Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA)

Nebraska’s community development law empowers the governing body of Nebraska municipalities to create a special political subdivision for the purpose of determining and designating certain areas of the city in need of improvement and assisting with development in those areas.  In February of 1999 the Fairbury City Council created the Fairbury Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) to assist with redevelopment in Fairbury.  The CRA is charged with determining the types of improvements or developments needed within designated districts (blight districts) and recommending appropriate means for funding such improvements or developments for the maximum benefit to the city’s taxpayers

Developers typically look for properties that are in the best locations with infrastructure already in place near other nice properties and ready for business.  The CRA is responsible for incentivizing developers to improve blighted property that would otherwise sit unused or underused.   By improving these properties, the CRA improves the looks of our community, makes Fairbury more attractive for additional investment, creates jobs and adds other taxpayers to the community reducing the overall burden for those already paying taxes.

The CRA is actively working towards enhancing our community by utilizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to encourage development of blighted areas in Fairbury.  TIF is a method of financing public improvements associated with a private development project and assists developers with redevelopment of unused or underused areas.  If you are interested in acquiring a CRA property or utilizing TIF for a development project in Fairbury check out our TIF webpage and the CRA property page or reach out to the CRA at 402-300-3016 or the Fairbury Development Services Director Laura Bedlan at Lbedlan@fairburyne.org