The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded $600,000 to benefit two south-central Nebraska projects geared toward helping low- and moderate-income homeowners.

The funds were recently awarded to the Housing Development Corp., a nonprofit group with offices in Grand Island and Hastings.

One project will use $150,000 to buy, rehabilitate and resell three properties in Adams, Clay, Hall, Nuckolls and Webster counties to homeowners earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Eligible households will receive up to $23,000 toward down payments.

The other project will use $450,000 to create a regional housing rehabilitation program in the same five counties. Funding assistance will be capped at $25,000 per house.