Previous campaign concludes in 2018, record-breaking numbers expected
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 21, 2018 – The Greater Omaha Chamber today announced a sweeping, collaborative, five-year, $32-million economic development campaign designed to accelerate regional advancement, stimulate income and GDP growth and encourage prosperity for all. To date, campaign funders have pledged $5,250,000 in support.
Prosper Omaha 2.0, a strategic initiative powered by community leadership and business sponsorship, identifies performance strategies and priorities for fast-tracking the area toward Greater Omaha’s Preferred Future.
Following closely on the success of the inaugural Prosper Omaha strategy (which launched in 2014, and produced nearly 300 landed projects, grew $4.2 billion in capital investment and created more than 13,000 jobs – thanks to $25.9 million of support from 300 investors), Prosper 2.0 suggests, “unprecedented levels of prosperity and competitiveness,” according to David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber.
Brown added the aggressive fundraising campaign will propel the region beyond expected projections into multiple “best-of-the-best” categories, with:
- $16M allocated for Business Growth initiatives
- $7.6M allocated for People initiatives
- $8.4M allocated for Place initiatives
Prosper Omaha continues a Chamber tradition of focused, economic development activity that companies, foundations and individuals have been investing in for nearly 25 years.
“We can wait for the future, or we can invent it,” Brown said. “Prosper 2.0 offers a bold, new future we create together. Through economic diversification, investment and commitment to catalytic change, we can leverage our most powerful assets to encourage stronger population growth through talent attraction and retention, while concurrently advancing opportunities for business growth and fostering community. People, place, business growth: These are the keys to Prosper 2.0’s strategic direction and to our future.”
Prosper 2.0 Strategic Direction: Five-Year Outcomes Accelerate Economic Development
A transformative leadership process, Prosper 2.0 raises funds to tackle challenges, and amplify opportunities, for organizations, individuals and the region. The approach uses data-driven decision making, community input and future-planning, to address the following goals in each of three categories, Business Growth, People and Place:
Business Growth
- Recruit and retain businesses that create significant wage, investment and job growth and help small businesses expand and thrive from across the region
- Strengthen core sectors and target high-impact technologies
- Boost our startup ecosystem
- Create a more diverse and inclusive economy
- Increase international investments and exports
People
- Increase career awareness so the best and brightest choose to begin and grow their careers here
- Retain and attract the world’s best talent
- Implement best-in-the-nation diversity and inclusive hiring and promotion practices
- Transition existing talent into growing careers and industries so every resident has the opportunity to improve their prosperity
- Advocate for exceptional schools with a renewed focus on career-based skills, post-secondary preparation and alignment with regional future-focused jobs.
Place
- Drive targeted development and redevelopment to enhance the region
- Promote the development of an enhanced transportation system
- Develop and execute marketing strategies that increase the awareness of the region’s positive attributes
- Focus on actions that create vibrant and connected downtowns throughout the region
- Encourage the development of more inspiring and engaging public places
- Build upon strong assets and drive economic growth through solid and intentional partnerships
About the Greater Omaha Chamber
The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber (https://www.omahachamber.org/) is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration.
About the Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership
The Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership represents a six-county area that includes the Greater Omaha Chamber (Douglas County), Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council, Gateway Development Corporation (Washington County), Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation, Greater Fremont Development Council (Dodge County) and Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation (Pottawattamie County). This seamless regionalized partnership operates as a one-stop shop, driving growth and championing collaboration.