LINCOLN - A legislative committee advanced an amended bill Thursday, February 17 aimed at providing “economic recovery” grants to areas of Omaha disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and generations of poverty.

Legislative Bill 1024 drew support from a long line of leaders from North Omaha earlier in the 2022 session. They described it as providing a “steroid shot” in spurring development.The bill was amended to include parts of South Omaha as well. A hearing on Monday, February 14 garnered interest and testimony from leaders in the area.

LB1024 seeks to prioritize grants in North and South Omaha for housing projects, job training programs, and business envelopment. The bill would create a new "Economic Recovery Division" within the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to award the grants as well.In addition, an advisory committee would be created to review the requests for funding.

“This is our canal project,” said State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who is the main sponsor of LB 1024. The "canal project" referenced by Sen. Wayne is Gov. Pete Rickett's proposal to allocate $500 million for the construction of Perkins county Canal to draw water from the South Platte River. “If we are going to recover and save North and South Omaha, we need a project like this,” the senator said.

LB1024 advanced from the Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee on a 6-1 vote. Sen. Wayne is the chair of this committee.

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