Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

LB515                                                                    LB515
                                                                    2023
                              LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
                          ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
                                   FIRST SESSION
                       LEGISLATIVE BILL 515
        Introduced by Walz, 15.
        Read first time January 17, 2023
        Committee: Banking, Commerce and Insurance
    A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to economic development; to adopt the Rural
        Economic Development Initiative Act.
    Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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LB515                                                                                           LB515
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           Section 1.       Sections 1 to 6 of this act shall be known and may be
    cited as the Rural Economic Development Initiative Act.
          Sec. 2.      For purposes of the Rural Economic Development Initiative
   Act:
          (1) Department means the Department of Economic Development;
           (2) Nonprofit economic development corporation means a nonprofit
   corporation that is organized under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation
   Act to assist with economic development; and
           (3) Program means the Economic Development Grant Program created in
    section 3 of this act.
           Sec.   3.     (1)   The Economic Development Grant Program is   hereby
    created. The department shall administer the program.
          (2) The department shall award only one grant per county under the
   program. A nonprofit economic development corporation operating within a
   county may apply to receive the grant for such county.
           (3) Grant funds shall be used to hire up to one additional full-time
    equivalent employee to provide services described in subsection (4) of
    this section to cities of the first class, cities of the second class,
    villages, and rural areas within the county. The amount requested shall
    be sufficient to fund up to one additional full-time equivalent employee
    for five years.    Grant funds shall not be   awarded until proof of
    employment is submitted by the applicant to the department.
           (4)    An individual hired using grant funds received under this
    section shall be engaged in two or more of the following activities:
           (a) Providing assistance with the creation of economic development
    plans;
           (b) Identifying and applying for economic development grants;
          (c) Identifying and pursuing options to improve housing stock in
   target communities;
          (d) Promoting new development;
          (e) Providing assistance with workforce retention;
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LB515                                                                                     LB515
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       (f) Advocating for cities, villages, and rural areas within the
   county when businesses are looking to locate or relocate; and
       (g)        Providing information regarding economic development
   opportunities available at the state and national level.
       (5) Any nonprofit economic development corporation that receives a
   grant under the program shall coordinate with the applicable county in
   determining the services to be provided.
        (6) Applications for a grant under the program shall be submitted to
   the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department and
   shall include the following information:
       (a) A listing of the cities, villages, and rural areas to be served;
       (b) A listing of the services to be provided;
       (c) A listing of staff positions that will be created if grant funds
   are awarded; and
        (d)    A    description of   the methods to   be utilized in   measuring
    success.
       (7) The department shall give priority to applicants meeting the
   following criteria:
        (a) The total population of the subject county is fifty thousand or
    fewer inhabitants;
       (b) The application indicates a partnership between the applicant
   and the county;
       (c) The applicant intends to focus efforts on one or more cities of
   the second class or villages; and
        (d) The applicant has demonstrated experience providing economic
    development services in the area.
       (8) The department shall begin accepting applications on January 15,
   2024.
        Sec. 4.       (1) Each nonprofit economic development corporation that
    receives a grant under the program shall submit an annual report to the
   department describing the economic development services provided during
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LB515                                                                                        LB515
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   the year by the individual who was hired using grant funds.
        (2) The department shall submit, as part of the department's annual
   status report under section   81-1201.11,      a summary of   the program,
   including a description of the economic development services provided and
   the number of communities served.
        Sec. 5.       It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate fifteen
   million dollars to the department for fiscal year 2023-24 for purposes of
   carrying out the Rural Economic Development Initiative Act.
        Sec.   6.       The department may adopt and promulgate rules and
   regulations to carry out the Rural Economic Development Initiative Act.
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