The Heartland Expressway has not been included in the State of Nebraska's TIGER Discretionary Grants Program request. PADD staff worked with other organizations to make a request to the NDOR to consider the Heartland Expressway for funding through TIGER.
According to the Omaha World Herald, state officals are requesting TIGER funding for five Nebraska projects. The Heartland Expressway was not included "..... because planning for it is behind the other projects."
The full article can be viewed at: http://www.omaha.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/706259857/1009
The TIGER Discretionary Progam is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus funds). The program provides $1.5 billion of discretionary grant funds for projects of metropolitan, regional, or national significance.
For details on the TIGER program visit: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14262.pdf
Thursday, June 25, 2009
PADD Presents Incubator Vision to Development Network
PADD Entrepreneurship Coordinator Chuck Karpf gave a presentation about the planned PADD/City of Gering business incubator to the Western Nebraska Development Network meeting at WNCC’s Sidney Campus yesterday. Mr. Karpf stated the incubator will provide space for businesses to take advantage of mentoring programs, meeting spaces, classrooms, and technology provided by the incubator.
Mr. Karpf also stated the inucubator will encompass a wide variety of programs including a youth incubator area as well as kitchen incubator space. He also discussed the ongoing entrepreneurship endeavors at PADD including working with High Schools to encourage entrepreneurship development.
PADD is also in discussions with Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska to determine how these agencies can work together to benefit the low and moderate income clients of CAPWN who want to start their own businesses.
Mr. Karpf also stated the inucubator will encompass a wide variety of programs including a youth incubator area as well as kitchen incubator space. He also discussed the ongoing entrepreneurship endeavors at PADD including working with High Schools to encourage entrepreneurship development.
PADD is also in discussions with Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska to determine how these agencies can work together to benefit the low and moderate income clients of CAPWN who want to start their own businesses.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
House T&I Transportation Vision Presented
The US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) released his blueprint for the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill last Thursday. (links to these documents are at the end of this post)
The future progress of important Panhandle projects such as highway maintenance, railroad overpasses, and the Heartland Expressway will be largely influenced by this bill.
The House T&I highway and transit subcommittee is tentatively scheduled to markup the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization blueprint today. The committee print will only include programmatic and policy changes, without funding formulas, specific funding details and project earmarks. A full committee markup is expected before the end of July.
Where this will lead is higly uncertain as US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week announced the administration’s recommendation for an 18-month program extension. This is being supported by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Given the funding challenges, an extension of some sort is highly likely. The Economist magazine published an article titled "Delays Ahead." It can be viewed at http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13871995
Some interesting points made by the referenced Economist article:
- "The trouble with a bold $500 billion plan is that it requires $500 billion. The Highway Trust Fund provides federal money for transport. It will be broke by late August."
- "Washington's main transportation strategy has been not to have one....an integrated system for planning, one that includes passenger rail, freight, highways and mass transport, does not exist"
- "...The transport secretary (Sec Lahood) says he would send more money to metropolitan areas and use cost-benefit analyses to guide investment."
- "There may be a new vision for transport, but it will never progress until someone is willing to pay for it."
To view the 3 main documents released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visit, courtesy of NADO, the following links:
Executive Summary:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/executive.pdf
Complete Program Consolidation and Reoganization Plan:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/compiled.pdf
Working Outline:
www.nado.org/legaffair/blueprint.pdf
The future progress of important Panhandle projects such as highway maintenance, railroad overpasses, and the Heartland Expressway will be largely influenced by this bill.
The House T&I highway and transit subcommittee is tentatively scheduled to markup the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization blueprint today. The committee print will only include programmatic and policy changes, without funding formulas, specific funding details and project earmarks. A full committee markup is expected before the end of July.
Where this will lead is higly uncertain as US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week announced the administration’s recommendation for an 18-month program extension. This is being supported by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Given the funding challenges, an extension of some sort is highly likely. The Economist magazine published an article titled "Delays Ahead." It can be viewed at http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13871995
Some interesting points made by the referenced Economist article:
- "The trouble with a bold $500 billion plan is that it requires $500 billion. The Highway Trust Fund provides federal money for transport. It will be broke by late August."
- "Washington's main transportation strategy has been not to have one....an integrated system for planning, one that includes passenger rail, freight, highways and mass transport, does not exist"
- "...The transport secretary (Sec Lahood) says he would send more money to metropolitan areas and use cost-benefit analyses to guide investment."
- "There may be a new vision for transport, but it will never progress until someone is willing to pay for it."
To view the 3 main documents released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visit, courtesy of NADO, the following links:
Executive Summary:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/executive.pdf
Complete Program Consolidation and Reoganization Plan:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/compiled.pdf
Working Outline:
www.nado.org/legaffair/blueprint.pdf
PADD Receives EDA Grant
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded PADD with a $64,840 planning grant. The funds will be used toward implementing the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, assisting with grant writing, performing environmental reviews, and other general economic development activities.
PADD will match this grant with $43,227 it receives in local dues.
The regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy can be viewed at http://www.nepadd.com/.
PADD will match this grant with $43,227 it receives in local dues.
The regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy can be viewed at http://www.nepadd.com/.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gering and Scottsbluff Receive Demolition Funds
Scottsbluff and Gering have received funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to undertake two separate demolition projects in each city.
In Gering, a major portion of the funding will be used to demolish the former Health and Human Services building, located at the corner of 11th and N Street. The bulk of the funding awarded to Scottsbluff will be used to demolish the Hergert Milling facility.
PADD will handle the general administration for the Gering project.
In Gering, a major portion of the funding will be used to demolish the former Health and Human Services building, located at the corner of 11th and N Street. The bulk of the funding awarded to Scottsbluff will be used to demolish the Hergert Milling facility.
PADD will handle the general administration for the Gering project.
PADD Receives Housing Rehab Funds
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded PADD with $100,000 in Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) money to establish a regional owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program serving Scotts Bluff, Box Butte and Morrill counties. (In order to not duplicate other programs, the City of Scottsbluff, which has their own housing rehab program, is not included in this funding.)
For persons interested in applying for housing rehab assistance, please contact Jeff Kelley at 308-436-6584, or email him at jeffk1@charterinternet.com
For persons interested in applying for housing rehab assistance, please contact Jeff Kelley at 308-436-6584, or email him at jeffk1@charterinternet.com
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