Nebraska Department Of Economic Development

Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), a state government entity based in Lincoln, Nebraska, is the primary state agency responsible for administering federal grant programs that support affordable housing development, community development, small business assistance, and economic recovery initiatives. The department serves as a pass-through entity for federal funding to local governments and communities throughout Nebraska, leveraging state and federal resources to expand economic opportunities and improve living conditions for low- and moderate-income residents. As a child entity within Nebraska's government structure, DED has maintained continuous federal registration since 2007 and specializes in managing formula-based grants that require ongoing compliance and strategic allocation of resources across multiple program years.

Through its federal grant awards, Nebraska DED has demonstrated substantial expertise in affordable housing programs and community economic development. The department has received multiple iterations of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula grants, including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (awarded most recently in September 2025 for $3.37 million with a performance period through 2034), the Housing Trust Fund (September 2025 award of $3.13 million for rental housing targeting extremely low-income households), and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for community development activities. Beyond housing, DED has administered the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of International Trade, supporting small business exporting activities, as well as Economic Development Administration grants totaling over $4 million for tourism recovery, infrastructure, and statewide economic planning under the American Rescue Plan. Additionally, the department received technical assistance grant funding from the Department of Commerce for the State Small Business Credit Initiative program. These grants collectively demonstrate DED's role in distributing federal resources for affordable housing rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, rental assistance programs, community infrastructure improvements, small business support services, and regional economic development planning across Nebraska.