FNBO Awards $862,000 in Impact Grants

Press Release

Release Date: March 30, 2021

First National Bank of Omaha Awards $862,000 in Impact Grants

OMAHA, Neb. March 30, 2021—First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) has awarded a total of $862,000 in Impact Grants to 49 organizations in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, announced Alec Gorynski, Vice President, Community Development and Corporate Philanthropy. The grants support programs related to affordable housing and neighborhood stability, as well as entrepreneurship and small business development.

“At FNBO, we envision a future where all our communities are strong and successful. We understand that in order to achieve that vision, every individual must have access to the tools, resources and opportunities that help them improve their overall financial wellbeing,” said Gorynski. “That’s why our Impact Grant Program focuses on the long-term success of our communities by directing our investments to community partners who are working to create positive outcomes in areas that will have the greatest impacts on financial wellbeing.”

Grants for affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs will enable FNBO’s community partners to build, rehabilitate or finance an estimated 615 affordable housing units across the bank’s seven-state footprint. Due to the financial impact of the pandemic, FNBO extended support to organizations that will provide housing expense assistance so that an estimated 3,500 families remain in their homes. Grants supporting entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives will provide training, technical assistance and financing so that an estimated 5,000 area small businesses can create or retain an estimated 3,400 jobs.

Nebraska and Iowa

FNBO awarded $605,000 in Impact Grants to 29 organizations across Nebraska and western Iowa. Grants supporting affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs include:

• $20,000 – Gesu Housing, Inc. (Omaha): supports the construction of five affordable homes.
• $40,000 – Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (Omaha): provides support for three newly constructed homes and five renovated homes.
• $25,000 – Holy Name Housing Corporation (Omaha): supports the construction of 39 affordable homes and the rehabilitation of nine affordable homes.
• $15,000 – Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (Omaha): supports the Housing Problem Solving program which helps find affordable housing for those who are homeless or nearly homeless.
• $20,000 – Midwest Housing Development Fund, Inc. (Omaha): provides support to assist developers with low income housing tax credit applications, financial packaging and subsequent project developments.
• $20,000 – Nebraska Housing Developers Association (Omaha): provides support for programming including homebuyer training, renter education, down payment assistance and weatherization assistance.
• $25,000 – Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance (Omaha): provides funding for construction intervention, environmental assessments and education for 25 families.
• $25,000 – Omaha Municipal Land Bank (Omaha): provides support for investment in Omaha’s distressed properties through property maintenance, foreclosure assistance, tax lien certificate and real estate purchases.
• $40,000 – Project Houseworks (Omaha): provides critical home repairs for 165 low-income seniors.
• $30,000 – Seventy Five North (Omaha): provides support for the operational and capital costs for the construction of five affordable housing units.
• $25,000 – Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs (Council Bluffs): supports construction of two affordable housing units in Council Bluffs.
• $10,000 – 712 Initiative (Council Bluffs): provides funding for the “Rock the Block” residential repair and clean up.
• $10,000 – Lincoln/Lancaster Habitat for Humanity (Lincoln): provides funding for affordable home construction materials. 
• $10,000 – Lincoln Housing Charities (Lincoln): supports the construction of one affordable home in partnership with the Lincoln Housing Authority.
• $20,000 – NeighborWorks Lincoln (Lincoln): provides funding to build one to three affordable homes in Lincoln.
• $20,000 – Habitat for Humanity of Columbus (Columbus): supports the construction of one affordable housing unit.
• $15,000 – Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity (Fremont): provides operating support for the construction of two affordable housing units in Fremont.   
• $10,000 – Rebuilding Together Platte Valley (Fremont): provides funding for critical home repairs for 25 low-income homeowners in Fremont.
• $12,500 – Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity (Grand Island): supports the construction of four affordable housing units in Grand Island.
• $10,000 – Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity (Kearney): provides funding for the construction of three affordable housing units in Kearney.
• $25,000 – NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska (Norfolk): provides down payment assistance and homebuyer education.
• $10,000 – North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity (North Platte): supports the construction of three affordable housing units in North Platte.
• $12,500 – High Plains Community Development Corporation (Chadron): provides support for the construction of one affordable housing unit.

