News Center

First Five Nebraska (FFN) today kicked off a public education campaign promoting the Child Care Tax Credit and School Readiness Tax Credit. The refundable and nonrefundable tax credits are designed to help address key challenges facing child care providers and the families, employers and communities who depend on them. They...Continue Reading

Federal funding is available to help preserve, expand, and upgrade local airport facilities. “From Runways to Revenue: Economic Benefits of Your Local Airport” provides key information and tips on how to secure this funding. Before downloading, here is an overview of what you need to know.Federal Funding for Airports: Part...Continue Reading

Great talent is hard to find, especially in the wake of the Great Resignation. Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easy (and quick) to accelerate and diversify talent pipelines, which can include millions of candidates and various specialized talent pools.How is AI being used by HR, workforce development, and headhunting pros...Continue Reading

As a small retail shop owner, you have big ambitions but, perhaps, a tight budget. You want to attract more customers but not blow all your means on expensive ads or social media marketing. What are some strategies to implement now and attract more customers?From the in-store experience to upping...Continue Reading

It’s widely known that spending time in nature offers a multitude of benefits- for mental, spiritual, and physical health. Yet beyond those compelling perks, the cultivation of natural spaces has been shown to yield numerous economic benefits. Natural spaces, including parks, community gardens, green belts, outdoor recreational areas, green roofs,...Continue Reading

General aviation airports contribute significantly to the economy. Airports don’t need to be large or serve major airlines to make an impact. In a report titled “Nebraska Aviation Counts!” there is a breakdown of the impact rural airports make. In South Sioux City, Martin Field, for example, has a $1.9...Continue Reading

They were walloped by the pandemic and hit with high inflation, and yet an overwhelming majority of U.S. small business owners recently polled by Forbes Research are optimistic their businesses will succeed.Possible outcomes of that rosy outlook—as well as what challenges may interfere with that expectation—are explained in the 2023...Continue Reading

July is National Park and Recreation Month, dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the people who help make parks and recreational facilities throughout the country, worthy of attendance, from full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers to kind-hearted volunteers. TCEDA is giving huge thanks to Thayer County’s volunteers and maintenance staff that make...Continue Reading

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has allocated Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for Housing Resilience Planning (HRP) activities. In accordance with the Nebraska DR Action Plan, as amended, DED issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligible entities are communities within areas designated by...Continue Reading

It took a global pandemic to convince American businesses that their employees could work productively from home or a favorite coffee shop. Post-COVID-19, employers are struggling to find the right balance of in-office and remote work. However, hybrid work is likely here to stay, at least for a segment of...Continue Reading

Tourism is an often-underutilized driver of economic growth, capable of transforming communities by creating jobs, fostering local businesses, and enhancing the overall quality of life. Economic developers and tourism professionals must work together to create a cohesive strategy that leverages the community’s tourism potential. Here’s how you can integrate tourism...Continue Reading

Summer is a favorite season for Thayer County residents because it enhances their community connection while embracing visitors, guests, tourists, and wonderful weather. With longer days and warm nights, pool parties, outdoor concerts, and other social gatherings are much more fun and last longer. Attitudes are joyful and smiles are...Continue Reading

If the past few years have reinforced any ideas about the ups and downs of the port industry, one axiom still rings true: Expect the unexpected.That’s because the unexpected is what usually causes disruption in the supply chain: it might be the COVID-19 pandemic. Or the violent incidents at the...Continue Reading

In today’s landscape, architects and planners are not just building factories, they are sculpting ecosystems that blend seamlessly with their urban and rural backdrops, fostering efficiency and ecological harmony within the communities they inhabit.Industrial spaces are more than just functional units, and their designers can aspire to create living ecosystems...Continue Reading

The economic landscapes of communities nationwide are as unsettled as ever. One facet of this reality is the state of commercial real estate. Beginning with government-imposed shutdowns and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and individuals have changed their habits, incorporating remote or hybrid work practices into daily life...Continue Reading

Guidelines for a scholarship fund for budding Nebraska nurses, which had not been tapped as anticipated, have been changed to reach more students before an impending deadline.In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature directed $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds toward scholarships for students on short-term or accelerated nursing...Continue Reading

County governments are taking more control over the implementation of high speed internet in rural Nebraska.The state is continuing to maximize the usage of funds from the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program which will use $400 million on giving Nebraskans high speed internet.According to Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock,...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced approximately $22.3 million available to community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities that help underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Funding is made through USDA’s 2501 Program. This program is administered by USDA’s...Continue Reading

Economic Development Week (EDW), May 6 - 10, 2024, is a time to recognize the work that economic development organizations and professionals do in their communities. This acknowledgment has been a globally celebrated event since 2016.Executive Director Carley Bruning and Community Coordinator Paige Hansen are a powerful team that makes...Continue Reading

Branding is the most important part of your marketing strategy, without a recognizable brand, potential customers won’t know who you are. The Nike tick, and the McDonalds sign are two of the most popular logos in the world. But there’s much more to a brand than a logo, colors and...Continue Reading

Entering 2024, indications were that inflation might be easing, and borrowers became hopeful that interest rate cuts would be on the horizon. Now, four months into the year, inflation remains sticky, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has suppressed talk about rate cuts.“In recent months, inflation has shown a lack...Continue Reading

April is National Volunteer Month. Whether a person is volunteering or interning, the one thing in common is effort being donated for a greater purpose. Volunteers offer their time and labor of love to further a cause or strengthen a community, like firefighters in rural communities and candy stripers at...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service today announced it is issuing more than $232 million to support public schools, roads and other municipal services through the agency’s Secure Rural Schools program. As the Biden-Harris administration invests in ways for forests to generate more economic opportunity in rural areas, it...Continue Reading

Social media emerges as a vibrant stage for connection, a realm where innovative ideas thrive, and communities unite. For economic developers, it offers a fertile ground not just for engagement but for inspiring a collective movement toward growth and prosperity. The challenge, however, lies in cutting through the noise, capturing...Continue Reading