Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The Sidney City Council gave their approval for guidelines related to the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund grant the City applied for.
The City applied for a $500,000 grant, with the City committing $100,000 of matching funds.
In August of 2021, the City completed an updated Housing Study. The housing study was done to assist in assessing community need and for future housing grants.
The Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) was established by the 1996 Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Act, adopted to address the state's affordable housing needs.
City Manager David Scott said the program requires guidelines to be adopted by the City. That way applicants are informed on the application process and requirements after receiving funds.
The State of Nebraska Economic Development Department acts as an investor and a partner in NAHTF projects, Scott told the council. Homes funded by the NAHTF will only be available to low and moderate income households.
Applicants will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Approval will be granted to the first applicant who submits a completed application and required documentation. Funds can assist with down payment, affordability gap, development gap and the hard costs to build a home.
After a home sells, the funds are recaptured by the City and be used to build an additional home, according to Scott. Homeowners will also be required to show the grant-funded home is their primary residence every year during the 10-year affordability period.
The council also renewed it's agreement with the Cheyenne County Community Center (CCCC). The City contracts with the CCCC to provide and manage indoor and outdoor recreational programs for the city. The approved agreement is to start October 1 and conclude Sept. 30, 2023. The cost of the agreement increased from $108,000 to $114,000 for the new contract. The compensation will be paid $9,500 monthly.
CCCC Director Mike Namuth said the agreement with the City has been very productive. He said Ray Davenport is the new sports director, replacing Curtis Hofrock who resigned in 2021.
Namuth was asked about the Wood Bat Tournament. Namuth said no teams have entered the tournament as of the May 24 meeting. He said there haven't been any calls from last year's teams either.
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