(KLZA)-- Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise Executive Director Lucas Froeschl presented the organizations quarterly report to the Richardson County Commissioners and the Falls City Council during their meetings this week.

Froeschl noted that work on the 33rd Street Project on the north edge of Falls City is scheduled to begin July 18. Snyder and Associates have been hired to prepare a master plan for the North Highway 73 development project which includes 19 acres.

With the passage of LB 97 by the Nebraska Legislature which qualifies Falls City for $15 million to help bring additional power to the community, EDGE is now working with the Falls City Board of Public Works and with OPPD for guidance on how they wish to proceed with an application.

EDGE is also partnering with OPPD on a master plan including utility installation and infrastructure costs for an approximately 1,000 acre site for future development. The site on the south edge of Falls City runs along the Union Pacific Railroad line and is close to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line. An engineer has been hired for the design and OPPD is paying half of the costs for the preliminary work. Marketing plans are expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year.

It was also noted during the report that EXCEL Corporation should know by the end of October if they will receive funding for eight more duplex units at Wilderness Falls which would create 16 more available apartments.

EDGE is also recruiting eight local investors to build 2 or 3-bedroom homes approximately 1,250 square feet in size. The development would be low maintenance homes and yards with smaller footprints.

The area proposed is Champions Crossing, just south of the Community Medical Center. Proposals include projected costs of $200 per square foot for slab-on-grade homes and $220 a square foot for homes with a basement.

Construction is proposed for the Spring of 2023.