LINCOLN — The State of Nebraska is seeking applicants for more than $700 million worth of grants to help the state and local economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

$1.04 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) flooded into the state and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development was charged with distributing $723 million of those funds.

On July 26, the DED announced that applications will be open for the first round of programs in September, with additional funding opportunities continuing through the fall of 2024.

The funds allocated via ARPA, a Biden administration initiative, must be used by 2026.

“The State is dedicated to using federal ARPA funds to strengthen Nebraska,” said Gov. Pete Ricketts in a press release. “Our goal is to allocate available funds efficiently, fairly, and transparently for the maximum benefit of Nebraskans.”

DED has already awarded about $115 million in so-called “shovel-ready” projects by nonprofits that were disrupted by the pandemic.

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