LINCOLN, NEB. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a combined $2.6 million in CARES Act COVID-19 relief funding to support Northeast Nebraska’s economic development, small businesses, and entrepreneurs:

“This week’s announcements from the EDA represent critical investments in the Heartland. These resources, which were approved by Congress, will bring relief to Nebraska communities. They will benefit our state’s small businesses, which employ nearly half of Nebraskans. This funding will also boost local economies and support their sustained recoveries.” said Senator Fischer. 

More information:

Earlier this week, the EDA announced $1.6 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to four EDA Economic Development District organizations across Nebraska, including $400,000 for the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. This includes boosting the region’s economy, supporting workforce needs, and online business development. Read more about those grants here.

Today, the EDA also announced $2.2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District, Norfolk, Nebraska, to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Nebraska.