DREAMS Coming True in Downtown Holdrege

Dreams are coming true in downtown Holdrege thanks to PCDC’s DREAM program grants.

One year ago, the Phelps County Development Corporation announced the new GO! DREAM program to continue downtown revitalization efforts.

In the past year, seven building owners have been approved for DREAM grants, and downtown improvements are starting to take shape.

Former Opera House: Owners Great ST8 Properties (Justin and Carrie Trompke and Andi and Andrew Sweeney) received a grant to paint, install new glass and repair a brick wall at the property at 405 West Ave. This fall, the old red and white exterior was transformed to a new gray and black design scheme to match other downtown buildings. [Click here for photo]

Lincoln Federal Savings building: Improvements completed this summer with help from a DREAM grant included removing the maroon-colored awnings, exterior patching, a fresh coat of paint and new signs, lighting and windows. [Click here for photo]

Palmer Bros. Granite: This 100-year-old downtown Holdrege business received a grant to assist with replacing 70-year-old windows. [Click here for photo]

Iron Horse Flats: Smart Choice Home Management (Chanse and Cristina Beinke) were awarded a DREAM grant to renovate the building at 901 West Ave. into a new a luxury apartment home community with 18 high-end apartments. The apartments feature granite countertops, hardwood floors, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances and 10-foot ceilings. It also features a community space with grills and a dog park. The apartments rent from between $550 for a one-bedroom to $850 for a three bedroom and are expected to be available November 1. [Click here for photo]

Evolve 24/7 Gym: This new 24-hour fitness center at 311 East Ave. received a DREAM grant to update the front door, fix bricks, paint the exterior and install a new sign. [Click here for photo]

Anderson, Klein, Brewster & Brandt Law Office:  This downtown law office at 417 East Ave. received a DREAM grant this summer to remove vertical siding, replace windows and the front door, add siding and brick to the front of the building and general paint and repairs to the front. [Click here for photo]

Shelter Insurance: KB Rentals, owned by Brad Johnson and Ted Titus, received a DREAM grant to enhance its building at 502 Fourth Ave., which is now occupied by Shelter Insurance. The project will include removing shake shingles and installing a new metal roof, new doors and windows and new lighting, soffit and fascia. [Click here for photo]

The GO! DREAM program offers three incentives:

1) First Impression Building Façade Grants:

• Up to $10,000 in matching grants to improve building facades
• Up to $2,500 in matching grants to new signs and exterior lighting
• Grants may also be combined with low-interest flex loan program for major renovations

2) Code Compliance Grant To Create Downtown Living Units:

• Up to $10,000 in matching grants per new living unit created in downtown Holdrege (if five living units are created, up to $50,000 in grants could be awarded). Work may include fire and safety, electrical, plumbing, structural and other related work to make outdated buildings habitable. Grants may be combined with flex loan program

3) Flex Loan Major Renovations

• For interior or exterior major renovations costing more than $10,000
• These low-interest loans must be paired with a bank loan and may be combined with other PCDC grant programs. PCDC loans cannot exceed 50 percent of the total financing package.

Several other projects are gearing up to apply for DREAM grants. Watch future PCDC publications to see what’s happening in downtown Holdrege.

If you would like more information about DREAM grants or want to download an application, please visit https://www.phelpscountyne.com/about-us/go!-programs/go-dream-programs or email Carley@PhelpsCountyNE.com.