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Council holds public hearing on $435,000 CDBG downtown revitalization grant and application process
Summary
City staff reported Norfolk was awarded $435,000 in CDBG downtown revitalization funds—primarily for façades and public improvements—and described application, matching, and extension procedures; staff said 14 applications were received and the city plans outreach to encourage further participation.
At a public hearing Feb. 2, city staff reviewed the status of the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (DTR grant 23‑DR‑00008) for downtown revitalization. Zach Fischer reported the city was awarded $435,000 for the project, of which staff said $310,000 is allocated to façade improvements, $90,000 to public improvements, $25,000 to grant administration and $10,000 to construction management. The city provided a required match of $332,500, staff said.
Fischer said 14 façade applications were submitted: eight projects are complete or in drawdown, two are currently under construction and four have backed away. He explained the program requires a 50/50 match—up to $25,000 per façade project—and that the city anticipates applying for an extension (staff said the current contract runs through May and an extension application could be submitted in mid‑March).
Council members and staff discussed outreach to downtown business owners to encourage applications. Staff said applications and program details are available on the city website under projects and described coordination with a downtown committee that approves façade awards. No one testified in opposition during the hearing; the council closed the hearing and returned to the regular agenda.
Why it matters: The grant subsidizes façade improvements and ADA public improvements in the downtown core and aims to leverage private matching funds to extend available dollars.
