Help Save Nebraska’s Historic Properties!

Your ability to save, rehabilitate, restore, and/or repurpose Nebraska’s historic buildings is at risk! During the 2022 Nebraska Legislative Session, the State Legislature failed to renew Nebraska’s program that provides funding, in the form of tax credits, to individuals, businesses, and other entities that wish to restore Nebraska’s unique historical properties for use, rather than tear them down and build new.

The History Nebraska Foundation, in partnership with History Nebraska is working hard to get these credits reinstated, but we need your help!

Over the last 7 years, the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit Program has proven vital to the restoration of 53 different Historic buildings across the state, with another 40 or so projects currently underway. In most instances, if it not for the tax credit program, the buildings would have either been destroyed to make room for a new facility, or left to further decay, becoming a blight upon their community.

With the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit Program, however, rather than becoming a blight, these magnificent buildings can become major assets and once again add to, rather than detract from, local economies. According to a University of Nebraska report on the program, between 2015 and 2020, the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit Program resulted in:

• The direct employment of 1,897 full-time workers, as well as an additional 1,117 full-time workers indirectly.
• $101.6 million in wages paid to employees.
• An increase of $9.4 million in local and state property taxes collected due to the projects.
• Nearly 100 historic buildings restored or being restored for use by future generations.

This program is a no brainer for we Nebraskans, especially in rural areas, where main streets already have too many holes where businesses once existed. In rural communities, every building lost represents another lost opportunity for a new business to take root. In cities like Omaha, the restoration of Historic properties can bring vitality back to neighborhoods that desperately need it, as well.

Please consider joining us in our efforts to reinstate this incredible program by making a gift today!