Smart Growth

Making a Visible Difference in Communities: Nebraska

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Omaha, NE/Council Bluffs, IA

The Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, community is comprised of approximately 470,000 residents, with approximately 28 percent identifying as minority. The interstate and river boundary makes environmental and public health protection efforts more challenging as a variety of local and state agencies are involved.

In Omaha, priorities include:

  • improving indoor air quality to reduce risks from asthma and radon
  • developing urban agriculture
  • working on Healthy Schools throughout the Omaha Public Schools
  • working toward brownfields redevelopment. 

In Council Bluffs, the focus is on improving water quality and planning community improvements for downtown infrastructures related to walkability and stormwater management, and brownfield redevelopment projects.  

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