CALLAWAY- A ribbon cutting unveiled the newest home in Callaway. A three-bedroom and unfinished basement home, constructed by Bryson Kennedy with Kennedy Construction and Woodworking.
The CEDC with the assistance of CNEDD received a $524,109 grant from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust fund to construct three single-family homes. Two of these homes were built and sold in Broken Bow with Callaway building the last one.
The Nebraska Affordable Housing Fund was created in 1996 by the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act to address a shortage of quality affordable housing.
Callaway Village Chairman, Mark Kimball spoke about how the workforce is affected by the quality and cost of housing in rural Nebraska.
“Housing shortages limit an individual’s choice of where to live and the ability to seek and sustain employment,” said Kimball. “Our workforce is directly affected by the quality and cost of housing. For individuals, quality affordable housing is the basis for economic stability and self-sufficiency. For communities, schools, and businesses it is a critical part of any sustainable, successful community economic development strategy.”
New CEDC Executive Director, Scotti Ross spoke about how grant funds coming into the rural communities are put to good use.
“I am so happy to have wrapped up this third house build to prove to you guys that when grant funds do come to rural Nebraska, we do put them to work and they are put to really great use,” said Ross. “The turnout today is a perfect example of the support that you have for the growth of your communities.”
Director of Constituent Services of Central Nebraska for Governor Pete Rickets, Sarah Mills talked about community growth.
“For a community to grow there must be desire and determination, a shared vision of change,” said Mills.
“Development of housing is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Our rural communities have to be extremely creative, and willing to take a chance when developers refuse to come to our town,” said Judy Peterson with the Central Nebraska Economic Development District.
Proceeds of the sale from the Callaway house will be invested into the construction of new housing units within Custer County according to Judy Peterson.
