, State Sen. Terrell McKinney and State Sen. Tony Vargas are key architects of the Economic Recovery Act, which passed earlier this year as Legislative Bill 1024 and provides the $335 million to rejuvenate South and North Omaha and other low-income communities disproportionately hurt by COVID-19.

Teen entrepreneur speaks

A portion of the funds already has been earmarked for certain projects, such as a $60 million North Omaha business park by the airport, but the majority is to be determined by the seven-lawmaker committee. Other members are Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha and Sens. Mike Hilgers, Anna Wishart and Brett Lindstrom of Lincoln.

Among proposals heard Monday::
- A coalition of organizations along or near South Omaha’s Q Street spine is seeking about $110 million for a multi-faceted revamp of their neighborhood. Canopy South’s Cesar Garcia said the money would help fund housing, early childhood education and other nonprofit facilities. Other partners include OneWorld Community Health Centers, Girls Inc., the Simple Foundation, Midwest Maintenance and Latino Center of the Midlands.
- Another coalition representing the South 24th Street business district seeks about $35 million for projects to improve the historic commercial strip. Spokeswoman Itzel Lopez said that includes a community resource center, a parking structure, housing and improvements to turn la Plaza de la Raza into a true gathering space.
- The Metropolitan Utilities District seeks $30 million to replace lead service lines that disproportionately affect low-income households, said the public utility’s attorney, Rick Kubat. He said the financial burden and breadth of the problem is much more, but that is the amount the utility figures can be tackled by the 2026 deadline. He said the new hires needed for the project would spur economic development.
- Rick Fulton proposed that Omaha bring a professional baseball team to the urban core, creating activity and jobs.
- Speaking for the Burns Family Corp., 17-year-old entrepreneur a’Ron Burns requested $10.5 million to expand upon its Roll-N-Sweetz ice cream business in North Omaha. As part of its plan, the group hopes to buy and rehab an abandoned building, hire more workers and grow into stores, catering, kiosks and ice cream trucks.

Website offers more info

Monday’s public hearing, which followed earlier meetings with business and agency leaders, was the first of four to be held this week. Financial and other experts were on hand also to offer applicants technical assistance.


A special legislative committee hears public testimony in South Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

While community members were invited to present ideas, they were told that proposals must be formally received before Oct. 10 via a special online portal. A website also has been established detailing the process. The legislative committee, assisted by the Omaha-based Olsson consulting team, aims to select its recommended projects by December. A final coordination plan is to be reviewed by the Legislature in 2023.

[ita]

Did someone say pro sports team? Haha, nice.

This is some shark tank stuff. I actually really like the lead pipe replacement suggestion though. I think creating a perpetual fund for entrepreneurs versus non-profits, who already have many avenues to funding, would be nice. No or low interest loans or grants to help people in North or South O to start or grow businesses would be nice. Provide angel investing even. I don't know. Are there any skill based training missing at MCC? Maybe start new programs there in connection to alternative/sustainable energy? Agtech program? Funding to complete the Beltline and North Omaha trail and provide seed money for developing mixed-income residential along the trails? Dedicated money help pay for connecting North and South Omaha via ORBT expansion. Heck, pay for a streetcar extension on 24th.

[Garrett]

Ah yes, surely paying for a pro sports team will really help the economically disadvantaged.

[Coyote]

North and South Omaha await big decisions on $355 million
Various projects await approval.

Four public hearings aimed at spending $355 million to transform Omaha’s inner city and other economically struggling parts of Nebraska are in the books. The Economic Recovery Act passed the Legislature 45-to-one but some argue the hard part is just beginning. For years, and years, folks in North Omaha have insisted that when it comes ending decades of poverty, money from the state is hard if not impossible to come by. Now both North and South Omaha are at the front of the line to get their hands on that $355 million. Those after the massive handout, largely targeting those hard-hit by the pandemic, range from big operations to those not as big.

28 Kenny McMorris, Charles Drew Health Center: We have a tremendous opportunity here to swing for the fences and what we're proposing is a project between $20 and 25 million to expand health access, health equity and workforce.

