Fans of “Parks and Recreation” can finally live out their dreams of living in Pawnee — sort of.

Pawnee City, Nebraska, which is about 90 minutes south of Lincoln, Nebraska, and two hours north of Kansa City, Missouri, is offering $50,000 to new residents who qualify.

Between March 14, when the program was announced, and March 27, 115 people have applied, Pawnee City Chamber of Commerce official Aaron Sawyer told Business Insider.

The city’s plan, dubbed Vision 2030, starts with a commitment to build 25 new single-family homes on currently empty lots. Plans on the Vision 2030 website show ranch-style homes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two-car garages, and spacious backyards priced at $325,000. (The average home value in Pawnee City is $102,705, according to Zillow.)

The program’s $50,000 payouts will go toward down payment assistance for buyers of the new houses.

Applications are open to families, single professionals, or retirees. Qualified homebuyers must make less than certain income caps, which range from $69,450 for a one-person household to $115,100 for a six-person household.

Interested homebuyers must complete an application form that asks for their current employers, monthly incomes, and household sizes.

In November 2024, workers broke ground on the first home, which is expected to be ready for move-in by this summer, according to the Vision 2030 website.

Remote work can be a source of tension between employers and their workers, with Amazon and J.P. Morgan calling employees back to the office five days a week five years after their initial COVID-19 shutdowns. But for those who still have the flexibility, the opportunity to move somewhere with a financial incentive can be enticing in today’s expensive housing market, where older homes may cost just as much as new builds.

Pawnee City is dreaming of a ‘rural renaissance’

The down-payment assistance initiative is part of Pawnee City’s effort to spark a “rural renaissance” that could rejuvenate the town, according to the Vision 2030 website.

Its population has dwindled. Pawnee City has 865 residents, according to the most recent data available from the US Census.The city has experienced a 50-year decline from a population high of 1,280 residents, according to the civic group Pawnee Bold.

For such a small place, Pawnee City has still produced several notable figures, including the first governor of Nebraska, David Butler; vintage Hollywood star Irish McCalla; and famous comedian Larry the Cable Guy.

“It’s a great place to grow up and raise kids,” said Sawyer, who has ties to the city through his grandparents. Pawnee City has its own school, hospital, two parks, and a brand-new amphitheater that just opened last year, he added, which is notable for a town of its size.

This summer’s amphitheater programming will include a polka band, a rock concert, and a screening of “Cars” that features a visit from the hometown hero himself: Larry the Cable Guy.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – In a couple weeks, a statewide volunteer group will begin a media blitz to get the word out on how senior citizens in Nebraska can save money on their property taxes.

Officials with Volunteers Assisting Seniors say they’ve planned an awareness campaign, using billboards, radio, and newspapers, alerting senior citizens to the possibility of tax savings if they apply for the state’s homestead exemption program.

The Minne Lusa Neighborhood is an historic part of Omaha, and like other neighborhoods in the metro, property taxes are on the rise.

Barb Peters and her husband have applied for the homestead exemption for a few years now, and it’s saving them money.

“This time, when I paid my taxes, I probably paid $1,700 less than I would have if I paid the full amount,” said Barb. “Even in our Minne Lusa neighborhood, the taxes have started going up because real estate values are going up, so that increases taxes and when you’re retired, it’s hard to budget that. The budget only goes so far.”

But there are many senior homeowners who are unaware of the homestead exemption, or they know about it and don’t apply because they don’t think they’d qualify.

“A couple making $62,000 might still qualify for up to 10 percent of property tax relief,” said Toni Roberts, the Executive Director of Volunteers Assisting Seniors.

Toni says the program works, and they have helped many older homeowners save money.

“Through that program, last year we were able to help over 900 people,” Toni said. “900 people made appointments and 800 people were submitted an application for assistance. We helped primarily senior homeowners in Douglas County save approximately $1.75 million in property tax relief.”

Toni says it only takes a few minutes for seniors to find out if they qualify. Barb thinks the time investment is well worth it.

“There could be people who would get a bigger discount than I did because again, it’s income driven,” said Barb.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors will even help homeowners fill out the paperwork. The organization plans a series of community meetings across the Omaha metro to explain the homestead exemption. Those meetings begin April 15.

For more information, visit their website or call 402-444-6671.

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Possessions in the final minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime decided seven games last season for Nebraska. The Huskers lost five. They beat Rutgers with defense and gained three first downs to run out the clock in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.

Eighteen Nebraska drives began after the end of the third quarter with a margin on the scoreboard of eight points or less. It got positive outcomes on three. Eight possessions ended in punts, four with turnovers and one apiece on a missed field goal, on downs and the end of regulation.

“It’s been an emphasis,” said quarterback Dylan Raiola, who started every game for the Huskers in 2024. “We’re not going to lose any more of those.”

Raiola holds the key to bettering Nebraska’s late-game and third-down missteps. His maturation as a QB in this second offseason of his collegiate career looms large.

