Twin Cities Development has been informed the cities of Scottsbluff and Gering have been invited to enter into contract negotiations with the state on two of the three grants submitted to demolish commercial and residential buildings in Scottsbluff and Gering.

The grants would total over one and a quarter million dollars. Properties targeted for demolition in Scottsbluff include the Hergert Milling properties on Avenue B, the City Limits Motel on East Overland and 25 miscellaneous residential buildings. In Gering the former HHS building, the McKee properties across from the Civic Center and 15 miscellaneous structures are being targeted.

TCD Executive Director Rawnda Pierce, who submitted the grants on behalf of the cities, says being invited by the state to negotiate contracts and specify how the process will work is the key initial step to get an official grant award by Governor Heineman in September.

No work can be done on any properties without an agreement with a willing property owner. Pierce says if an agreement cannot be reached on a targeted property, the money can be used to clean up a different property.

A grant application to demolish McKinley School in Gering and redevelop the block into single family homes was not successful due to a letter from the State Historic Preservation group regarding the possible historic significance of the property. There was also uncertainty about the project being done in time to meet grant guidelines and the owner's willingness to sell the property.