Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grants The Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund provides grants for eligible integrated waste management programs and projects. These may include recycling systems, market development for recyclable materials, intermediate processing facilities and facilities using recyclable materials in new products, yard waste composting and composting with sewage sludge, waste reduction and waste exchange, household hazardous waste programs, the consolidation of solid waste disposal facilities and use of transfer stations, and incineration for energy recovery. Grants are prioritized and awarded on a competitive basis.
Nebraska Clean Diesel Grant Program The Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy established the Nebraska Clean Diesel Grant Program in 2008 to distribute funding received by the Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of reducing diesel emissions. This funding was authorized by Congress in the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, or DERA, which was created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DERA provides funding annually to states for the establishment of grant and loan programs that reduce diesel emissions.
Scrap Tire Grants The Nebraska Legislature has set aside a portion of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Fund to provide grants for eligible scrap tire recycling or reduction projects. Grants are prioritized and awarded on a competitive basis.
Litter Reduction and Recycling Grants Provides funds to support programs to reduce litter, provide education, and promote recycling in Nebraska. Grants may be awarded to both public and private entities.
Nonpoint Source Management Grants (Section 319) Under Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act, the federal government awards funds to the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to provide financial assistance for the prevention and abatement of nonpoint source water pollution. This funding is provided to units of government, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, for projects that facilitate implementation of the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan.
Source Water Protection Grants Program Approximately $100,000 per year is available to finance projects that protect public water systems, in Nebraska, that serve a population of 10,000 or less. Grant supported projects include those that address drinking water quality, quantity, security, and/or education.
Targeted Brownfields - Section 128(a) Assessment Grants Under Section 128(a) of the federal Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, the federal government awards funds to the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to provide financial assistance to communities and counties interested in redeveloping property to conduct environmental site assessments on sites that may be contaminated. Common brownfield properties include vacant or under-utilized industrial or commercial property in older parts of communities, such as railroad facilities, salvage yards, dry cleaners, landfills, gas stations, and a variety of other sites.
Small Community Matching Grants Grants for construction or modification of publicly owned wastewater treatment works, including community assessments and facility planning, are available under the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) for communities of 5,000 inhabitants or less which have been awarded a CWSRF loan and demonstrate serious financial hardship. A 50% grant for up to $100,000 is available to these communities whose median household income (MHI) is 80% or less than the State median household income. For communities falling between 80% and 100% of the State MHI, the matching grant level will be set between 0% and 50% by interpolation. All grant awards are dependent on availability of funds and must be matched by CWSRF loan funds to the community.
Deconstruction Grants Program The Deconstruction Grants Program was created by LB 180, passed in 2009. Through this bill, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act was expanded to include grants for the reimbursement of costs for the deconstruction of abandoned buildings, and to encourage the recycling or reuse of the building’s materials.
Revitalize Rural Nebraska Grant Program
Established per Nebraska Revised Statutes 19-1201 through 1204, the Revitalize Rural Nebraska Grant Program is for the demolition of dilapidated commercial properties owned by a village or a city of the first or second class. The application period is open from Jan. 15, 2024, through Feb. 29, 2024.
Small Community Planning Grants (no current link or other information) The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund program periodically sets aside a certain amount of money to provide planning grant assistance to small public water supply systems as a part of the state’s capacity development strategy to help communities develop technical, managerial, and financial capacity particularly as it relates to long-term capital improvement needs. This financial assistance is provided to communities to identify capital improvement needs as well as increase their readiness to proceed in accomplishing these improvements. Planning grants may be provided to publicly owned water supply systems serving 10,000 or fewer people, including any city, town, village, sanitary improvement district, natural resource district, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law having jurisdiction over a public water supply system. Privately owned water supply systems are not eligible for assistance. Grants are provided for up to 90% of the costs for eligible preliminary engineering report services, but cannot exceed $10,000 per system.
Storm Water Grants (no current link or other information) The Storm Water Management Plan Program is a grant program that funds a portion of the storm water management duties of certain cities and counties within urbanized areas as required by the Clean Water Act.
Emergency Grants (no current link or other information) Emergency grants are available for wastewater treatment works that have been damaged or destroyed by natural disaster or other unanticipated actions or circumstances. Such grants may be combined with a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and are not to be used for routine maintenance of facilities.