Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves expansion of downtown CDBG boundaries for 2024 revitalization program
Summary
The council unanimously approved a request to revise program guidelines and expand the geographic boundaries for Community Development Block Grant contract 284-DTR-004, which covers downtown revitalization tied to a $400,000 grant and local-match funding from the CRA.
The Hastings City Council voted 7-0 to approve a revision to program guidelines that expands the boundaries for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract 284-DTR-004, the downtown revitalization program funded by a $400,000 federal grant and a local match from the Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA).
Randy Chick, 520 West First Street, said the city received the grant in December 2024 and that the CRA provides the local match. “That was a $400,000 grant and then the CRA provides the local match,” Chick said. He described the request as a targeted expansion for the 2024 funding round and said the modified boundary map (in the meeting packet) extends the program north and east of the historic downtown core.
Chick noted the expanded area would remain focused on the commercial C2 downtown zoning district where possible and avoid tax-exempt properties and churches. He said large projects such as rehabilitation of the old middle school—estimated as a $15,000,000 project with roughly $900,000 for windows and doors alone—could become a “targeted project” if owners apply and the boundaries include those properties.
City staff and Chick explained HUD rules and state review apply: the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and HUD will review the map and guidelines, and projects must follow CDBG requirements such as compliance with Davis-Bacon wage rules. Chick said an in-progress renovation would likely face challenges qualifying, because the program requires documentation that workers were paid required wages and contractors must submit weekly payroll reports to South Central Economic Development District.
Councilmembers asked about why the map did not extend farther east to capture more businesses along Eastside Boulevard; Chick said most of that area is not zoned C2 and that the city can request broader boundaries if council wants. The council approved the guideline revisions and boundary expansion for the 2024 program; the motion passed 7-0.
