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SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households in Nebraska

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What does this program do?

This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.

Who may apply?

  • Most state and local governmental entities
  • Nonprofits
  • Federally recognized tribes

What is an eligible area?

Areas to be served must be rural and financially distressed:

  • Rural areas with a population of 2,500 or less
  • Have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income based on latest Census data

How may the funds be used?

To pay predevelopment planning costs, including:

  • Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projects
  • Preliminary design and engineering analysis
  • Technical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistance

Are there additional requirements?

The predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that meets the following requirements:

  • Construct, enlarge, extend or improve rural water, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater disposal facilities
  • Construct or relocate public buildings, roads, bridges, fences or utilities, and to make other public improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities
  • Relocate private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and other private improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities

How do we get started?

  • Applications for this program are accepted year round through your local RD office.
  • Program resources are available online (i.e., forms, guidance, certifications, etc.).

What governs this program?

  • Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Part 1774 - 7 CFR 1774
  • Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

To help very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses.

NOTE: Please select your state in the dropdown menu above to find the state office contact information and speak to a program specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you time in completing your application.

National Architect Requirements:

There are no other architect, engineering or environmental requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above. 

There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.

Nebraska State Office-Community Programs
Federal Building, Suite 308
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3859
402.437.5551 Phone
855.207.0384 FAX

Denise Meeks, Community Programs Director
402.437.5559

Ken Shaw, Community Programs Specialist

Mary Sneckenberg, Community Programs Specialist
402.437.5567

Lincoln Office
Federal Building, Suite 308
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3859
402.437.5551 Phone
855.207.0384 FAX

Luann Brown, Community Programs Specialist
402.437.5571

Natasha Byers, Community Programs Assistant
402.437.5553

Kim Le, Community Programs Loan Assistant
402.437.5734

Marshall Stephens, Loan Specialist
402.437.5732

Southeastern Service Counties: Butler, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Merrick, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Washington and York.

Norfolk Office
2601 Lakeridge Drive, Suite 2
Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
402.371.5350 Phone
855.207.0384 FAX

Anthony Guenther, Community Programs Specialist
Extension 120

Community Programs Loan Assistant
Extension 117

Northeast Service Counties: Antelope, Boone, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Knox, Madison, Nance, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne.

Kearney Office
4009 6th Avenue
Kearney, Nebraska 68845-2386
308.455.9847 Phone
855.207.0384 FAX

Dave Fulton, Community Programs Specialist
308.455.9844

Kaleb Browning, Community Programs Loan Assistant
308.455.9838

Central Servicing Counties: Adams, Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Cherry, Custer, Dawson, Franklin, Furnas, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Harlan, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Kearney, Keya Paha, Loup, Phelps, Rock, Sherman, Thomas, Valley, Webster and Wheeler.

North Platte Office
1202 S. Cottonwood, Suite 3
North Platte, Nebraska 69101
855.207.0384 FAX

Sara Pierce, Community Programs Specialist
308.221.3689

Western Servicing Counties: Arthur, Banner, Box Butte, Chase, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Dundy, Frontier, Garden, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Red Willow, Scottsbluff, Sheridan and Sioux.

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