Senators consider allowing Site & Building Fund eligibility for Nebraska PGA urban golf park to expand veteran and youth programs

Senator Brad Von Gillern told the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee that LB 9 53 would expand the types of projects eligible for the Site and Building Development Fund to include a proposed Nebraska PGA urban golf park and PGA Reach campus in Omaha.

City and PGA witnesses said the planned campus is designed as a public park with year‑round accessibility, youth development programs, and PGA Hope programming for veterans. "This is a highly visible public facing facility that will stand as a benchmark for inclusive golf programming and design in the region," Marco Floriani, deputy chief of staff for Economic Development for the City of Omaha, told the committee.

PGA and veterans advocates described programmatic benefits. Amber Bogle, director of foundation programs for the Nebraska PGA, said PGA Hope provides social connection and mental‑health benefits to veterans and that a dedicated campus would expand access statewide. Several PGA professionals and youth participants testified in support, describing how instruction and year‑round facilities foster confidence and community.

The bill does not appropriate state dollars; sponsors and proponents stressed guardrails including local commitments, private fundraising thresholds, demonstrated programming for veterans and youth, and the requirement that state participation would be "last dollar in." Committee members asked about site specifics, public uses, environmental considerations (wetlands and Papio Creek proximity), and the amount of local land and public improvements proposed as leverage.

Supporters argued the campus would complement economic development and recreation goals and could attract regional visitors; opponents in the record were limited. The committee heard a mixture of city, PGA and nonprofit testimony but recorded no formal committee vote in the transcript.