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Housing Study Grant Program
Program Description
Purpose:
The Housing Study Grant Program will be used to stimulate ideas for comprehensive development plans encompassing housing, community, and economic development opportunities in Nebraska.
Applicant Eligibility:
Eligible applicants include any housing or economic development entity, profit or non-profit, without direct access to property tax revenue streams.
Application Components and Review Criteria
The Study Area must be for a specific geographic area, and may include a neighborhood, region or county. Eligible projects may be a new study or a continuation of a previously-funded study. The study must also address the following issues:
1. The housing needs of the selected area must be evaluated and future potential projects must be identified. A portion of the final study recommendations should be eligible for NIFA financing
2. The study must include a public planning process and encourage citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of their community.
3. Coordination with and participation of the local municipality and other stakeholders in the community must be evident.
4. The study must include recommendations for, at a minimum, one of the following: future land use planning, community facilities, transportation needs, and or employment opportunities.
5. The application must include a detailed timeline for the completion of the study. The study should include a workable timeline for the implementation of the proposed recommendations.
6. The application must include a detailed budget. All professional services to be obtained in the conduct of the study must be identified (or the selection process to be used).
Each application will be reviewed and evaluated under the following general criteria:
- Project location must be within boundaries of incorporated town or village and be consistent with and contained within an area’s planning and zoning regulations.
- Demographics, housing stock quality, project size, and community design characteristics must be elements considered in the study.
- Project must have support, and preferably partial funding, from the local governing jurisdiction.
Additional Supporting Documentation:
- Written evidence of commitment and source for matching cash funds.
- Independent letters of support from the governing jurisdiction and community organizations written expressly to support the project application.
- Applicant’s most recent annual financial report.
- A detailed description of the applicant’s track record in community or housing development. Include a professional resume of any third party service providers participating in the study.
Funding Amount:
NIFA anticipates having up to $120,000 in funds available annually.
- The maximum grant award is $60,000 per project. There is no minimum.
- Applicant will be required to provide a minimum of 50% of the total project cost in cash matching funds.
- Projects are expected to be completed within an 18-month period following acceptance by grantee of a NIFA letter agreement.
Other Considerations:
NIFA reserves the right to modify or withdraw the housing study grant program and may exercise such right at any time and without notice and without liability to any applicant or other parties for their expenses incurred in the preparation of a proposal or otherwise.
NIFA reserves the right to reject any applications that do not correspond with NIFA's current housing priorities as approved by the Executive Director.
NIFA Contact:
Elizabeth Fimbres
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1230 'O' Street