LB 840 funds will grow Ewing, aid economic development

On May 12, vote yes twice to approve the LB840 Economic Development Program Plan and LB840 tax in Ewing.

What is LB840?

LB840 authorizes the village to collect and appropriate local sales tax dollars, if approved by the voters, for the community to use for economic development purposes. The LB840 program is locally controlled. It is run by a local citizens’ advisory committee that makes the decisions on where the funds should be spent and what businesses should be assisted.

Who Benefits from LB840?

LB840 provides numerous benefits to individual businesses, the community and the region. With LB840, Ewing will be able to provide loans to local businesses for start-up and expansion, provide workshops and additional training for employers and their employees and provide one-on-one technical assistance. The funds can also be used to match grant applications, allowing the community to bring in additional dollars from outside the community.

There are many other benefits to communities that have LB840 in place. When businesses have the funds needed to start or expand, additional jobs are created, more families move to the area, vacant buildings and homes are filled and economic growth for businesses and the community occurs. LB840 can also provide funds for businesses outside the village limits, but within the county, strengthening the potential for regional cooperation and growth.

Possible eligible activities under LB840 include:

•direct loans or grants to qualifying businesses for fixed assets and/or working capital

•loan guarantees for qualifying businesses

•grants for public works improvements which are essential for the location or expansion of a qualifying business

•grants or loans for job training and workforce recruitment

•the purchase of real estate, options for such purchases and the renewal or extension of such options

•payments for salaries and support of city staff or the contracting of an outside entity to implement the economic development program

•bonding used to carry out program activities.

•activities to promote early childhood care and education infrastructure.

Sales Tax Exemptions:

Did you know the following items are exempt from village sales tax?

•prescription medicines and insulin

•food for human consumption (groceries), except prepared meals

•feed or water for the care of or consumption by animals ordinarily used for human consumption

•seed and animal plants for agricultural purposes

•agricultural chemicals to be applied to land and crops

•agricultural machinery and equipment

•ag fuel, including electricity, coal, gas, fuel oil, diesel fuel, tractor fuel, propane, gasoline and butane

•water purchased for irrigation of agricultural lands and

•motor vehicle fuels.

Ewing voters, you have the opportunity to decide on May 12, 2020, if you want this for your community. Voting "YES" twice on LB840 is the key to unlocking the existing tax dollars for improvements to Ewing through economic development. The opportunities are endless, but we need your vote