Some Nebraska communities are finding out what Norfolk realized several years ago: Former school buildings can be repurposed so that they can continue to serve as a community resource.
A recent Nebraska Examiner story highlighted communities like Beatrice and Ogallala that will realize the benefits of undertaking such projects.
In Norfolk, one need only look at the former Northern Hills Elementary school building that has served as a much-needed childcare facility in recent years.
In Beatrice, the former Stoddard Elementary School underwent a $6.4 million renovation to a housing facility for tenants age 55 and older. In Ogallala, city officials are partnering with a private developer and tapping various economic development programs to repurpose a school building.
Given that affordable housing and options for senior citizens are issues of concern throughout Nebraska, this is a welcome development.
We give much of the credit for these new projects to the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, which administers the program that offers low-income housing tax credits. Shannon Harner, the agency’s executive director, calls the tax credit the most important single tool in bumping up the ...