40 Marcey Yates, Culxr House: And we'll be seeking funds to purchase the two properties that we currently lease right now. One we are operating out of and the other we have plans to develop a pizza shop. We're looking for $850,000 to a million. Those $355 million were approved by the Legislature and signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Pete Ricketts; $250 million comes from the federal government’s Covid cash pile, officially known as the American Rescue Plan. The remaining $85 million is from the state. The next key step comes in December when specific projects are given the initial go-ahead before the Legislature gives final approval next year.

North and South Omaha await big decisions on $355 million

[Coyote]

North Omaha lawmakers want more money for Economic Recovery Act

[Coyote]

Lawmakers to hear public views on how to disburse millions of dollars in North and South Omaha
Money was approved last year, but specifics on grant recipients still to be hammered out

The jostling over hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds approved last year for North and South Omaha will pick up in the Legislature again this week. Public hearings are scheduled Tuesday and Thursday before two different legislative committees and are expected to set off more debate over how the money is parceled out. Representatives of several nonprofits say they are somewhat baffled over the process, believing that roughly six months of work that had been done recently by a state-hired consultant had set the course. That consulting team, led by the Olsson firm, was under contract to be paid $1.7 million in public funds to host community meetings, provide technical assistance, analyze and score hundreds of applications and ideas submitted for economic development projects in North and South Omaha.
The team in January recommended that a slate of 35 groups or coalitions be awarded portions of $225 million from the overall $335 million Economic Recovery Act approved last year. About $125 million of the $225 million was recommended to go to building projects, employment-related and other initiatives proposed by North Omaha groups; the remaining $100 million was recommended for ventures aimed at building up South Omaha.

Also known as Legislative Bill 1024, the Economic Recovery Act was funded largely through the federal COVID-19-related American Rescue Plan Act. While the act was adopted last year, the distribution of funds to particular groups to carry out the initiatives had yet to be hammered out. But Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, a member of a special legislative committee overseeing the North-South grant process, and Anthony Goins, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, which later is to play a key role, said the Olsson recommendations were just that: recommendations. To what extent the Olsson recommendations might be followed remain uncertain, as amendments to pertinent bills were still being refined Sunday. Even then, some changes and additions to the lineup of grantees are expected to occur as a bill makes its way through the legislative process and, later, through a more formal application process governed by the DED, said McKinney and Goins.

New elements

McKinney said members of the special committee received a lot of feedback from people upset, for example, that an application for a Malcolm X memorial project was not among the Olsson recommendations for a grant. He said an amendment would direct $20 million toward the museum. In addition, there will be a new recommendation of $20 million for qualified health centers. Also, $15 million would go to fund a program manager to monitor projects as they are implemented. McKinney said he, and likely other lawmakers, will be requesting more funding from the Legislature that could do even more to advance economic development in North and South Omaha.

He said the amendments better defining a proposed disbursement plan should be ready in time for a public hearing on Legislative Bill 531, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday before the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. A public hearing on Legislative Bill 785, also introduced by McKinney, is to be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. before the Appropriations Committee. Both pertain to the North and South Omaha grants. McKinney said the strategy was to ensure that at least one of the measures advances from committee for debate by the full Legislature.

[ita]

NE legislative effort to re-energize North and South Omaha hits milestone

Cindy Gonzalez
It’s been about 18 months since a pair of Nebraska lawmakers launched an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar plan to essentially reset historically neglected North Omaha neighborhoods they represent.

South Omaha eventually was included in what the Legislature last year adopted as the $335 million Economic Recovery Act to boost the state’s most disadvantaged and pandemic-impacted areas.

State Senators Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne are shown speaking on the floor of the Legislature on two different days in a photo composite. The pair has criticized "zero-sum games" by some in the Legislature.
State Sens. Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne, who introduced the original Economic Recovery Act proposal. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)
Still, certain details had to be hammered out — namely the selection of South and North Omaha ventures that would be awarded the bulk of that public funding to carry out economic growth goals.

On Thursday, the last day of its 2023 session, the Nebraska Legislature tied a bow on an updated plan governing future delivery of $225 million in grant money approved last year.

Some funding from the original act already has been disbursed, and lawmakers this year switched some funding sources because of looming deadlines. But when fully implemented, officials say roughly $400 million will have been invested into North and South Omaha as a result of the past two years of work.
...
Among highlights of the package:

The $60 million earmarked in the original legislation for a new business park near Omaha’s airport expands to $90 million.
Up to $20 million is to go to help build the Malcolm X museum; another $20 million is for the Omaha community health centers, and up to $16 million is to be available to help develop the Standing Bear visitor center.

