The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $10 million to 11 recipients through the Rural Community Recovery Program (RCRP). The Nebraska Legislature authorized this one-time program through LB 1412 in 2023. RCRP is funded with Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The city of Wayne is among the recipients of a portion of these funds. The city will receive $1,370,000 to be used for public park renovations. It will be used to complete a portion of the work at Prairie Park in the southeast portion of Wayne.
All RCRP funds are being awarded to applicants with projects located in communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The awards will support the rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of vacant or abandoned property.
Rural communities across Nebraska have a profound need for new and improved public amenities and affordable housing. RCRP is proof of this need, as DED received 60 letters of intent to apply and 49 full applications through RCRP. Applicants requested more than $43 million for an array of well-considered projects, resulting in an especially competitive evaluation process.
