LINCOLN- Turnback taxes paid at hotels and retailers near arenas in Omaha, Lincoln, and Ralston are not only used to help finance those facilities, they are also provided as grants for rural projects. This year, 18 rural Nebraska communities have received these grants, equalling around $4.2 million worth of planning and construction funds.

These funds were generated by turning back 30% of state sales taxes generated by arenas and nearby retailers. However, according to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted the amounts that could be disbursed in 2023. The grants, when received, are meant to develop civic, community, and recreation centers in these communities.

The communities receiving the funds stretch across the whole state, and the amounts range from anywhere between $7,500 for a new swimming pool, to $562,000 for city square improvement.

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