Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent), Education as determined by the Legislature (44.5 percent) (distributed among the Education Innovation Fund and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund), Nebraska State Fair (10 percent), and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).

Since 1993, the Nebraska Lottery has raised $381 million for its beneficiary funds. Projects in each of Nebraska's 93 counties have benefited from Lottery proceeds.

ENVIRONMENT

The Nebraska Environmental Trust accepts grant applications annually, usually in September. Before submitting a proposal, applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust and discuss their concept with staff for assistance in meeting application requirements.

Applications may be distributed for technical review by members of a team of nearly 70 volunteer professionals, to assure design feasibility, cost effectiveness, and sound environmental principals are in place.

Six members of the Trust Board serve on the Grants Committee. The Committee reviews each proposal, first evaluating eligibility and then rating each eligible application. Because requests for funding are usually five to ten times the amount available for award, the process extends over several meetings.

Applications are then listed in rank order, according to the rated score, and funding recommendations based on this list are presented to the board. The list is published and a public hearing is scheduled, after which the board votes to issue awards.

Grantees enter into contracts specifying the conditions, timeline and expenses that will be covered under the grant. Most grants are awarded as reimbursement for expenses as the project is implemented. A grant can be funded in up to three-year increments.

Information on the geographic distribution of Trust grants can be found here on the Trust website.

In-depth information on some of the projects funded by the Trust can be found here.

The Nebraska Environmental Trust
700 S. 16th Street
P.O. Box 94913
Lincoln, NE 68509-4913
402-471-5409, 402-471-8233 (fax)
www.environmentaltrust.org

EDUCATION

A share of proceeds equal to 44.5 percent is dedicated to educational purposes, as determined by the Legislature. The Education Innovation Fund and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund (formerly known as the Nebraska Scholarship Fund) each receive equal shares (22.25 percent) of proceeds dedicated to education.

Administered by the Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education, the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Program offers need-based scholarships to students in the University of Nebraska System, Nebraska State College System, and Community College System. Numerous private career schools also participate in the program, which receives a combination of federal funds, State General Fund dollars and Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Nebraska Department of Education
301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 94987
Lincoln, NE 68509-4987
402-471-2295
www.nde.state.ne.us

Nebraska Opportunity Grant
Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 95005
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5005
402-471-2847, 402-471-2886 (fax)
www.ccpe.state.ne.us

STATE FAIR

Dating to 1868, the Nebraska State Fair offers hundreds of attractions including many entertainers, exhibits, midway rides and delicious food. The Nebraska State Fair combines tradition with innovation to produce an educational and exciting event for the entire family. Beyond the annual fair event, State Fair Park hosts a variety of activities throughout the year—from ice hockey and thoroughbred horse racing to car shows, and from youth education programs and antique shows to private meetings and parties.

Nebraska State Fair
P.O. Box 1387
Grand Island, NE 68802-1387
308-382-1620
www.statefair.org

COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS ASSISTANCE

Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Gamblers Assistance Program has four primary goals: training counseling professionals to serve those affected by problem gambling, establish a statewide network of service providers, provide instant access to services across the state, and insure provision of services.

Compulsive Gambling, Division of Behavioral Health Services
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 98925
Lincoln, NE 68509-8925
402-479-5574
www.hss.state.ne.us

In addition to contracting for service delivery through a number of local counseling resources, the Program contracts with the Nebraska Council on Compulsive Gambling for statewide counselor training and operation of a Compulsive Gambling Help Line.

Nebraska Council on Compulsive Gambling
119 West Mission Suite G
Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
402-292-0061, 402-291-4605 (fax)
Nebraska/Nationwide Help Line: 1-800-522-4700
www.nebraskacouncil.com