FALLS CITY - Falls City Mayor Mark Harkendorff notified the Nebraska Department of Economic Development of the city’s intent to apply for a Civic and Community Center Financing Fund grant for a Falls City amphitheater park.

The city is applying for a $562,000 grant for the project estimated at $1.2 million.

The state told the city that its earlier grant application for the park renovation and construction project had not been funded. The state said it had received 12 applications requesting $6.6 million in 2024. The CCCFF comes from 30 percent of sales tax generated in certain arenas and nearby retailers.

The state said the project to renovate a green space into a park and construct an outdoor amphitheater received numerous letters of support, but did not score high in project planning, retention impact and visitor impact.

The economic development department encouraged Falls City to re-apply with information about how the park and amphitheater would benefit the surrounding historic district.

 

 

Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture submitted a new concept design for the amphitheater park in July. The concept says the park near Stone and 15th streets will be used for local festivals, will encourage public art and have space for a public art sculpture. The architects says the park will complement the historic streetscaping of Stone Street with “festival lawn,” concessions and bathrooms.

A food truck area is proposed on 15th Street.

The city received a $435,000 Community Development Block Grant for a downtown revitalization project and a loan of  $25,000 is proposed for a building at 1515 Stone St.

In other business, The Southeast Nebraska Land Bank met in December in Falls City.

Director Lucas Froeschl reported that judicial foreclosure is complete at 1223 Lane St. and 1612 Fulton St. is available for a workforce housing project.

The board voted to acquire an empty lot for a housing development project.