CBDG Public Works - Infrastructure

The 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Works – Infrastructure opportunity, offered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), is designed to support infrastructure investments that improve the quality of life for residents in Nebraska communities. This funding is aligned with the mission of the federal CDBG program, which seeks to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities—primarily for low-and-moderate-income individuals. The Nebraska DED oversees the administration of these funds at the state level, ensuring projects meet both federal compliance and state-specific development goals. This opportunity targets infrastructure projects that are residential in character and directly benefit low-to-moderate income (LMI) persons, in accordance with federal regulations at 24 CFR §570.483(b)(1)(i). All proposals must fulfill this LMI national objective, specifically through subcategories such as LMI Area Benefit or LMI Limited Clientele. Funding must be used for meaningful infrastructure improvements, particularly in areas with concentrated lower-income populations. The eligible scope includes water and wastewater systems, with a focus on addressing existing problems and supporting revitalization of distressed communities or neighborhoods. The grant supports improvements to publicly owned systems, including water source treatment, storage, distribution, and sanitary sewer collection or treatment. Clearance activities related to these improvements may also be supported. However, the grant does not support applications submitted solely to reduce user fees or address potential cost overruns when other funding sources are already committed. This ensures that awarded funds are used to solve critical infrastructure issues with lasting community impact. Applications for the 2025 funding cycle are being accepted between July 1, 2025, and September 15, 2025, with a final submission deadline at 11:59 PM CDT. Multiple applications are allowed per applicant entity. Although no specific pre-application deadlines or stages such as letters of intent are mentioned, applicants are encouraged to review the full CDBG guidelines provided by the state. Program resources, including application templates and user guides, are available via the Nebraska Opportunity Portal. To ensure accessibility, the program provides relay support for individuals who are hearing or speech impaired, and inquiries may be directed to the designated Opportunity Manager, Nicole Bartels. She can be reached at (402) 314-5852 or Nicole.Bartels@nebraska.gov. All interested applicants should review the application instructions, eligibility requirements, and program expectations in advance to prepare a competitive proposal. Evaluation will prioritize projects that demonstrate a clear need and provide substantial benefits to LMI populations through infrastructure development. The minimum award per application is $250,000, and the maximum award ceiling is $630,000. A matching contribution is required, though the specific match amount is not disclosed and must be verified with the agency. While the total available program funding and number of awards are not stated, the strategic intent and funding limits imply that resources are competitive and should be targeted for high-need, high-impact initiatives.