Funding Opportunities
We have compiled information regarding funding opportunities available to business or building owners. Some of these funding opportunities are specific to downtown businesses or buildings only. Click on the link for the opporunity you're interested in to learn more.
MainStreet of Fremont
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Façade Improvement Grant - MainStreet of Fremont, Inc. has established an Incentive Grant Program to provide financial assistance to new and existing businesses located within the Business Improvement District #1 of Fremont. The grant may be used for outside renovations such as signage, painting, awnings, and any improvement that enhances the property and conforms to the historic nature of the district. Projects must also conform to applicable City ordinances.
City of Fremont
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LB840 Loan - The City of Fremont invests Local Option Economic Development Plan funds for the purpose of attracting new industries and retaining or expanding existing businesses in Fremont. Funds are offered to businesses in the form of low or 0% interest loans and performance-based forgivable loans (grants), based upon creation of new jobs and investment in Fremont. Job creation criteria are detailed in the application, including wages and benefits. Businesses must provide matching funds for the project.
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Downtown Facade Improvement Grant - This forgivable loan program is administered by the City of Fremont and the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District and funded by Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization funds. The purpose of the Downtown Facade Improvements Program is to restore, improve or create historic architectural features to facades of commercial buildings anywhere within Fremont’s Business Improvement District #1 as identified within the Fremont Downtown Plan. Specifically, properties must be located in the area generally bounded by 1st Street to Military Avenue and from D Street to H Street.
City of Fremont - BID #1
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BID #1 Sponsorship Application - The Business Improvement District #1 (BID #1) is funded through a tax placed on properties located in the downtown district. The Sponsorship is open to businesses hosting a free and open to the public event in the downtown district. All applications will be reviewed by the BID #1 board. Typically sponsorship funds are alloted at the beginning of the year and distributed as applications are received. Applications should be turned as early as possible.
Fremont & Dodge County Visitors Bureau
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Visitor Improvement Fund Grant - The applicant must demonstrate that the project is, or will be, a tourism attraction in Dodge County, Nebraska. Tourism attractions are sites that are expected to annually draw 300 or more visits from origins of at least 50 miles away owned by the public or any non-profit organization. Funds are awarded for certain types of tourism attraction activities open to the public: historic restorations; scientific and interpretive educational sites and facilities such as museums; participatory sports facilities; convention centers; cultural and heritage recreational sites and facilities; and supporting activities that include removal of material and architectural barriers that restrict the mobility and accessibility to sites/facilities (for elderly and severely disabled persons) in support of eligible tourism attractions.
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Sponsorship Application - The Fremont & Dodge County CVB has developed the Tourism Sponsorship Program as a community-oriented tourism marketing and development investment program to assist in our mission of creating economic growth by promoting our destination for overnight and day visitors. The program is open to Dodge County non-profit organizations that align with one or more of the following strategic plan goals:
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Accelerated Sales: Attract additional meetings and events to the area
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Strong Collaboration & Partnerships: Strength relations with local organizations to be a more
profound community advocate and promoter -
Improved Community Engagement: Inspire interest in the tourism and hospitality industry
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Greater Fremont Development Council (GFDC)
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The Welstead Fund - The Welstead Fund Small Business Startup Loan provides small loans to startups, newly established, and/or growing businesses. The Welstead Fund was named after the late Marvin Welstead, a Fremont advocate and co-founder of the Greater Fremont Development Council. His vision was to see the Fremont area grow and seeing small businesses thrive.
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Housing Development Funds - GFDC currently manages $4.3M in revolving loan funds across three programs. Each fund intends to create additional housing units in Fremont and Dodge County by providing low-interest construction loans to catalyze new development and rehabilitation projects.
GROW Nebraska
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Loan amounts up to $2,500
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Flexible repayment terms up to 24 months
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$50 application fee WAIVED!
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Fast approval process
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Support from a local loan officer
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Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF)
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Nebraska Enterprise Fund - NEF provides flexible lending products to businesses and programs across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa to support your capital needs and growth plans. NEF has received an increasing number of inquiries from Iowa entrepreneurs and bankers with requests for loans in this area. With few other non-traditional lending options available for small businesses, NEF expanded services into Iowa in 2021, focusing on the neighboring community of Council Bluffs and the Western portion of the state.
Nebraska State Historical Society
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Historic Tax Incentive Program - Historic Tax Credit Programs are some of the most impactful tools Nebraskans have in promoting the economic revitalization of their communities. These programs provide tax credits for property owners who rehabilitate a historic building while retaining its historic character. Past projects have provided much-needed low-income housing, fixed-up public buildings like courthouses, and made downtown areas more attractive to small business owners. Tax credit programs also stimulate local economies by generating skilled jobs and local tax revenue.
Did we miss something?
If you know of another opportunity that we missed please email us with more information!