Three months in, Raiola’s progress is evident.

He’s slimmed down, an objective stated by Matt Rhule in each of the coach’s media sessions since the calendar turned to 2025. According to his teammates and coaches, Raiola has advanced in his leadership. And he’s working, at the outset of spring practice this week, to correct subtle deficiencies in his game and around him on offense that kept Nebraska from winning the moments that mattered most last year.

“He’s 19 years old,” Rhule said. “He’s a very, very focused young man. So he’s working at it. And I think he’ll be really good.”

Raiola, the former five-star signee out of Buford, Ga., was chosen last year as the starter in August. However, an expectation of greatness arrived with him at Nebraska in January of his first year on campus.

He threw for 2,819 yards on 67.1 percent passing. Both marks set freshman records at Nebraska and led true freshmen nationally. Raiola tossed 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

When Dana Holgorsen took over in November as offensive coordinator for the Huskers’ final four games, he said he noticed that Raiola seemed to spend time “in the shadows.”

Holgorsen, a head coach in the Big 12 for eight seasons (and 13 overall), said Raiola didn’t embrace the added responsibility of a leader because the young QB already faced so much pressure.

“He’s working on that right now,” Holgorsen said. “And I see a tremendous amount of growth with him, with his leadership skills. He’s a great teammate and he understands the importance of leading. And that’s rubbing off on a lot of the guys.”

Rhule emphasized leadership as a Raiola priority from the start of this year.

“Before he can make it his team, he has to make it his offense,” Rhule said last month. “And before he can make it his offense, he has to make it his receiving corps.”

Rhule watched Raiola keep a quiet voice in the team setting last year in his bid to earn respect.

“Now he has to step up and lead,” Rhule said.

That means demanding that the receivers show up for offseason workouts arranged by Raiola.

“Year 1, it’s like, ‘I asked them. Five guys showed up.’” Rhule said. “Well, that’s not leadership. That’s trying to be a leader. Leadership is when you get everybody there.”

And this year?

“He’s been real serious about what he’s doing,” wide receiver Jacory Barney said.

Receiver Dane Key, a transfer from Kentucky vying for the WR1 spot, visited Raiola at the quarterback’s home in Georgia during the decision process.

“He’s growing up really quick,” running back Emmett Johnson said. “He’s learned a lot from last season. He’s seen what it takes to play in the Big Ten.”

Raiola’s completion rate in the fourth quarter dropped from 68.1 percent to 61.8. His yards per attempt fell from 7.7 in the first three quarters to 4.6 in the fourth.

On third down, Raiola completed 56.8 percent (54 of 95) of his throws, 14 points lower than on first and second down.

There’s room to improve.

Raiola started the process by watching film of the Huskers’ close defeats last year. Five losses came by a combined 29 points in a 7-6 season.

“As much as it hurts watching, you have to,” Raiola said.

He’d prefer to avoid tight outcomes. It’s not a reality in the Big Ten, though.

“That’s when you win games,” Raiola said. “That’s when you make money.”

Holgorsen is already deep into a process to revamp Nebraska’s two-minute offense. If up to Raiola, Holgorsen said, the Huskers would operate up-tempo at all times.

“But he also understands who his dad is and who his uncle is,” Holgorsen said, “and the importance of being physical and tough and being able to run the football.”

Raiola’s father, Dominic, of course, earned All-America honors as a center at Nebraska and played 14 years in the NFL. Dominic’s brother, Donovan Raiola, coaches the Huskers’ offensive line.

Dylan’s got the football DNA of an offensive lineman. He’s savvy like an O-lineman, too, Holgorsen said he’s learned since November. When the coach corners Raiola to discuss the nuance of a new play in the Huskers’ repertoire, the sophomore often cuts Holgorsen off to explain the play himself.

“I’ve never been with a quarterback,” Holgorsen said, “that is comfortable in the gun and can sit in the pocket and be a dropback passer — but also get under center and make run-game checks. He’s exceptional at it. And so we’re going to do it.

“He’s smart. He understands football.”

This offseason, Raiola also understands the importance of getting in the best shape of his playing career. Rhule introduced the topic publicly in February. On March 11, the coach said that Raiola knows he “won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds.”

Raiola, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, went to work this winter. He added a boxing workout to his morning regimen. He ran a mile after lifting sessions and added more cardio sessions.

“If I’m being honest, it sucks,” Raiola said Thursday. “It’s a constant grind every day. You don’t see change right away. It doesn’t change in a day. It doesn’t change in a week.”

His dad played a big role in the change, the QB said. Raiola credited Nebraska’s strength and nutrition staff. Over spring break, Raiola said, his weight loss efforts broke through. He returned to Lincoln last weekend nine or 10 pounds lighter than when he left.

“I feel amazing right now,” he said.

His outlook for 2025 is on the rise.

(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)