OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – There was a big announcement for three Omaha metro organizations Wednesday.

Gov. Jim Pillen and other state officials revealed the Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha Performing Arts, and the Elkhorn Athletic Association are getting more funding from the Shovel-Ready Capital Project Program than originally announced in 2022.

“The funds are assisting awardees with completion of capital projects that had been delayed during the pandemic,” said Nebraska Department of Economic Development director K.C. Belitz. “Since initially making those Round 1 Shovel-Ready awards, the DED has been able to reallocate remaining program funds in a couple instances, including today.”

The awards increased from $3.85 million to $6.3 million for each organization.

Omaha Performing Arts said what it’s getting will go toward the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, expanding its education activities.

“Providing classrooms and rehearsal spaces, which will allow OPA to offer an even greater breadth of innovative activities in the performing arts,” said vice president of development Sabrina Weiss. “These programs will range from classes and camps, to teacher trainings and professional workshops.”

At the Joslyn Art Museum, funds will help cover renovation costs.

“Visitors—when they come to the Joslyn—will find new community spaces, additional studios, and enhanced amenities that support public programs of all kinds,” said executive director and CEO Dr. Jack Becker.

The Elkhorn Athletic Association has been a recipient since the first round of funds. The state said its efforts were harmed by the pandemic, like the others.

The group’s chairman said it’s tough to say how many jobs the multi-sports facility it’s building near Valley will create, but he said it’ll include up to 100 seasonal positions.

“You’re going to have folks coming from Valley, from Fremont and places like that—Yutan, Wahoo—off of western Douglas County,” said chairman Bruce O’Neel. “Those locations obviously aren’t…‘Elkhorn.’ They’re locations that have a different socioeconomic profile than where we are.”

He told 6 News his organization serves more than 8,200 athletes. Of them, around 7 percent are on free or reduced lunch programs, so the Elkhorn Athletic Association gives them financial aid so they can participate in sports.

This money is expected to go a long way to help break down financial barriers for families.

“So if they apply and they’re part of a food lunch program, and they ask for relief from their registrations, we have a fund of about $15,000 to $20,000…so that they can play,” O’Neel said.

The DED said projects like these are critical for creating attractions for people who may want to live and work in Nebraska.

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