Omaha Habitat honors Community Progress with Nebraska leaders

Credit: Omaha Habitat for Humanity

There is much to celebrate in Omaha.

Over the past year, the State of Nebraska passed a land bank statute, and a diverse group of businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and elected officials in Omaha came together to champion the passage of the Omaha municipal land bank ordinance, creating the first land bank in the State. Community Progress provided guidance in the drafting of the Nebraska land bank statute as well as training for many of the stakeholders.

Last month, in recognition of these achievements, Community Progress along with community leaders in Omaha were honored as “Spirit of Humanity” recipients at the Omaha Habitat for Humanity’s annual Raise the Roof Gala.

The land bank is an important new tool to help return Omaha’s distressed properties to productive use. Strong local leaders like Omaha Habitat will be critical to the land bank’s success. The Omaha Municipal Land Bank board has now been appointed, and the land bank will begin its work in earnest in 2015.

We’re honored to have been part of bringing the Omaha Municipal Land Bank to life and look forward to see what the future holds.