We Don’t Coast – We propel, meeting the future before it happens.
The future is fast-approaching, and this region is ready. Case in point: The Greater Omaha Chamber, the United Way of the Midlands, and the Urban League of Nebraska revealed a first-of-its-kind Preferred Future strategy for the year 2040: “Greater Omaha 2040,” a tactical, focused, collaborative endeavor envisioning the region as one of America’s great next-generation areas.
Driving the initiative are three primary elements: people, place and prosperity – foundational underpinnings organizers say are based on “what’s coming, who’s coming and how we can establish Greater Omaha as a world-class region.”
“Our population is growing in diversity and talent,” said Thomas Warren, Sr., president and CEO, Urban League of Nebraska. “We have a responsibility to our residents, our college graduates and our widening community of young professionals to retain and develop the talent we have, while concurrently facilitating conversations around diversity and inclusion in the workplace to meet our demands for labor – the kind of conversations that will make our future everyone’s ‘preferred’ future.”
As such, the initiative positions the 2040 region as a high growth/high tech district, and a net importer of talent that has amassed an impressive record of “best places” accolades.
Shawna Forsberg, president and chief executive officer, United Way of the Midlands said the Preferred Future/Greater Omaha 2040 collaborative is unique and ground-breaking. “Creating a forum for generating solutions, inciting change and encouraging a voice within a community this size – and among groups that serve nonprofits, corporations, individuals and economic-development initiatives – is unprecedented,” Forsberg said, “but, that’s what this is all about – visioning and inclusion for positive change.”
“Strategy does not happen in a vacuum. To be better, do more and practice excellence, this community proves, time and again, collaboration is key,” David G. Brown, president and CEO, the Greater Omaha Chamber, said. “Our combined strategy of inventing – and inviting – the future, depends on both data and ingenuity. It depends on each of us championing systemic growth. It depends on inclusion, enthusiasm and planning. It depends on us envisioning Greater Omaha as more than just a place, and demands we make this region the best place, our place – a powerful place with explosive potential.”
To further fuel the future, the Chamber is aligning its five-year economic development strategy with Greater Omaha 2040. This board-approved strategy will begin implementation in 2019.
To view Greater Omaha 2040, go to https://www.omahachamber.org/greater-omaha-2040/.