From building a few homes to building entire subdivisions, Jordan McHargue shares how steady growth, smart partnerships, and hands-on leadership fueled real housing impact in Central City. Learn how innovative construction methods helped overcome local challenges while supporting efficienct, year-round building.

The Custer Economic Development Corporation highlighted housing initiatives since 2014, noting the construction of more than 80 homes and 61 apartment units since 2013. Scotti Ross and Stuart Fox emphasized that many of these projects were made possible through Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

The November HomeNE webinar focused on rural housing initiatives in Nebraska, with a presentation from John Madsen and Jon Schmaderer highlighting successful housing development strategies in Stuart. They discussed partnerships, funding approaches, and the role of local organizations in promoting affordable housing.

Creative Methods that Spur Community Revitalization: Proactive Redevelopment of Commercial and Residential Properties in Ord, Nebraska

In the September HomeNE webinar focused on community engagement and housing challenges in Cumming County, David Branch highlighted the successful Give Get Grow program, which supported local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. He then provided a detailed overview of ongoing housing projects aimed at expanding affo

The August HomeNE featured Amos Anson sharing insights on entrepreneurship, housing, and revitalization, urging support for trades and small developers. #HomeNE #SkilledTrades

Clearing the Decks for More Effective Housing Development: Local Government Edition

Discover how the City of Central City is transforming housing through an innovative Vacant Property Registry program that tackles blight and boosts community revitalization. In this engaging HomeNE webinar, Michelle Kohl, shares real-world strategies for managing vacant homes.

The 80th HomeNE Learning Network featured Jean Van Iperen, who discussed Columbus, Nebraska’s housing challenges and the city’s proactive strategies to address them. Jean highlighted the city’s 7% population growth and a shortage over 4 years of 387 homes, prompting efforts like zoning reform, streamlined permitting, and investment in new developments, including a 238-unit apartment complex. The city is also planning a new housing study, exploring affordable housing options, and considering mixed-use projects to meet evolving community needs. Participants were encouraged to revisit past webinars for insights and to attend the upcoming session on June 19th featuring Michelle Cole. The session emphasized the value of small takeaways from presentations and invited community members to share their stories for future webinars.

What comes after a successful housing project? Megan Weaver of Wakefield Progressive joins us to talk through the "after". Wakefield has had a number of successful housing initiatives over the past 12 years, but what is next? Megan is asking the question in hopes that the HomeNE Learning Network can give her a hand.

Dana Village in Blair, Nebraska is a unique project that shows how one man can change the world. Through a need to rid the Omaha area of homelessness, Ed Shada embarked on a journey to start Dana Village. Learn how one man is making a difference in Eastern Nebraska, assisting kids ageing out of the foster care system to get on their feet and find a path that works for them.

Spark’s mission is to help profoundly transform disinvested neighborhoods into prosperous and thriving communities. Communities like North Omaha have vacant, scattered infill lots that have remained dormant for years. The underlying economics that make development in distressed communities unprofitable remain unchanged. Hear how SPARK is activating an army of small-scale, mission-oriented, entrepreneurial developers with intimate local knowledge. Spotlight - Trades on the Move: Hear from Michelle Lubken with Hamilton Communication as she spotlight a new program coming out the Central Region for 6 Regions 1 Nebraska.

In the January, 2025 HomeNE webinar you will hear the story of Wood River, from where they started to where they are going and everything along the way. Sara Arnett highlights the current Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund Project that is currently underway, then touches on the projects that brought this to this point.

Join Gary Person with the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation as he looks at the different types of TIF available in Nebraska and how each of them differ. He has a wealth of knowledge around of lay person knowledge and and is willing to share with our viewers.

Amy Haase and Joe Spitsen provided a great look at the Nebraska Housing Toolkit completed in 2022 by the Strategic Housing Council. The toolkit offers communities of all sizes comprehensive guidance, instructions, practical steps, and case studies to assist and develop their own housing development short and long-term plans.

On the September 2024 HomeNE Webinar you can hear from Megan Helberg, 2020 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, as she talks about Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). She encourages community to put their talk into action and "Love Your Community".

The August, 2024 webinar is a revisit to the February 2022 HomeNE Webinar. Ben Conover is sharing where Conover Properties is today and the progress they have made in Norfolk, Tilden, Madison and Pierce in Northeast Nebraska. The amazing before and after renovation photos and the changes they are creating for their communities is a story worth hearing and sharing.

Amanda Engell and Charlie McPherson, McCook Economic Development Corporation, presented great information about housing growth in McCook. A community without a new subdivision since before 1980, McCook is now seeing the construction of duplexes, single-family homes, infill development, and a new swimming pool as a result of intentional, invested activity in the community.

Hear how the community of Sidney, NE turned their community around after the departure of Cabela's/Bass Pro. When Bass Pro bought out long time business Cabela's and moved the operations to Missouri, citizens of Sidney made a decision to prove people wrong. One newspaper article was even published that the last person out of Sidney should turn out the lights. The citizens came together and made a difference in their community. They went from having over 200 houses for sale after the closing of the headquarters to being in a housing shortage in 2024.