Seven Omaha business districts to get pandemic-related grants for safety lighting, bollards

North Omaha's 24th and Lake Streets area, looking south. The North 24th BID is among business corridors in line for ARPA funds. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA — Seven “business improvement districts” in the City of Omaha are to receive grants from the city’s allotment of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Proposals are set for approval this week by the Omaha City Council. Mayor Jean Stothert issued a news release outlining grants that total about $1.68 million.

The awards follow up on a commitment Stothert announced two years ago.

In June 2022, the mayor held a media conference announcing that the city had received the second portion of its $112,591 ARPA allocation from the federal government and that a slice was to go to the city’s business improvement district program. 

Business improvement districts, under state statute, can be established to plan, fund and carry infrastructure projects that enhance needs of a particular area of a city. Business owners within established districts can be called to pay a special assessment to help finance various improvements.

The Omaha districts receiving the ARPA grant dollars had to be located within a census tract that met income and other requirements of the act signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Poised for approval Tuesday are awards to:

• Benson BID: $255,000 for installation of crosswalk solar-lit bollards.

• Blackstone: $285,000 for bollards and lighting enhancement.

• Downtown: $245,000 for improved lighting in the Old Market tourist area.

• Dundee: $42,000 for sidewalk repairs.

• North 24th Street: $285,000 for lighting.

• North Saddle Creek: $285,000 for lighting.

• South Omaha: $285,000 for lighting.

“These ARPA funded projects will provide safety improvements as these areas become more popular and new development occurs,” Stothert said in a media statement.

Other Omaha programs funded by ARPA funds are underway or completed, according to a city spokeswoman.

Those include grants for affordable housing, improvements of public parks and funding to the city’s hotel industry.

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