LINCOLN- The Legislature gave first-round approval to an LB531 from Sen. Terrell McKinney that will provide grants to hundreds of proposals seeking to revitalize parts of North and South Omaha. Included in the bill is funding for Lincoln to begin work to secure a second source of drinking water. $180 million would be appropriated to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources from last year's ARPA money.

The Department plans to build a Southeast Nebraska regional water supply network that pumps water from the Missouri River to Lincoln and other communities. Originally LB506 intended to appropriate $200 million for the same purpose, but amidst negotiations, it was included as an amendment to LB531. The project lead, Sen. Eliot Bostar, said the Governor's support for the project helped the idea gain momentum.

"Frankly, (Pillen) gets it and agrees this is a valuable project that is important for the state because it ensures we don't get into a position where we have to exercise our water rights and impair irrigator access," the senator said. Winning first-round approval is "extremely significant" toward moving the estimated $1.39 billion project forward, Bostar said.

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