BEATRICE -- Ground was broken Tuesday at 16th and Bell streets to mark the official start of Bell Street Apartments and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the USDA Rural Housing Program.

Maxine Moul, Nebraska director for USDA Rural Development, said the Bell Street Apartments will be the first Nebraska group home provided funding by USDA Rural Development. She noted that the USDA Housing Act of 1949 "called for a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family," adding, "It is with great pride Rural Development celebrates this turning point in homeownership."

Bell Street Apartments will feature five duplexes. Each of the 10 units will have one bedroom and a total of 715 square feet. The residents will have a community room and laundry facilities available to them.

Bell Street Apartments LLC is the owner, with management provided by Crown Pointe Management.

The project is anticipated to be completed in nine months, with leasing starting October 2010. Blue Valley Mental Health and Region V will be providing direct support services to tenants through their caseworkers.

Funding partners are USDA Rural Development with $562,223, Nebraska Department of Economic Development (HOME/Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds) of $304,392, Federal Home Loan Bank at $69,000 and Region V Systems at $105,000. The total project cost is $1,040,615.

During the last two decades, USDA Rural Development has helped finance homes for 11,716 rural Nebraska families through funding of $710,179,167 and delivered $10,696,776 to help 1,999 rural Nebraska homeowners with repairs and improvements. USDA Rural Development has also provided funding to 246 rural rental housing complexes that offer 3,647 units of rural rental housing to Nebraskans.