OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 3, 2020 – The “battle for incentives” is real, and David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber, today released a statewide op-ed pointing out incentives are “not an expense to the budget; but, rather, an investment in the state.”
With the state’s current incentive law, the Nebraska Advantage Act, scheduled to sunset at the end of 2020, legislators, stakeholders, the business community, Governor’s office and Nebraska Departments of Economic Development and Revenue have collaborated to create the “ImagiNE Nebraska Act” (LB 720) – new legislation designed to ensure incentives are available for future Nebraska generations and projects.
“The ImagiNE Nebraska Act is vital to the sustainability of our state’s future, and ensures opportunity for all, thanks to mindful attention to incentives. We are committed to attracting top talent, and creating jobs that benefit Nebraska and the workforce of tomorrow. LB 720 does exactly that,” said State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who sponsored the bill.
Brown, who also heads the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, a seven-county, rural/urban collaborative designed to drive growth and catalyze economic development, says passing the ImagiNE Nebraska Act means “communities across the state will be more competitive to help companies expand and locate new facilities in Nebraska.”
““We are all one Nebraska, and incentives benefit our entire state,” said Trevor Lee, executive director, Valley County Economic Development & Ord Area Chamber of Commerce. From small rural communities to larger urban areas, we know the value of pulling together to reach a common goal. LB720 helps us envision a better tomorrow. We need competitive business incentives to ensure a rich future that supports everyone.”
Read Brown’s full op-ed here: https://www.omahachamber.org/battle-incentives-full-swing
About the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership
The Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership (https://www.omahachamber.org/economic-development/) represents a seven-county area from two states (Nebraska and Iowa) that includes Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Otoe, Pottawattamie, Sarpy and Washington Counties. The regionalized partnership operates as a comprehensive resource, driving growth and championing collaboration.
About Greater Omaha
Greater Omaha is a No. 1 ranked up-and-coming-tech hotspot and Time magazine’s 2017 No. 3 Most Up-and-Coming City in America. Recognized for its “We Don’t Coast” attitude, and named America’s No. 2 Best Small City, Greater Omaha is home to more than 30 communities and nearly 1 million people, with a youthful population (more than 40 percent are age 24 or younger), low cost of living and steady economic growth that outpaces the nation. Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. and Union Pacific – all Fortune 500 companies – call Greater Omaha “home.”
About the Greater Omaha Chamber
The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration.
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