Fourth round of funding to Beatrice, for downtown revitalization

The City of Beatrice is receiving another round of state grant funding to help eliminate blight and develop the downtown area.
The city council Monday night approved a resolution accepting the grant of $435,000…..a fourth grant that will be used in a similar fashion as past awards. Businesses that want to make eligible improvements pitch in a share of private support to combine with the state funds.

"In this particular grant, we had 29 pre-applications. Eligible improvements this time around are brick and masonry repairs and restorations...exterior wall repairs, facades...entryway, window repairs and that kind of stuff. ADA compliance is always on there...life safety, so fire code...those types of items were eligible for this go-around. I assume we'll handle them like we have in the past. We'll have a committee start looking at the pre-applications and get some more information on those. Then, ultimately bring those to this body for approval," City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development grant is an extension to a 2016 downtown revitalization program that has resulted in the improvement of several store fronts in the business district.

Tempelmeyer says the grant provides money for administration and a contract with the Southeast Nebraska Development District will be brought to elected officials, soon.