Pawnee City, a town of about 850 people, has been facing a declining population. But after the city introduced a $50,000 moving incentive, the town received nearly enough applications to match half of the city’s population.

The offer has gone viral, said Steve Glenn, the chairman of the Economic Development Council of the Pawnee City Chamber of Commerce.

“It's been exciting because I think we've hit a sweet spot for people,” Glenn said. “That's an area that they would have to overcome to be a homeowner, is the down-payment assistance.”

Pawnee City announced a program March 12 that incentivizes people to move to the Southeast Nebraska town in Pawnee County by offering $50,000 in assistance for a down payment on a home. Less than a month after that announcement the program has received hundreds of applicants.

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Pawnee City, located more than an hour southeast of Lincoln between Beatrice and Falls City, had received 431 applicants as of Friday afternoon, according to Aaron Sawyer, the city chamber’s economic development director.

The town, however, doesn’t have the capacity to accept all of the applications. The program is designed to fill 25 single-family homes that the city is building as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. Pawnee City also hopes to build 25 apartment units.

To work through these applications, Glenn said the town will first be making sure that people understand the program’s income guidelines. The program is eligible for a person with an income of $69,450. For a family of four, that limit is $99,250, according to a website for the plan .

For the applicants that meet the requirements, applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Then people will have to place a deposit and have an approved mortgage. Some people who applied might be very serious about their application, Glenn said. Meanwhile, others might be less serious or want to wait a year or two before moving, he added.

The town is funding the housing initiative with a $640,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development as part of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Glenn also leads an alumni and fundraising organization called Pawnee City BOLD, which has worked to support revitalization efforts in the town.

All of these efforts and programs are designed to combat a worrying trend for Pawnee City. In 2020 the city had 865 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But in 2000 the population was more than 1,000. Population decline has been a real concern for the town — and others across Nebraska — especially as it affects services.

Where there were once three grocery stores, there’s now one and a few convenience stores. Where there were five hardware stores, there’s now one, said Glenn, the owner of that hardware store.

The city wants to create what it is calling a rural renaissance with its Vision 2030 initiative. That involves increasing the amount of housing available and working to create new programs.

Glenn said housing is the magic sauce, but improving the quality of life for residents is the goal. Which means anticipating the needs of residents, including child care and entertainment, Glenn said.

One of the Pawnee City BOLD’s recent initiatives is a summer concert series that will include a screening of "Cars" and an appearance by Dan Whitney — aka Larry the Cable Guy — a Pawnee City native who voices Mater in the movie.

Pawnee City isn’t the first to offer an incentive to attract residents. Topeka, Kansas, which is about an hour south of the town, is seeing the results of its own incentive.

Topeka launched a program called Choose Topeka in 2020, which offers a relocation incentive in coordination with employers. People moving to the city and buying a home could receive up to $15,000. Renters could receive up to $10,000.

More than 200 people have moved to Shawnee County, which includes Topeka, who have used the program or have family who used the program, said Trina Goss, the director of Business and Talent Initiatives at GO Topeka.

The program has brought attention to their community through media coverage of the initiative, Goss said. Topeka has been able to advertise its quality of life because of that attention.

“We are really great for young families and we have a lot of great outdoor experiences, and we are affordable, and it's not a long commute to get anywhere in the city,” Goss said. “And so it's really giving us that outlet and bringing a lot of attention.”

Topeka saw population growth for the first time in almost a decade in 2020, but the city’s population is still trending slightly downward, according to U.S. Census data.

Pawnee City hopes to grow the town by adding about 200 people to the area through its 50 planned housing additions. Having grown up in Pawnee City, Glenn said he knows it’s a great place to live.

“Times have changed, but we think people still thirst for safety and security and their family first,” he said. “And if we can give them a great house at a great price and overcome the obstacles of perhaps not having a whole lot of money in the bank for a down payment then we think that's a winnable argument."

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Top Journal Star photos for March 2025

A man walks through swath of light shining through an upper window in the rotunda last week at the Capitol, where lawmakers plan to spend 37 more days working on legislation that has been introduced. Speaker John Arch warned Monday that only "essential" bills are likely to receive attention as the clock winds down toward the end of the 90-day session.

Lauren Schilz of Wadsworth, Ill. (left), and her mother Robin Schilz play a game of cornhole during Admitted Students Day on Saturday at Nebraska Coliseum. The day offered students who are considering attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln a chance to explore campus and talk to students, faculty and alumni.