Grants supporting entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives in Nebraska and western Iowa include:

• $40,000 – Catholic Charities of Omaha (Omaha): supports the Microbusiness and Asset Development Program which provides business training, technical assistance and micro loans.
• $15,000 – I Be Black Girl (Omaha): provides entrepreneurial support for black women owned small businesses.
• $10,000 – Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (Omaha): supports training and education opportunities for small businesses led and owned by Latinos and Immigrants in Omaha and Council Bluffs.
• $40,000 – Nebraska Enterprise Fund (Omaha): provides support for Nebraska Enterprise Fund programming in North Omaha, South Omaha and Southwest Iowa.
• $20,000 – Rural Investment Corporation (Omaha): provides support for services to small businesses including financing, business training, technical assistance and networking to a diverse target market.
• $30,000 – Iowa Western Small Business Development Center (Council Bluffs): provides funding to support a full-time counselor at the Small Business Development Center.

Colorado

In Colorado, FNBO awarded $122,000 in Impact Grants to nine organizations. Grants supporting affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs include: 

• $10,000 – Flatirons Habitat for Humanity (Boulder): supports the construction of six affordable housing units in the Boulder area.
• $15,000 – Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity (Greeley): supports the construction of 15 affordable housing units.
• $10,000 – Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley (Longmont): supports the construction of a duplex to house two low-income families.
• $12,000 – Loveland Habitat for Humanity (Loveland): supports the construction of six affordable housing units.

Grants supporting entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives in Colorado include:

• $20,000 – Colorado Enterprise Fund (Denver): supports business coaching for small business owners. 
• $20,000 – DreamSpring (Denver): provides funding to support a COVID-19 small business relief and recovery program in the Fort Collins and Greeley communities.
• $10,000 – Mi Casa (Denver): provides support for business pathways programming including training, consulting, and wrap around services in the Fort Collins area. 
• $15,000 – Innosphere (Fort Collins): provides support for entrepreneurial and small business development for science and technology-based startup companies.
• $10,000 – University of Northern Colorado Foundation (Greeley): provides support for the East Colorado Small Business Development Center which provides free, confidential, one-on-one consulting services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.  

Illinois

In Illinois, FNBO awarded $65,000 in Impact Grants to six organizations. Grants supporting affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs include:

• $10,000 – Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity (Aurora): supports the construction of five affordable housing units in the Aurora area. 
• $10,000 – Habitat for Humanity of Boone County (Belvidere): supports the construction of one affordable housing unit in the Belvidere area. 
• $15,000 – Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County (McHenry): provides funding for the rehabilitation/preparation for the sale of rehabbed properties.

Grants supporting entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives in Illinois include: 

• $10,000 – Allies for Community Business (Chicago): provides business coaching and microlending for business owners in Boone, Kane, McHenry, DeKalb and Kendall counties.
• $10,000 – Dekalb County Economic Development (DeKalb): provides funding for economic development initiatives in low-income areas.
• $10,000 – Waubonsee Community College Small Business Development Center (Sugar Grove): provides funding for a bilingual business advisor as part of the Small Business Development Center services.

Kansas

In Kansas, FNBO awarded a $20,000 Impact Grant supporting affordable housing and neighborhood stability.

• $20,000 – Friends of JCDS/Johnson County Developmental Supports (Lenexa): supports construction renovations costs for affordable housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, FNBO awarded $35,000 in Impact Grants to three organizations. Grants supporting affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs include: 

• $10,000 – Community Development Foundation (Huron): provides support for a housing rehab specialist within the housing authority.
• $12,500 – Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties (Yankton): supports the construction of one affordable housing unit in the Yankton area.

• $12,500 – Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity (Mitchell):  supports the construction of two affordable housing units in the Mitchell area.

Texas

In Texas, FNBO awarded a $15,000 Impact Grant supporting entrepreneurship and small business development. 

• $15,000 – DreamSpring: provides funding for COVID-19 small busines relief and recovery program.

For more information about FNBO’s impact initiatives, visit www.fnbo.com/impact