Nebraska State Office Lincoln, Neb. 402-437-5551 

Ainsworth Office 402-387-2242 

Beatrice Office 402-223-3125

Bloomfield Office 402-373-4914 

Chadron Office 308-432-4616 

Columbus Office 402-564-0506

Fremont Office 402-721-8455 

Hastings Office 402-463-6771 

Kearney Office 308-237-3118 

Lincoln Office 402-423-9683 

McCook Office 308-345-4163 

Norfolk Office 402-371-5350 

North Platte Office 308-534-2360 

O’Neill Office 402-336-3796

Scottsbluff Office 308-632-2195 

Sidney Office 308-254-4507 

Rural Telecommunications Programs 

Andre Boening Linwood, Neb. 

402-543-2129 

Rural Electric Programs 

James Elliott Washington, DC 

 202-720-1420 

 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NEBRASKAUSDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE:

“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.” Tcomplaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-941(800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). 

 Message from the State Director... USDA Rural Development continues to work diligently to position itself as a ‘lender of first opportunity’ in Nebraska. Tremendous strides have been made in making ourselves a household name across the state. 

We pride ourselves in being the one federal agency that can literally build a town from the ground up. Rural Development can fund a diverse span of projects from municipal water systems to wastewater treatment plants, daycare facilities to assisted living facilities, warning sirens to fire barns, ambulances and hospitals, business incubators to business expansions, libraries to lifelong learning centers, organic foods to renewable energy projects, as well as cutting-edge technological advances and high-speed internet coupled with affordable homes and apartment complexes. These examples and many more are happening statewide every day.The landscape of rural Nebraska continues to change, and with these changes comes tremendous opportunity. We are proud of our ability to recognize and adapt to these new opportunities. In doing so, we have positioned our agency as a premier advocate for rural communities. Relationships with our partners at all levels are critical. Leveraging of funds is essential, allowing us to reach more rural residents. Rural Development makes it a priority to continue building relationships that foster the proliferation of our investments. USDA Rural Development is holding true to the promise in our mission statement, "To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans." This annual report provides a brief synopsis of the exciting things happening across the great state of Nebraska. Included are several projects with which we have had the pleasure of contributing talented staff and resources to– over $117 million dollars invested directly in rural Nebraska. We will continue to work to develop programs that are integrated and responsive to the needs of rural Nebraska. It is my sincere hope that you have had the opportunity to use our programs, to work with my staff, and that you intend to do so again in the near future. If you have not had this opportunity, I hope this literature will help you to understand the broad range of resources that are available to you through USDA Rural Development and that you will consider contacting us in the near future. We remain “Committed to the Future of Rural Communities” and look forward to serving the needs of your community. Sincerely, 

LEVERAGING

of federal, state and local dollars 

allowed for a greater number of rural Nebraskans 

 to be served. 

E. SCOT BLEHM NEBRASKA STATE DIRECTOR 
Rural Rental Assistance provides rent subsidies to individual residents 

Development financed multi-family housing complexes ensuring that velow income residents have affordable rent payments. Rural Rental Hou

Voucher Demonstration offers short-term supplement vouchers to eligtenants of Rural Development financed rental complexes who are facing hardship from rent increases resulting from prepayment of the loan secucomplex. 2006: 3,678 TENANTS ASSISTED

Pictured is John Bahr who became 

the owner of a handicap accessible home in Sidney, NE via USDA Rural Development. Full story: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/FY06SuccessStyBahr.pdf

COMMUNITY FACILITIES DIRECT LOANS $5,942,700 & GRANTS $187,230 

ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS $49,250 

ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE GRANTS $132,870 

DIRECT HOME OWNERSHIP LOANS $7,814,757 

GUARANTEED HOME OWNERSHIP LOANS $36,253,426 

RURAL HOME REPAIR LOANS $456,581 & GRANTS $334,438 

HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS $70,610 

RURAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE $6,566,024 

RURAL RENTAL HOUSING VOUCHER DEMO $2,856 

WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL LOANS $10,234,000 & GRANTS $5

EMERGENCY COMMUNITY WATER ASSISTANCE GRANTS $403,0

NATIVE AMERICAN 306C GRANT $84,000 

 DISTANCE LEARNING & TELEMEDICINE GRANTS $1,787,113  PUBLIC TELEVISION DIGITAL TRANSITION GRANT $294,950 

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LOAN GUARANTEES $26,645,000 

Pictured is the OLD Lofte Theatre in Manley, NE. USDA Rural Development assisted with a $1.6M loan to build the NEW Lofte Theatre that seats nearly 380 and offers play goers a setting in which to relish in a wonderful play. 

Full story: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/FY07LofteSuccessStory.pdf

USDA Rural Developthe community of Conearly $650K water pLower Platte North Nsources District and Sa near $500K waste w

Old 

New 

Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants construct, enlarge, extend or otherwise improve community facilities (CF) that provide essential services and purchase needed equipment in rural areas. Economic Impact Initiative 

Administrative Funds provide for feasibility studies, environmental reviews and architectural and engineering studies in conjunction with present or potential CF projects. Economic Impact Initiative Grants develop essential CF in rural 

communities with extreme high unemployment and severe economic depression. 

2006: 8 PROJECTS SERVING 148,981 RESIDENTS, CREATING 2 JOBS & SAVING

35. 4 COMMUNITIES ASSISTED WITH ENGINEERING REVIEWS (ADMINISTRATION

BUILDING, LIBRARY, COUNTY JAIL) & ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW (HISTORICCHURCH). 6 COMMUNITIES PURCHASED VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT MEETINGMEDICAL, EMERGENCY & FIRE NEEDS OF 4,964 RURAL RESDENTS.

Direct Home Ownership Loans assist very-low and lowincome rural residents to purchase, construct, repair or rehabilitate, or relocate a single family home. Guaranteed Home Ownership Loans guarantee loans originated by local approved lenders to eligible moderate to low-income residents for purchase/repair or construction of a single family rural dwelling. 2006: 629 HOMEOWNERS

Rural Home Repair Loans and Grants and Housing Preservation Grants provide financing for necessary repairs to rural owner-occupied homes of very-low income homeowners. 2006: 143 HOMES REPAIRED

Water and Environmental Loans and Grants develop and repair watesanitary sewer systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainaareas. 2006: 19 WATER & 7 SEWER PROJECTS IN 24 COMMUNITIES

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants allow for technology equfacilities that provide rural schools, libraries, hospitals and medical clinicdistance learning &/or telemedicine capabilities. 2006: HOME HEALTH SYSTEM EXPANDED; TELEHEALTH SYSTEM RECEIVING CENTER CONNCRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS; CLINICAL SERVICES TO 16 RURAL ENSITES. ACQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR PLUG & PLAY ENVIRONMENT, VIDCONFERENCING, ARCHIVING, ENHANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, PROFESSSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TELEHEALTH C

& SYNCHRONOUS PROGRAMMING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 48 COUN

Public Television Digital Transition Grants provide public television nstations with monies to bring digital broadcasting services to rural reside2006: 7 TV TRANSLATORS REPLACEDBusiness and Industry Guaranteed Loans guarantee commercial loabusiness and industrial development to create and maintain employmenand improve economic climate. 2006: ASSISTED 5 BUSINESSES, CRESAVING 50 RURAL JOBS