GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Developers and city officials in Grand Island are making progress on plans for a voter-approved district that will be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

A spokesman announced Thursday that a team of stakeholders have been crafting a master plan for the development of the city’s Good Life District. The plan will go to the city council for review on January 28th. It will then cycle through another couple of public board meetings before construction begins.

Roughly two-thirds of Grand Island voters supported the creation of an economic development program related to the district in an August special election. The new program means sales made within the Good Life District will only be subject to half the typical amount of state sales tax. Thanks to voters, the city will replace that reduced sales tax with a city tax of the same amount. The funds raised by the replacement tax will be used to pay for public infrastructure upgrades within the district. 

“The Good Life District designation is the largest investment the State of Nebraska has ever made in our community,” said Mary Berlie, the president of the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation and Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. “This funding ensures that we can move quickly from planning to action, allowing us to capitalize on new, transformational opportunities within the Good Life District.”

The state incentive program helps the multipurpose district become feasible. According to a news release, the city and developer Woodsonia are working with the architectural firm Confluence for the designing of the master plan, which features plans for commercial use, mixed use, school use as well as acreage for multi-family homes. A sports complex, fieldhouse and an aquatic community center are all also included in the plans.

The news release says the team is focused on starting construction this year.

“The speed at which we are moving shows how eager all involved parties are in seeing growth in Grand Island,” Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele said. “From the master planning process to the first shovel breaking ground within the district’s boundaries, 2025 could be an historical year for our city.”