Unicameral approves transfer of ARPA funds to general budget

The approval of LB 531 approves the transfer of ARPA funds to the general budget. Now the Department of Economic Development will distribute funds sent aside for north and south Omaha projects in the form of grants.

The approval of LB 531 approves the transfer of ARPA funds to the general budget. Now the Department of Economic Development will distribute funds sent aside for north and south Omaha projects in the form of grants.

KETV, NEWSWATCH SEVEN, NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS PASSED ANOTHER CRITICAL BILL, WHICH PAVES THE WAY FOR A MAJOR INVESTMENT INTO PARTS OF OMAHA THAT WERE HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC. KETV. NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S JESSICA PEREZ IS LIVE. JESSICA. SENATOR TONY VARGAS SAYS NEARLY $400 MILLION WILL BE INVESTED IN EASTERN OMAHA. ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO GET THESE FUNDS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS CALL IT A HUGE VICTORY THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA SENATOR TONY VARGAS SAYS IT’S BEEN A LONG ROAD. BUT NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA ORGANIZATIONS WILL SOON HAVE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB GROWTH. LAWMAKERS PASSED. 531 THURSDAY, ALLOWING THE TRANSFER OF ARPA FUNDS INTO THE STATE’S GENERAL FUND. THIS REPRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE SUPPORTING THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE STATE HAS TO USE THE MONEY OR LOSE IT. NOW IT’LL GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL GIVE OUT GRANTS. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE CITY OF OMAHA. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA. BUT BUT NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA, PART OF OMAHA, SAYS. GARCIA IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT CANOPY SOUTH. HE SAYS THE MONEY WILL GO TO KEEP PROJECTS ALIVE IN SOUTH OMAHA, LIKE REVITALIZING LA PLAZA DE LA RAZA ON 24TH STREET. FIGHTER HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT OF LANGUAGE RELATED TO HOW THE FUNDS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 50% OF EACH GRANTS WILL BE AWARDED UP FRONT. THERE’S SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT THE MONEY WILL BE USED FOR PROJECTS ALREADY EARMARKED IN NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA. SENATOR JUSTIN WAYNE SAYS HE’S GLAD TO SEE THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN AREAS HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED. THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE CAN START OUR ELIMINATING PEOPLE OUT ARE REMOVING PEOPLE FROM POVERTY AND MAKING REAL DIFFERENCES. THE STATE IS STILL WORKING ON HOW IT WILL GIVE OUT THE GRANTS. SENATOR VARGAS SAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM THAT THE FUNDS GO OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT

Unicameral approves transfer of ARPA funds to general budget

"Transformational change" is coming to north and south Omaha, as organizations on both sides of town will soon have the funds to start projects meant to spur economic development and job growth.Senator Tony Vargas said it's been a long road. He's been working alongside Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell Mckinney for two years to secure ARPA funds approved to be used in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19 in the metro. "This represents the opportunity for us to make transformational change, supporting these projects that are going to make significant economic development," he said. Thursday, the unicameral approved LB531 which allows the transfer of the money into the state's general fund. Since the ARPA funds have a deadline for when they need to be used, this prevents the state from losing them. The Department of Economic Development will now distribute the money in the form of grants for projects earmarked in north and south Omaha. Cesar Garcia the director of the nonprofit Canopy South said the money will help keep projects in south Omaha alive - like the revitalization of La Plaza de La Raza on 24th street. " 531 was very important in many ways because it has a lot of language of how the funds should be handled by the Department of Economic Development," Garcia said. This includes giving 50% of each grant to the organizations upfront. The rest will come in monthly payments until the full grant amount is paid off or until Dec. 31, 2026.Senator Vargas said he is not concerned the money will be used for anything else other than the projects already discussed because of the specific language in the bill. Senator Justin Wayne, who's also been working to secure these funds, said he's glad to see this type of investment in areas historically neglected. "This is a step in the right direction, that we can start removing people from poverty and making real differences," he said.

LINCOLN, Neb. —

"Transformational change" is coming to north and south Omaha, as organizations on both sides of town will soon have the funds to start projects meant to spur economic development and job growth.

Senator Tony Vargas said it's been a long road. He's been working alongside Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell Mckinney for two years to secure ARPA funds approved to be used in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19 in the metro.

"This represents the opportunity for us to make transformational change, supporting these projects that are going to make significant economic development," he said.

Thursday, the unicameral approved LB531 which allows the transfer of the money into the state's general fund. Since the ARPA funds have a deadline for when they need to be used, this prevents the state from losing them.

The Department of Economic Development will now distribute the money in the form of grants for projects earmarked in north and south Omaha.

Cesar Garcia the director of the nonprofit Canopy South said the money will help keep projects in south Omaha alive - like the revitalization of La Plaza de La Raza on 24th street.

"[LB] 531 was very important in many ways because it has a lot of language of how the funds should be handled by the Department of Economic Development," Garcia said.

This includes giving 50% of each grant to the organizations upfront. The rest will come in monthly payments until the full grant amount is paid off or until Dec. 31, 2026.

Senator Vargas said he is not concerned the money will be used for anything else other than the projects already discussed because of the specific language in the bill.

Senator Justin Wayne, who's also been working to secure these funds, said he's glad to see this type of investment in areas historically neglected.

"This is a step in the right direction, that we can start removing people from poverty and making real differences," he said.

Unicameral approves transfer of ARPA funds to general budget

The approval of LB 531 approves the transfer of ARPA funds to the general budget. Now the Department of Economic Development will distribute funds sent aside for north and south Omaha projects in the form of grants.

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