LINCOLN — The shovels are ready for more than $300 million worth of construction projects disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state funding authorized for these so-called “shovel-ready” projects may take a while.

Some applicants are now wondering if recent changes in the program might mean they won't be getting funds. Final decisions about who gets ARPA grants will be made by DED Director Tony Goins.

As part of its allocation of $1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Nebraska Legislature set aside $100 million for qualified nonprofit groups whose planned museums, sports complexes, and other projects linked to arts, recreation, and the humanities were interrupted by the pandemic.

The $100 million was in addition to $15 million in state funds approved a year earlier in Legislative Bill 566, the Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act.

But the main sponsor of the shovel-ready legislation, State Sen. Mike McDonnell, urged patience to those concerned applicants. In a recent interview, McDonnell said the Nebraska Department of Economic Development is still working through hiring staff and adopting rules.

“It’s not going to happen as quickly as some people expected,” McDonnell said, noting that the legislative session ended only a month ago. “We’re asking for patience.”

One thing is for sure — there won’t be enough money to meet all the requests.

Last summer, 125 applicants submitted proposals seeking a total of nearly $335 million in grants — well over the $15 million then available and nearly three times the $115 million now available through the shovel-ready program.

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