City Square grant comes through; Imperial nets $562,000 for project

    It couldn’t have been more timely.
    On Monday, 5th and 6th graders at Chase County Schools presented a $700 check to the city to support its City Square development project.
    The donation came just three days after city officials learned Imperial received the $562,000 NE Department of Economic Development grant they’d been hoping for.
    Tyler Pribbeno, City Administrator/Community Development Director, said he was hopeful of getting the grant funds because he felt a very good application was submitted with assistance from West Central Nebraska Development District.
    “I was surprised and excited,” he said this week.
    He believes the 220 responses people provided at meetings and via an online survey in the past year helped in getting the grant money.
    “That was a plus. It showed that it is a community-supported project and it very much is,” he said.
    He said WCNDD staff in Ogallala was also ecstatic when he called them with the news Friday.
    Leading up to the actual grant application, Imperial also received a $14,000 matching grant that helped provide a feasibility study and plans for the development.
    The $1.6 million project entails development of the entire block between 7th and 8th Streets along Broadway where the city offices sit.
    The feasibility study shows plans for patio seating with a shade structure, a Kids’ Zone playground area, fire pit with seating, raised bandstand, a car canopy with electric vehicle chargers, an entry sign facing Broadway, restrooms and a portable ice rink.
    Extensive landscaping and a new parking lot surface are also included.
    The grant funds come from the state’s Civic and Community Center Financing Fund, which builds from a turn-back of 30% of state sales tax generated by arenas in some of Nebraska’s larger cities and nearby retailers.
    The $562,000 grant Imperial received is the maximum allowed for cities under 10,000 population, Pribbeno said.
    It also requires a local match of $562,000.
    At this time, the city plans to use the following for its match:
    $350,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds (unspent COVID money)
    $100,000 In-kind donations (city and volunteer labor, etc.)
    $50,000 City sales tax fund (community development)
    $62,000 City utility funds
    If the city proceeds with all of the development in the plans, Pribbeno said more will need to be raised locally.
    Work can be done in phases, he said.
    Mayor Craig Loeffler said he’d like a committee to be formed to include community and council members to determine the final project details.
    Pribbeno said if anyone is interested in serving on the committee to call the city office, 308-882-4368.
    Pribbeno  noted Friday’s news of the grant award also came on former Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland’s last day.
    He printed off a copy of the award letter and dropped it on her desk.
    “I told her happy retirement,” he said.
Student donation
    Sixth grader Bennett Kuenning read a statement on how the grade 5-6 students raised the funds for their $700 donation.
    A cake/gift basket raffle was held Feb. 3 and the classes raised just over $2,700, he said.
    The classes brainstormed, voted and came up with all local donations.
    In addition to the $700 to the city, funds also went to purchasing a picnic table, 11 new puzzles for Imperial Manor residents and breakfast items for their fellow 5th graders who sang at the State Capitol last month.
    Kuenning told the mayor and council they had a similar fundraiser last year.
    Those proceeds purchased book bags filled with books and school supplies for a Colorado school that fell victim to a major fire in December 2021.
    “This year, we decided we wanted to keep it local,” he said.

Capital construction
CCCFF grant recipients

    City of Imperial: $562,000, City Square Improvements
    City of Bassett: $562,000, Rock County Community Center
    City of Blair: $229,026.55, Generations Park
    City of Gibbon: $150,000, Community Center Renovation
    City of McCook: $562,000, Park and Recreational Improvements
    City of Waverly: $562,000, New Waverly Aquatic Center
    City of Wayne: $562,000 Prairie Park
    City of Wood River: $562,000, Legacy Station
    Village of Bruning: $215,341.50, Playground Equipment and Renovation
    Village of Pickrell: $165,000, Community Center