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At a young age, Caleb C. Mitchell discovered that his voice in this world came from creating with his hands. Founder and owner of Deed & Glory Custom Shop, Mitchell started with a focus on using new in-house innovations for prototyping and building custom duck decoys. While operating under Deed...Continue Reading

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) is now accepting applications for the Cast and Crew Nebraska Act (CCNA) tax credit.The CCNA is a competitive incentive to increase film and television production in the State of Nebraska, retain film studies and creative arts students from Nebraska universities and colleges, provide...Continue Reading

When JT Martin left Nebraska to move to California in elementary school, it was an interesting but intimidating change. Life shifted from the relaxed, enjoyable pace of his Norfolk community to the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. “As a kid this was exciting, but I always looked forward...Continue Reading

With artificial intelligence (AI) set to contribute up to €15.7 trillion to the global economy, and create more than 60 million new jobs by the end of this year, the opportunities are immense. Yet, 75% of EU employers can't find workers with the right skills to use AI effectively, and...Continue Reading

Domestic tourism is emerging as one of the most important opportunities for communities looking to grow their local economy in 2025. According to the Tourism Economics Report, international travel to the United States is expected to drop by over 5% this year, with a projected $64 billion decline in total...Continue Reading

In today’s environment, businesses may find significant advantages in establishing operations within business and industrial parks. There are numerous reasons as to why businesses locate within such facilities. Operating at a site that caters to their needs, companies can perform at their best and provide top-of-the-line products and services.Business and...Continue Reading

The food processing industry has seen significant advancements driven by several different factors. These factors include technology innovations, sustainability efforts, and improved efficiency and automation.Technology advancements have played an important role in shaping the current food processing landscape. One of the most significant developments in the industry has been the...Continue Reading

In today’s unpredictable global trade environment, local businesses—especially small and medium-sized ones—are under immense pressure. From rising tariffs and disrupted supply chains to ongoing inflation, they’re facing operational challenges that threaten their long-term viability. For chambers of commerce and economic development organizations (EDOs), this is a critical moment to step...Continue Reading

Jared Wenger took a risk when he moved to Nebraska from Silicon Valley. He knew that relocating would benefit his family, but he was less certain how it would impact his career. Now, several years later, he can attest to the tremendous benefits of making the move—both personally and professionally.Finding...Continue Reading

When third-generation owner Paul Philippi learned of Bruning Grocery being the recipient of TCEDA’s Thriving in Thayer County Business of the Year Award, he was excited and humbled. Bruning Grocery has been a Thayer County staple for over 50 years and this is the first time winning the award. In...Continue Reading

Redesigned Site Offers Fresh Look, Enhanced Features, and Valuable Resources for Thayer County’s Growth and Community EngagementHEBRON, NE–The Thayer County Economic Development Alliance (TCEDA) is proud to announce the launch of its redesigned website, created in collaboration with Golden Shovel Agency. This new and improved online presence aims to better...Continue Reading

Reassuring news this week for Nebraska motorists and corn growers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed its intent to uphold the current April 28, 2025, implementation date for year-round access to E15. Nebraska is among eight states that have long been fighting a summertime ban on the higher ethanol...Continue Reading

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has published application guidelines for the 2025 program cycle of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF).Established in 1996, the NAHTF has been a high-impact program to increase the supply of quality, affordable housing throughout the state.The NAHTF’s Housing Development and Technical Assistance...Continue Reading

The Risk of Marketing Without a PlanMany rural communities struggle to attract business investment, site selectors, and workforce talent–not because they lack opportunity, but because they don’t have a clear economic development marketing strategy.We’ve seen it happen time and time again. Economic developers in rural America rely on one-off marketing...Continue Reading

A new study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Bureau of Business Research confirms the strong—and rising—return on investment from the State’s Business Innovation Act (BIA) programs.The report examined the overall economic impact BIA programs have had by empowering early-stage entrepreneurial ventures. BIA funds have generated $11.52 of private capital...Continue Reading

While homebuyers and home sellers still see headlines about the housing market being a seller’s market and national home prices reaching all-time highs, a deeper look reveals that several regional housing markets have shifted, giving homebuyers some power.During the pandemic housing boom, from summer 2020 to spring 2022, the number...Continue Reading

The wildfires raging across California have renewed discussion about how to minimize these devastating disasters. Fast Forward, a small business in Kearney, is using funds from Nebraska’s Business Innovation Act (BIA) Program to aid wildfire prevention. They’re helping utilities inspect powerlines more quickly so that anomalies can be identified and...Continue Reading

The Detroit factory where Henry Ford first began mass-producing automobiles had a transformative impact not just on the auto industry but on manufacturing and business practices across all industries. However, that factory was singular in purpose—assembling a Model T as quickly and uniformly as possible.Today, while optimal efficiency in production...Continue Reading

As global initiatives place increased emphasis on sustainable construction and built environments, emerging priorities for building projects in nearly every industry are focused on resilience, embodied carbon reduction, and achieving net-zero energy. For building owners, the challenge lies in effectively integrating sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies into...Continue Reading

Out with the old, in with the new! As Thayer County Economic Development Alliance continues to drive growth, their fresh ideas warranted a fresh look. What better way to start the new year than premiering TCEDA’s new logo?When the time came to create the design, TCEDA chose Noel Photography and...Continue Reading

Robotics and artificial intelligence: Words typically accompanied by the backdrop of a neon cityscape full of high rises and never-ending streams of cars flying past. From Bladerunner to The Jetsons, a future of technology is often predicated on ideas of sprawling, gritty urbanity, where wired, manufactured components replace biological structures...Continue Reading

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) is now accepting applications for the 2024 program year of the Middle Income Workforce Housing Fund (MWHF). A Letter of Intent is required and due by February 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CT. The last day to submit an application is April 16,...Continue Reading

Governor Jim Pillen and state senators presented three bills critical to preserving and protecting agriculture in Nebraska.“As the first farmer-governor in more than 100 years, I know how important it is that we take steps to preserve our way of life, for the benefit of those who consume our products,”...Continue Reading

Economic development organizations take a multi-track approach to sustained community growth. Supporting local small businesses is frequently a top priority for intracommunity growth, and its importance grows in economic downturns or times of crisis. There are several ways to champion these enterprises no matter the size of the program budget...Continue Reading