Important Announcement Regarding the 2022 Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) Application Cycle

Important Announcement Regarding the 2022 Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) Application Cycle
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October 14th, 2021 | Nebraska Department of Economic Development

 

October 14, 2021 (LINCOLN, NEB.) – The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (the Department) is announcing important information pertaining to the 2022 application cycle of the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF).  

CCCFF is funded by turnback taxes collected from arenas and convention centers. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on arena and convention center business, the amount of aid expected to be available for award during the application cycle starting in January 2022 will be lower than in past years.   

There will be no impact on already-awarded CCCFF projects. Both funding categories — Planning and Capital Construction — are slated to be available in the upcoming cycle.  

Maximum amounts awardable to recipients during the 2022 cycle are projected to correspond with “Grant Maximum Schedule A” below. Note that if deemed necessary, the Department reserves the option to further reduce maximum award amounts to meet budgetary requirements, at which time an announcement will be made. 

Table 1: Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF): Grant Maximum Schedule A  
Municipality Population Max. Award Amount 
100,000-299,999 $2,250,000 
40,000-99,999 $1,125,000 
20,000-39,999 $750,000 
10,000-19,999 $600,000 
Less than 10,000 $375,000 

Actual CCCFF dollars available for award in 2022 are expected to be significantly lower than the amount the Department will be legislatively authorized to award over that time period; the Department’s annual CCCFF availability is based on a projection of CCCFF funds generated through turnback taxes, and COVID-19 resulted in actual tax receipts being significantly lower than what was projected. The amount available for award will be announced when it can be determined.    

The linked CCCFF Application & Program Guidelines reflect the changes announced in this release. Detailed information can also be found in the accompanying Fact Sheet and FAQ (below, as well as attached to this email)which applicants are encouraged to review.  

For questions, contact Mackenzie Martin Waldron at mackenzie.waldron@nebraska.gov

Fact Sheet & FAQ: Civic and Community Center Financing Fund 2022 Application Cycle  

Program Description  

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (the Department) administers Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) grants annually on a competitive basis to municipalities. CCCFF is designed to foster quality of life in Nebraska communities by supporting impactful planning and capital construction projects. Eligible projects involve community facilities such as libraries, recreation and wellness centers, gathering spaces, convention centers, town squares and cultural centers. 

2022 Application Cycle Reduced Maximum Award Due to COVID-19  

CCCFF is funded by turnback taxes collected from arenas and convention centers. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on arena and convention center business, the amount of aid expected to be available for award during the application cycle starting January 2022 will be lower than in past years.  

Maximum awards during the 2022 cycle are tentatively projected to correspond with “Grant Maximum Schedule A” below. Note that if deemed necessary, the Department reserves the option to further reduce maximum award amounts to meet budgetary requirements, at which time an announcement will be made. 

Table 1: Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF): Grant Maximum Schedule A  
Municipality Population Max. Award Amount 
100,000-299,999 $2,250,000 
40,000-99,999 $1,125,000 
20,000-39,999 $750,000 
10,000-19,999 $600,000 
Less than 10,000 $375,000 

The Department wishes to highlight that actual CCCFF dollars available for award in 2022 will be significantly lower than the amount the Department is legislatively authorized to award for that time period; annual CCCFF availability is based on a projection of CCCFF funds generated through turnback taxes, and COVID-19 resulted in actual tax receipts being significantly lower than what was projected.   

CCCFF Project Extension Requests 

Since mid-2020, several communities awarded in past CCCFF program years have expressed project delays related to COVID-19 (e.g., the inability to secure matching funds due to the decreased availability of general funds, a lack of contractors to complete the work within the original timeframe, increased costs of supplies and/or construction, etc.).  

To request a contract extension, the municipality must be current on its semi-annual reporting, then should submit a request in AmpliFund that identifies each of the following:  

  1. The nature of the request as either a six- or 12-month extension.  
  2. The reason for the request. 
  3. A revised estimated completion date. 
  4. Any other pertinent information related to the request.  

    Only the Recipient Grant Manager should submit the request for an extension. Instructions for completing the request are available on the Department’s webpage at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/amplifund/#CCCFF. Requests should not be submitted until a revised project completion date has been determined and the original contract end date is approaching within 90 days.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

I.         What impact does this announcement have on existing awards made during or prior to 2021? 

There will be no impact on existing awards. The decision to make adjustments to the 2022 application cycle was informed by forecasted revenues, which were reduced due to the continued economic impact of COVID-19. A commitment was made to ensure existing awards would not be reduced due to a lack of available funds. 

