SIDNEY, Neb. -- The Sidney City Council discussed Tuesday how to create more housing in Sidney and a new business moving to Sidney that will create four more jobs each year for people in Cheyenne County.

During the city council meeting on Tuesday, City Manager David Scott discussed the letter he received back from the Department of Economic Development of Nebraska regarding Sidney’s application for the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF).

“We made the first round but we did not make the final cut,” Scott said regarding Sidney’s Affordable Housing Application.

Although the application was not accepted, Scott said he is glad he can learn how to make Sidney’s application stronger for the next grant he applies for. Scott said there will be more rural housing grants that he will likely be applying to on behalf of Sidney.

Scott said the only feedback he has received now was to be more detailed. Scott has a meeting later this week to discuss how to make Sidney’s application better.

Mayor Roger Gallaway said according to the housing study the city had done, Sidney needs 280 more homes by the year 2030. Gallaway asked Scott if that is possible considering Sidney would have to build 35 new homes a year.

Scott said building that many homes is not impossible if they can find enough builders.

“Finding developers or contractors is obviously going to be the hardest part,” Scott said. “We are limited by the number of developers that we can attract.”

The council approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program to Sidney Workforce Housing.

Before the relocation of Cabela’s, many construction projects were underway but abandoned, Scott said. The abandoned lots are now not attractive to builders since there are fewer economic and financial incentives. The cost of construction has also risen, he said.

The implement of Workforce TIF would address these issues by allowing developers to utilize TIF for the cost to construct the improvements, city leaders said.

TIF offsets the high cost and adds incentive to contractors, they noted.

The council also approved a job creation incentive fund for a new business coming to Sidney. 

Crecera Brands Inc. agreed to provide four jobs every year for three years to people in Cheyenne County. After the first 12 months of providing the new jobs, the Sidney City Council agreed to pay Crecera $65,000 for the first year, another $65,000 after two years, and an additional $70,000 after the third year.

Overall Sidney pledged $200,000 job creative incentive to Crecera for the 12 jobs the company will create over three years.

“I make it so the employees have to be based in Sidney or Cheyenne County,” Scott said.