Civic and community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF)

The Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) is a competitive state-level grant administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) that provides financial assistance to Nebraska municipalities and tribal governments. The program is designed to support the planning and construction of civic, community, and recreation centers, as well as the rehabilitation or conversion of historic buildings. CCCFF operates on an annual cycle and is intended to enhance economic opportunity and improve the quality of life across Nebraska communities. It is funded through turnback taxes from arenas and convention centers and authorized by Nebraska Revised Statutes §§13-2701 to 13-2710 and implemented under Title 90, Chapter 1 of the Nebraska Administrative Code. The CCCFF supports two types of grants: planning and construction. Planning grants may fund engineering or technical studies needed to develop eligible projects. Construction grants may be used for new construction, renovation, or expansion of civic, community, or recreation facilities, including public spaces and eligible historic buildings or districts. Eligible facilities must be publicly accessible and located within the applicant’s boundaries or extraterritorial jurisdiction. CCCFF funds may not be used for programming, advertising, or staffing expenses and cannot cover more than 50% of total project costs. A minimum 1:1 local match is required, and at least 50% of the match must be in cash. Eligible applicants include most municipalities in Nebraska, including villages and rural cities, and tribal governments. However, the cities of Omaha and Lincoln are ineligible, as are any municipalities that have previously received funding under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act or from the Sports Arena Facility Financial Assistance Act. Projects involving shared ownership with political subdivisions must demonstrate at least 50% ownership by the municipality. In addition, projects that involve historic buildings require compliance documentation from the State Historic Preservation Office. The 2026 application cycle will follow the established schedule: pre-applications (letters of intent) are due by January 15, 2026, and full applications must be submitted by February 15, 2026. Awards will be announced by March 30, 2026, and contracts will span two years. The 2026 cycle will use Grant Maximum Schedule B, with ceilings based on the population of the applying municipality. For instance, applicants with a population under 10,000 may request up to $562,000 for construction. Planning grants range from $3,000 to $15,000. All applications must be submitted through AmpliFund, Nebraska’s grants management system, with support materials including user guides and a companion award management guide. Applications are reviewed and scored based on criteria such as retention and attraction of residents, visitor impact, fiscal and operational readiness, community support, and planning completeness. Construction applications may score up to 50 points, while planning applications are scored on a 10-point scale focused on financial support. Recipients must submit progress reports every six months and a final report with documentation to receive the second half of their grant award. Amendments to extend the contract term are possible but must be requested formally and approved before the original contract end date. The primary contact for questions is Susan Nickerson, the CCCFF Program Coordinator, who can be reached at susan.nickerson@nebraska.gov or 308-850-0595. Additional program guidance and all relevant forms are accessible via the CCCFF page on the Nebraska DED website. Final documentation, including the signed contract, disbursement forms, and progress reports, must be submitted through the AmpliFund system.

Emphasize local support and readiness. Historic projects need SHPO form. Follow formatting in GMS.