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Municipal airports in rural areas, especially those dependent on agriculture, are an integral economic piece to the growth and sustainability of local businesses across industries/sectors. Nestled between four-lane highway 81 and two-lane highway 136, in ‘Nebraska’s Porch Swing Capital,’ is Hebron Municipal Airport, a major benefactor to Hebron, Thayer County,...Continue Reading

On Tuesday, June 6th, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) will host a webinar to review application guidelines for the 2023 program year of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. For the 2023 program year, the Department will distribute CDBG funds through a competitive application process through six...Continue Reading

In today’s ever-changing market, economic development is crucial for regions to grow and thrive. Economic development is promoting a region's economic well-being by creating jobs, generating revenue, and fostering a positive business environment. However, economic development success often depends on an organization’s ability to create and execute an effective strategic...Continue Reading

Thayer County expands its housing options with a new housing development in Hebron. The completion of TCEDA’s 2021 survey highlighted the county’s housing needs with projections through 2026. This survey declared Hebron’s specific target demand for 16 additional rental units. We are pleased to announce that BIC Construction answered the call...Continue Reading

Business retention and expansion (BR&E) programs have become a large priority in a post-COVID world. Ensuring that local businesses have the foundation in place to weather economic shifts and potential disasters should be top-of-mind as we continue coming out of COVID and face economic and trade uncertainties. Fortunately, there are...Continue Reading

As an economic developer, you’re constantly seeking new ways to attract businesses and talent to your community to promote economic growth. One effective tool that can assist you in achieving these goals is a microsite, which can be utilized for specific campaigns or programs. Read the complete article from Golden...Continue Reading

Most Innovative Companies 2023, Fast Company’s definitive chronicle of the novel ideas transforming business and society, was 100% produced by people. We may have asked ChatGPT—the AI chatbot created by our No. 1 company, OpenAI—about certain companies, but only because we wanted to see how it would reply. A very...Continue Reading

Southeast Community College will hold a groundbreaking event for a major addition to the Lincoln Campus, next Wednesday.  It will mark the construction start of the $32.4 million Sandhills Global Technology Center.  The company, headquartered in Lincoln, made a $5 million gift toward construction of the facility…..the largest donation...Continue Reading

A mining company that wants to extract a collection of rare elements from beneath southeast Nebraska raised funds Wednesday toward its goal of finding the $1.1 billion it needs to build the mine that has been in the works for decades. Shareholders of a special purpose acquisition company called...Continue Reading

An agency with more than a quarter century of economic development experience in Nebraska is about to launch a new initiative that is expected to yield exponential growth for small businesses across the state. Jim Reiff heads the Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF), and says the agency has seen some...Continue Reading

As the "boss," I knew meeting me for the first time would be intimidating for many employees. But unfortunately, the employee engagement I fought so hard to build came to a sudden halt during the pandemic. And I know I'm not alone. According to Gallup research, by early 2022,...Continue Reading

Ever since the release of ChatGPT and Microsoft's Bing AI tool (or should we call it Sydney?), pundits have been spinning in circles analyzing the many threats, opportunities and transformative capabilities of artificial intelligence on everything from plagiarism to employment and government policies. Having made this irrevocable leap into machine...Continue Reading

Hebron’s Majestic Theatre is a Thayer Country treasure located in Hebron, NE. This year, the Majestic celebrates 10 years as a volunteer-run theatre, thanks to the Arts Council of Thayer County (ACT). A Little History The Majestic has been a Thayer County staple for over 100 years...Continue Reading

Talent recruitment and workforce development is top of mind for economic developers looking to meet the needs of growing companies, while ensuring their community can support additional business growth and attraction. Those who are fortunate to have strong partnerships with local community colleges may find that programs are already in...Continue Reading

And the “Thriving in Thayer County” award goes to… February 20th, 2023   Thayer County Economic Development Alliance (TCEDA) is preparing to present the second annual “Thriving in Thayer County '' award. The “Thriving in Thayer County'' award was created in 2022 to celebrate Thayer County businesses...Continue Reading

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has published application guidelines for the 2023 program cycle of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF).  Established in 1996, the NAHTF is Nebraska’s most impactful resource dedicated to increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing throughout the state. Read here...Continue Reading

As the State of Nebraska changes leadership, with Jim Pillen succeeding Pete Ricketts as governor, two prominent African American agency directors will continue their work in state government. Economic Development Director Anthony L. Goins and Health and Human Services CEO Dannette R. Smith will remain at the helm of their...Continue Reading

BEATRICE – There’s a move toward bringing back a feature at Chautauqua Park damaged by flooding several years ago.  City officials are considering reinstalling a waterfall at the south end of the park, fed by a system that circulates water. The project has been estimated at about $100,000. Read...Continue Reading

Today, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Coach Tom Osborne, state lawmakers, and representatives from mentoring programs across the state to declare February "Nebraska Mentoring Month" and unveil a new major mentoring initiative. Governor Pillen announced he has included an annual $5 million competitive grant program within his budget to...Continue Reading

1. Put money into a 401(k) It's never too early (or too late!) to start saving for the future. Depending on your employment status, there are different retirement savings accounts. 401(k)s are the most common since these are employer-sponsored and often come with an employer match. However, freelancers also...Continue Reading

Today, at the USDA Conversation on Healthy School Meals Roundtable, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major initiatives at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will support and enhance the health of America's children through nutritious school meals. “Our commitment to the school meal programs comes from a common goal...Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today unveiled the Rural Data Gateway, a new resource to make the Department’s data for rural projects easier to access for its partners and for people living in rural communities. The Rural Data Gateway will help USDA...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service today announced it will offer $41 million through the 2023 Wood Innovations Grant and 2023 Community Wood Grant programs to spark innovation and create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy. Made possible in part by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure...Continue Reading