Seven Nebraska towns have received a total of more than $1.3 million in federal grants to help clean up neighborhoods and improve homes that can be sold to low and middle-income residents.

The towns sharing the money are: Bellevue; Columbus; Fremont; Grand Island; Kearney; Norfolk; and North Platte. The individual grants range from about $171,000 to nearly $260,000.

The cities will also provide matching funds.

Some of the projects will include purchasing, improving, then selling five houses in Columbus, fixing a water main in Grand Island and demolishing four dilapidated houses in Norfolk.

In Kearney, curbs and gutters along central Avenue will be replaced and handicap ramps will be installed at intersections, among other things.