Beatrice getting another round of downtown redevelopment funding

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice apparently has scored more assistance from the State of Nebraska for downtown redevelopment.  "We were notified last week on Friday, that we received another downtown revitalization grant, for $435,000. SENDD helped us write this particular grant and will help us administer this one," said City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer.

The city works with the Southeast Nebraska Development District on grant administration.

Tempelmeyer says a committee will again examine pre-applications by businesses interested in tapping grant funds. Tempelmeyer says a contract is yet to be finalized with the state….and the new assistance program will likely get underway in the summer of 2024.  The city has received several rounds of grant funding, helping to cover a share of business cost for improving downtown properties.

Meanwhile, the Nebraska Department of Transportation has informed the City of Beatrice that when bridges are rebuilt west of the city, they can include an attached recreational trail connecting with a national park.  Tempelmeyer says that approval would prevent having to build separate bridge and trail crossings over streams.

The state of Nebraska is proposing bridge replacement between Beatrice and the Homestead National Historical Park.

Federal grant funds have been approved for the trail which would connect Riverside Park in west Beatrice with the Heritage Center at the Homestead National Historical Park, four miles west of the city.  A final design has not been approved.