Nebraska Flood Recovery Fund Makes Six Grants to Build More Resilient Communities

Nebraska Flood Recovery Fund, a fund established by the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation and Nebraska Community Foundation (www.nebcommfound.org) for the purpose of assisting Nebraskans impacted by the 2019 floods to rebuild their lives, has made grants to six communities and organizations for community development efforts that address flood recovery and building resiliency for the future.

All granting decisions are made by a volunteer Fund Advisory Committee composed of members located across the state with a variety of experience and expertise, from housing, to business and rural community development. Most recently, grants were awarded to the six following communities and non-profit organizations:

  • The City of St. Edward will receive up to $50,000 for the purpose of flood mitigation and informed future planning. Preliminary efforts will involve hiring a consulting firm to assess possible expansion to its residential area.
  • Heartland Disaster Recovery Group of Grand Island will receive $65,000 for the benefit of Hall and Howard Counties to coordinate recovery efforts and assist local families impacted by the floods.
  • Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity will receive $25,000 for its efforts to demolish and rebuild flood-damaged homes within its service area.
  • Midwest Housing Development Fund has been awarded $75,0000 to help establish a communication and collaboration network – known as the Midwest Housing Resource Network – to better respond to future flood events and other disasters.
  • The City of Winslow will receive $97,000, contingent on securing other matching funds, for the purpose of community relocation and increasing resiliency for future flood events.
  • The City of North Bend has been granted $62,000 to assist with street and levee repair.

The Rebuild the Heartland Community Fund, created by First National Bank of Omaha, and Nebraska Flood Recovery Fund, both affiliated funds of Nebraska Community Foundation, have been working closely through a joint pre-application process meant to streamline the grant application process and better respond to community requests. Following the floods of 2019, members of both Fund Advisory Committees have met regularly to ensure needs are being met across the state and funding is awarded to projects that address long-term recovery efforts.

Donations may be made to the Nebraska Flood Recovery Fund online at www.nebcommfound.org/give/nebraska-flood-recovery-fund or by calling (402) 323-7330.