# South Omaha Plaza Project Breaks Ground With $25M State Grant  
**Published:** 2026-06-29T23:13:08.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/construction-starts-on-south-omaha-plaza-project-buoyed-by-25m-state-grant/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/south-omaha-plaza-project-breaks-ground-with-25m-state-grant

OMAHA, Neb. — Construction began this week on La Plaza de la Raza, a multimillion-dollar transformation of a South Omaha parking lot into a vibrant community gathering space, according to reporting by the [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/construction-starts-on-south-omaha-plaza-project-buoyed-by-25m-state-grant/). The project, centered at 24th and N Streets in the historic commercial district, represents one of the largest public investments in South Omaha in recent decades.

The plaza transformation is buoyed by a [$25 million state grant](https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/) administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development as part of the broader North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program. The state funding, awarded in January 2024, positions the plaza makeover as the anchor project of the Adelante Initiative, a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization effort.

The redesigned plaza will feature an amphitheater, performance stage, playground areas, open lawn, shaded family gathering spaces and signature art installations. For decades, the site functioned primarily as a concrete parking lot and occasional gathering space for community events like the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. [The reimagined plaza is designed as a cultural anchor](https://www.latinoedc.org/adelante-initiative) reflecting South Omaha's Latino heritage through extensive community input.

Cesar Garcia, executive director of Canopy South, a lead nonprofit partner on the redevelopment, said the project "represents one of the most significant public investments South Omaha has seen in decades." The City of Omaha and Douglas County each contributed an additional $500,000 to the effort.

A parallel effort is underway to address parking challenges created by the plaza conversion. The City of Omaha is developing a multi-level parking garage at 23rd and N Streets with up to 300 parking spaces — more than currently available at the plaza site. The facility will include ground-floor retail and commercial space designed to boost pedestrian activity. City officials said the new garage, expected to begin construction this winter, represents the first city-owned public parking structure in the South Omaha area.

The parking garage is expected to receive approximately $12 million in infrastructure funding from the North-South grant program, with the city exploring bond mechanisms to finance remaining construction costs. Daily and monthly parking fees are expected to cover debt service, while free two-hour parking windows will be available to shoppers and workers.

[South 24th Street has long served as the cultural and commercial center of South Omaha](https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2016/south24th/), a historic business district known for its diverse immigrant heritage dating to the 1880s meatpacking era. In recent decades, Latino entrepreneurs have revitalized the corridor through restaurants, shops and offices along the Street, which earned recognition as one of America's "Great Places" in 2016.

Project leaders expect the plaza to open in fall 2027. Marco Floreani, an economic development aide to Mayor John Ewing Jr., said the parking garage and plaza improvements are expected to help alleviate congestion on the busy 24th Street corridor while encouraging visitors to live, work and invest in the area. Marcos Mora of the Latino Economic Development Council, another key partner, called it "a long journey" and said the completed plaza will help establish South Omaha as a more prominent destination for tourism, shopping and dining.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/construction-starts-on-south-omaha-plaza-project-buoyed-by-25m-state-grant/)
- [North & South Omaha Recovery Grant Program overview](https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/)
- [Adelante Initiative details from Latino Economic Development Council](https://www.latinoedc.org/adelante-initiative)
- [South 24th Street as a Great Place in America](https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2016/south24th/)

---

This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/construction-starts-on-south-omaha-plaza-project-buoyed-by-25m-state-grant/.