II.         Why are these changes necessary? 
 

Multiple factors led to the announced changes to the 2022 cycle. Namely, the CCCFF program is funded through turnback taxes associated with the large arena and convention centers in Omaha, Lincoln and Ralston. A large number of events scheduled in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, resulting in a significant reduction to the revenues in the Fund. This setback has impacted revenue forecasts for the next two fiscal years. The 2021 CCCFF application cycle was limited to preliminary planning studies due to last year’s projected impact on the Fund’s future receipts. Per statute, Grant Maximum Schedule B (below) may only be utilized upon the balance of the Fund reaching $3.75 million and until the balance of the Fund falls below $1.5 million. Due to the projected impact on the Fund’s future receipts, the Fund’s balance (excluding already obligated awards) is likely to fall below the statutory threshold of $1.5 million necessary to continue to utilize Schedule B. Grant Maximum Schedule A (shown earlier in this document) will subsequently be utilized. If deemed necessary to meet budgetary requirements, the Department reserves the option to further reduce maximum award amounts. 

Table 2: Civic and Community Center  

Financing Fund (CCCFF): Grant Maximum  

Schedule B 

Municipality Population Amount 
100,000-299,999 $3,375,000 
40,000-99,999 $1,687,000 
20,000-39,999 $1,125,000 
10,000-19,999 $900,000 
Less than 10,000 $562,000 

III.         Has a lack of revenue to the Fund occurred before? What is the State doing to keep the program solvent moving forward? 

No CCCFF awards were made in 2006-2007 and 2011-2012, attributable to a Fund balance that could not support both new awards and a sufficient balance to cover the obligated, unspent awarded amount. Additional interruption occurred in 2014, when the program authorizing statutes were significantly altered, with subsequent increases to the legislative allocation. The Department makes every attempt to award every dollar of available aid via the annual application cycle.  

A decision to fund only planning activities in 2021 was intended to ensure that existing obligations (i.e., awards) did not exceed available funds. Similarly, the decision to limit awards in 2022 is intended to ensure existing obligations do not exceed available funds. If and when forecasted revenues change, it is possible that the Department will announce a second CCCFF cycle for 2022. However, all signs indicate that forecasts are unlikely to change.  

IV.         My community applied for and received a Planning grant in 2020 or 2021, when can we apply for another grant? 

Under CCCFF, a municipality may receive only one grant of each type (Planning or Capital Construction) during any two-year period; this is statutory. For example, if Anytown was awarded a Planning grant in 2021, it would not be eligible for another Planning grant until 2023. However, if Anytown was awarded a Planning grant in 2021, it would be eligible for a Capital Construction grant in 2022.  

V.         My community applied for and received a Capital Construction grant in 2020; when can we apply for another grant? 

Under CCCFF, a municipality may receive only one grant of each type (Planning or Capital Construction) during any two-year period; this is statutory. For example, if Anytown is awarded a Capital Construction grant in 2022, it will not be eligible for another Capital Construction grant until 2024, but it would be eligible for a Planning grant in 2023. 

VI.         If my community applies for a CCCFF grant in 2022, what is the maximum grant amount?  

Planning grants in 2022 will be available for a minimum request of $3,000 and a maximum of $15,000. Planning grants are reserved for planning activities only.  

Capital Construction grants will be available in accordance with Grant Maximum Schedule A (shown earlier in this document), unless the Department exercises its right to set a lower maximum amount.   

In all cases, the amount of available aid is expected to be less than in some prior award cycles. Refer to the Application & Program Guidelines at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CCCFF-Application-and-Program-Guidelines.pdf.  

VII.         Is the 2022 cycle expected to be competitive?
 
Yes. With less available aid in the 2022 application cycle, the Department anticipates the cycle will be competitive. The review committee issues a recommendation of the top-scoring applications to the Department Director, or the Director’s designee, for final approval. To meet fiscal responsibilities, the Department reserves the right to establish the maximum-awarded amount of funds in any given year. 

VIII.         What types of facilities are eligible?  

A wide variety of facilities are eligible for grants, including libraries, recreation and wellness centers, public gathering spaces, convention centers, town squares, cultural centers, etc. For additional program details and definitions, see the CCCFF Application & Program Guidelines at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CCCFF-Application-and-Program-Guidelines.pdf.  

IX.         In 2020, our community received a grant and, due to unforeseen project delays, we do not expect we will be able to complete the project by our contract end date in March 2022. How can my community request a contract extension for the CCCFF contract? 

Since mid-2020, several communities awarded in prior CCCFF years have expressed project delays related to COVID-19 (e.g., the inability to secure matching funds due to the decreased availability of general funds, a lack of contractors to complete the work within the original timeframe, increased costs of supplies and/or construction, etc.). To request a contract extension, the municipality must be current on its semi-annual reporting, then should submit a request in AmpliFund that identifies each of the following:  

  1. The nature of the request as either a six- or 12-month extension.  
  2. The reason for the request. 
  3. A revised estimated completion date. 
  4. Any other pertinent information related to the request.  

    Only the Recipient Grant Manager should submit the extension request. Instructions for completing the request are available on the Department’s webpage at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/amplifund/#CCCFF. Requests should not be submitted until a revised project completion date has been determined and the original contract end date is approaching within 90 days.  

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