Nebraska celebrates after a home run against Oregon State on Friday at Haymarket Park.

Fourth grade students from Grant Elementary in Norfolk eat lunch on the lawn of the Capitol after a field trip Thursday, where they learned about the building's architecture and the Legislature.

Driving instructor Tariq Qasim guides Najla Shamo as she practices driving using a simulator during a driving class for refugee women at Lutheran Family Services' Lincoln office Friday. The resettlement agency was able to purchase the simulator and curriculum for the classes thanks to a grant from the Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation.

The Nebraska Mens Gymnastics Team celebrates Joey Pepe’s performance in the horizontal bar event on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

Framed through glasses of water, Sen. Deb Fischer speaks to invited guests during the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Report at the Lincoln Country Club on Thursday.

Nebraska’s Lauren Camenzind slides into home plate on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.

Nebraska's Britt Prince (center) and Jessica Petrie walk out of the court after losing to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at the Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kevin McCaffrey runs at Holmes Lake on Sunday. McCaffrey has been running a 50-mile ultra-marathon at the lake each month this year, inviting others to join him and raise money for good causes.

A blood moon during a total lunar eclipse is seen over the sower on top of the Nebraska Capitol early Friday morning. Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so, causing the moon to blush a coppery red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere. Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. If you missed out on Friday, the next total lunar eclipse visible from Nebraska will be on March 3, 2026.

Omaha Skutt's George Ziebell (50) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the game winning bucket with .5 seconds left on the clock to secure the win for the SkyHawks during their Class B semifinal state tournament game against Norris on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Omaha Westside's Lee'Murhion Robinson brings his jersey up to cover his face after falling to Papillion-La Vista South in the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

O’Neill St. Mary’s John Mlnarik (22) embraces O’Neill St. Mary’s Gage Hedstrom (24) after cutting off a piece of the basketball net following the Class D2 State Championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews battle a fire on Thursday at an automotive business near 36th Street and Cleveland Avenue.

Ashland-Greenwood players lift the championship trophy after defeating Omaha Concordia to win the Class C-1 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Lincoln Southeast celebrates winning the game on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

Papillion-La Vista South's Reece Kircher (22) waves the net after defeating Omaha Westside to win the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Papillion-La Vista South's Jayden Herrera (24) recovers the ball after it was shot by Omaha Westside's Lee'Murhion Robinson (second right) as he was boxed out by La Vista South's Bryson Bahl (first right) and Grant Beckenhauer (23) in the first half of the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Johnson-Brock's Casen Dalinghaus (13) scores over Howells-Dodge's Dane Meyer (1) in the second half of the Class D-1 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska’s Jordyn Bahl claps with dust on her hands after sliding into home base on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.

Ja’mylah Barbee, 7, adds glue to pipe cleaners while making a model house out of recycled materials on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Belmont Community Center in Lincoln.

Lincoln Pius X's Michael Haith (4), Charles Morrow (10) and Parker Kelly (5) go up to defend a shot by Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) in the first half of a Class B first-round state tournament game Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Lincoln Lutheran's Ryan Hager (12) is hit in the face by Fillmore Central's Jarin Tweedy (5) as he tries to score a layup in the second half of a Class C-1 first-round state tournament game Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.

(From left) Oakland-Craig's Sabrina Rost (11), Oakland-Craig's Carolyn Magnusson (13) and Oakland-Craig's Brinley Burton (15) celebrate winning the Class C-2 state championship game on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

Rob Andersen (left) helps Keiron Taylor put on a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Personal Protective Equipment suit during HazMat inventory and training on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at the Nebraska Task Force One Warehouse in Lincoln.

Waverly's Mia Jackson (left) protects the ball as York’s Kinslee Kern attempts to steal it from her on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

Dorchester's Mackenzie Yager (23) and Falls City Sacred Heart's Alise Reschke (11) battle for the ball during the Class D-2 state championship game on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Lincoln Christian team celebrates after defeating Milford during the Class C-1 state championship game Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

A baby goat mills around the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Monday. Goats have returned to the zoo's feeding space after leaving in September 2023.

Milford players celebrate the win over Minden during a Class C-1 semifinal state basketball tournament game on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Congressman Mike Flood addresses the questions and concerns of audience members during his town hall on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Columbus High School in Lincoln.

Elizabeth Evans, a food service manager at Open Harvest Co-op Grocery, cradles a selection of cheeses featured in this year's Cheese Madness tournament. The bracket-style competition pits various cheeses against each other for customers to vote on.

Reach the writer at or 402-473-7391.

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