City earns grant to build new homes

On Friday, March 29th, the City of Imperial made a step towards progress and growth. Many were on hand for the groundbreaking at the future site of three new homes to be built by Plex Construction of Seward on the Cornerstone Development property. In attendance were representatives from the West Central Nebraska Development District, city staff and officials, Mayor Craig Loeffler, former Mayor Dwight Coleman, representatives from Pinnacle Bank, Nebraska Department of Development representative Ashley Rice-Gerlach, Senator Teresa Ibach—among many others.
Amber Kuskie, Executive Director of WCNDD, began the groundbreaking with some words about the Rural Workforce Housing program and her organization’s role in the program. Then Mayor Craig Loeffler spoke about the necessity of growing Imperial’s offerings when it comes to housing and the importance of attracting new families to the community. Senator Teresa Ibach was also on hand to speak about her work in rural Nebraska and her support of the Rural Workforce Housing program and other programs like it. She also shared her devotion to District 44 and the city of Imperial. Afterwards, stakeholders in the projects broke ground
This groundbreaking ceremony comes after over a year of work by city officials and the West Central Nebraska Development District to put together the application for the funds and find donors to match the grant that they hoped to receive from the Rural Workforce Housing Fund through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The WCNDD was award $1 million in Rural Workforce Housing funds with a $500,000 contribution from the City of Imperial. This is the first project by the WCNDD with Rural Workforce House funds.
The Rural Workforce Housing program is “focused on developing affordable and appealing housing in rural Nebraska to attract new families to the community.” Currently, 71% of houses in Imperial were built before 1979. There is also a lack of rentals and vacant properties for sale. The goal—for both the City of Imperial and the WCNDD—is to provide housing for families that would choose to settle in Imperial and contribute to the workforce and the community. Before applying for the grant, the city completed an updated housing survey. The previous one was around 10 years old and typically they are to be completed every five years. Around 220 surveys were completed, allowing the city and the WCNDD to get a better picture of the housing needs of Imperial. In addition to the survey, the city had several local businesses sponsor the project and provide a grant match for the NDED funds.
City Administrator Tyler Pribbeno says that construction on the homes is to bring right away with hopes to be finished by the end of the year. Once they are finished, they will be sold for no more than $325,000—a stipulation of the Rural Workforce Housing program. Pribbeno says that the city is also working on plans for the remaining funds.