[Coyote]

$12 million land purchase by City of Omaha tied to planned North Omaha business park
The sprawling property has had environmental concerns

OMAHA — Nebraska’s largest city is preparing to pay $12 million for a tract of land that would help fulfill a long-running effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. A proposed purchase agreement for 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, on this week’s Omaha City Council agenda, offers scant detail about the purpose other than that it is for future economic development opportunities. The proposal states that the property also would be used for “new street infrastructure” and “right of way.”

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said at least one key reason behind the deal is a future business park that — once built out and filled with manufacturers, distributors and other employers — is envisioned to bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most economically disadvantaged and employment-deprived areas of the state.

[ita]

$12 million land purchase by City of Omaha tied to planned North Omaha business park
The sprawling property has had environmental concerns

OMAHA — Nebraska’s largest city is preparing to pay $12 million for a tract of land that would help fulfill a long-running effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. A proposed purchase agreement for 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, on this week’s Omaha City Council agenda, offers scant detail about the purpose other than that it is for future economic development opportunities. The proposal states that the property also would be used for “new street infrastructure” and “right of way.”

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said at least one key reason behind the deal is a future business park that — once built out and filled with manufacturers, distributors and other employers — is envisioned to bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most economically disadvantaged and employment-deprived areas of the state.

So, have the current owners already completed the remediation process or at least some of it?

According to Omaha World-Herald reports, the city in 2014, under the Stothert administration, backed out of that $1.9 million purchase agreement after projected costs of environmental cleanup and infrastructure demands surfaced.

The reported price tag of roughly $18 million for environmental remediation was beyond the $8.6 million the city had projected to spend on total redevelopment.

[Louie]

$12 million land purchase by City of Omaha tied to planned North Omaha business park
The sprawling property has had environmental concerns

OMAHA — Nebraska’s largest city is preparing to pay $12 million for a tract of land that would help fulfill a long-running effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. A proposed purchase agreement for 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, on this week’s Omaha City Council agenda, offers scant detail about the purpose other than that it is for future economic development opportunities. The proposal states that the property also would be used for “new street infrastructure” and “right of way.”

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said at least one key reason behind the deal is a future business park that — once built out and filled with manufacturers, distributors and other employers — is envisioned to bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most economically disadvantaged and employment-deprived areas of the state.

So, have the current owners already completed the remediation process or at least some of it?

According to Omaha World-Herald reports, the city in 2014, under the Stothert administration, backed out of that $1.9 million purchase agreement after projected costs of environmental cleanup and infrastructure demands surfaced.

The reported price tag of roughly $18 million for environmental remediation was beyond the $8.6 million the city had projected to spend on total redevelopment.

Certainly hope so if the price went up by 9x

[Coyote]

Gov. Jim Pillen, officials, announce North and South Omaha Economic Recovery Grants



Gov. Jim Pillen, Mayor Jean Stothert, and officials announced Economic Recovery Grants during press conferences in North and South Omaha, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

[Renovator2559]

Looks like Governor Pillen is listening to how critical it is to invest in Omaha; particularity in North and South Omaha. Which are areas that have been neglected. Investing in the future of both South and North Omaha, ensures that minorities are inspired to seek a bright future and in turn indirectly diminishes hopelessness and crime. These two communities are on the path of becoming much more vibrant than before.

The 3 recipients that earned the grants, made compelling speeches; they look like fine businesses doing great for the community.

As for city council woman Juanita Johnson, she just needs to fine tune her delivery... It's truly a moment of unity and celebration.

Mayor Jean Stothert and Gov Pillen sure make a great duo.

[Renovator2559]

Despite all the funds that North Omaha is receiving. The feud between Juanita Johnson and the mayor intensifies. This shouldn't happen after a historic announcement for North Omaha.

Juanita Johnson called another city employee "a smart [expletive]" in public, leading to the employee leaving the meeting.

Juanita Johnson was the only council person that voted against the street car FYI

It's almost as if Juanita Johnson is voting against the interests of her community and making it look bad.

This article says that's North Omaha loses with unnecessary feuds.

https://flatwaterfreepress.org/north-om ... cates-say/