Pawnee City, Nebraska, has offered potential new residents a whopping $50,000 to move in. The down payment incentive is an effort to revive the dwindling rural community. The tiny town, located just over an hour southeast of Lincoln, is launching an ambitious plan called Vision 2030 that promises to breathe life into the community. Once home to 1,300 residents in the 1970s, Pawnee City has seen its population decline to just 850 residents. The town’s investment includes 25 new homes already in the pipeline, plans for additional affordable apartment complexes, and a $650,000 grant from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It’s not just about attracting more residents, but about creating a sense of community in the small town. Development Council chairman Steve Glenn pointed out that it’s about the fundamentals of quality of life, assuring potential residents that their children will be safe there. So far, 27 people have expressed an interest.
