FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2025
CONTACT
Aron Wehr
Greater Omaha Chamber
402.978.7920
awehr@omahachamber.org
Greater Omaha Chamber Joins Over 50 Business Organizations to Relaunch the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition
OMAHA, NE – The Greater Omaha Chamber is pleased to announce the relaunch of the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition, which currently includes over 50 chambers of commerce and business organizations in 28 states across the country – and continues to grow every day. The BFRF Coalition represents a united voice of the nation’s business community, advocating to maintain robust research funding levels in the federal budget.
“Federal research funding is one of the best investments we can make in America’s future. It drives groundbreaking innovation, fuels job creation, strengthens our national competitiveness, and directly impacts the Omaha region,” said Heath Mello, President & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber.“We are proud to join the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition to advocate for the essential resources that empower our entrepreneurs, universities, and research institutions to lead the world in discovery and growth.”
A nonpartisan coalition of business organizations from red, blue, and purple states, the BFRF Coalition will engage members of Congress and the Trump Administration to explain how research funding strengthens our nation’s economy and competitiveness. Investments in research lead to major breakthroughs in innovation, new technologies, life-saving medical treatments, and millions of jobs. By continuing to invest in research and development funding, our country will continue to lead the world in science, job creation, medicine, and innovation.
- In 2024, National Institute of Health (NIH) spending extramurally in all 50 states and D.C. supported 407,782 jobs across the country.
- The Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, along with NIH, are the largest supporters of basic research in the United States.
- NIH grants supported $94.5 billion in economic activity – more than twice the $36.9 billion it distributed in grants in 2024.
- For every $1 dollar invested in NIH research, $2.56 of new economic activity is created.
- The University of Nebraska System received over $113 million and Creighton University received nearly $8.3 million in NIH grants in 2024.
Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition Members
Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce (AL)
Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce (AL)
Glendale Chamber of Commerce (AZ)
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (AZ)
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (CA)
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (CA)
Silicon Valley Leadership Group (CA)
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (FL)
Orlando Economic Partnership (FL)
Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (FL)
Cobb Chamber of Commerce (GA)
Georgia Chamber of Commerce (GA)
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (GA)
Indy Chamber of Commerce of Commerce (IN)
Greater Des Moines Partnership (IA)
Ames Regional Economic Alliance (IA)
Greater Topeka Partnership (KS)
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (KS/MO)
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce (KS)
Commerce Lexington, Inc. (KY)
Greater Louisville, Inc. (KY)
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (KY)
One Acadiana (LA)
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (MA)
Worcester Chamber of Commerce (MA)
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce (MI)
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (MI)
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce (NE)
New England Council (New England)
Buffalo Niagara Partnership (NY)
Capital Region Chamber of Commerce (Albany, NY)
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (NY)
Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill/Carrboro (NC)
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (NC)
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce (NC)
Morrisville Chamber of Commerce (NC)
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (NC)
Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce (NC)
Greater Winston Salem, Inc. (NC)
Columbus Chamber of Commerce (OH)
Greater Cleveland Partnership (OH)
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce (OK)
Allegheny Conference of Community Development (PA)
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (PA)
Arlington Chamber of Commerce (VA)
ChamberRVA (Richmond, VA)
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (VA)
Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce (VT)
Greater Spokane, INC. (WA)
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce (WV)
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (WI)
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About the Greater Omaha Chamber
The Greater Omaha Chamber is one of the country’s largest, strongest chambers with nearly 3,000 member businesses and a 5-star accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration.
About the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition
The Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition advocates for maintaining and increasing research funding in the federal budget and beyond. Founded in 2017 and relaunched in 2025, the BFRF coalition includes Chambers of Commerce and business organizations from at least 28 states who collectively advocate to protect local and national economies as well as the nation’s global competitiveness with federal research funding. Learn more at researchfunding.org.