Labor & Growth

New economic development head a lifelong Nebraskan with quarter-century of promoting rural areas

BY: - June 5, 2023

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s new top economic developer, K.C. Belitz, said Monday that he’ll be focusing on how to attract people — as much as businesses — to his home state, which has tens of thousands of open jobs. Belitz, a former longtime head of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, said economic developers today must […]

Farm group, congressional delegation cheer challenge of Mexican ban on GMO corn

BY: - June 3, 2023

LINCOLN — The state’s largest farm organization, as well as members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation, are cheering actions taken by the Biden administration to challenge Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn. On Friday, U.S. trade representatives announced that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico over that country’s proposed ban on […]

NE legislative effort to re-energize North and South Omaha hits milestone

BY: - June 1, 2023

LINCOLN — It’s been about 18 months since a pair of Nebraska lawmakers launched an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar plan to essentially reset historically neglected North Omaha neighborhoods they represent.  South Omaha eventually was included in what the Legislature last year adopted as the $335 million Economic Recovery Act to boost the state’s most disadvantaged and pandemic-impacted […]

Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska awarded $500,000 to boost tribal Internet services

BY: - May 29, 2023

LINCOLN — The Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska will receive $500,000 for high-speed internet development as part of the Biden Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. The Santee Sioux was one of nine tribal entities that will share a combined $4.5 million from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.  Alonzo Denney, chairman of the Santee Sioux Tribe […]

Remote work: an underestimated benefit for family caregivers

BY: - May 29, 2023

For Aida Beltré, working remotely during the pandemic came as a relief. She was taking care of her father, now 86, who has been in and out of hospitals and rehabs after a worsening series of strokes in recent years. Working from home for a rental property company, she could handle it. In fact, like […]

Nebraska’s new internship program to be led by Aksarben Foundation under $20 million state contract

BY: - May 25, 2023

OMAHA — Bolstered by a $20 million state contract, the Aksarben Foundation is to lead a new internship program aimed at strengthening Nebraska’s future workforce. Gov. Jim Pillen announced the partnership with the State Department of Economic Development Thursday at the Aksarben Foundation’s annual stakeholders meeting in La Vista.  He said that many Nebraska employers are […]

States see record low unemployment across the U.S.

BY: - May 25, 2023

Across much of the country, the jobs market is as strong as it’s ever been, and Black women, young people and people with disabilities are among the workers benefiting, recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show. Twenty states reported an unemployment rate under 3% in April, while 15 states saw record lows, led by […]

Jim Pillen

Lawmakers pass Nebraska income tax cuts, property tax offsets, child tax credits 

BY: - May 25, 2023

LINCOLN — Under the shadow of tightening state revenues, the Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a $6.4 billion tax relief package. State lawmakers approved income tax cuts, hikes in state property tax credits, a tax credit for child care and a boost to school funding to offset property taxes. State Sen. Lou Ann […]

Library shifts will spur more construction at Omaha’s busy 72nd and Dodge intersection

BY: - May 24, 2023

OMAHA — Construction activity will step up soon at one of Omaha’s most prominent intersections, 72nd and Dodge Streets, as the “Do Space” is leveled to make way for the city’s new main library. Projected to open in 2026, the future library, which is boosted by a $20 million commitment from the City of Omaha, […]

Pershing Center mural preserved

Plans rev up for resurrection of iconic Pershing center mural

BY: - May 23, 2023

LINCOLN — Fans of the $4 million effort to resurrect the Pershing Center mural are celebrating a key financial contribution and are preparing to show off the iconic artwork’s future home to visitors during the Memorial Day holiday. The $250,000 donation from Lincoln’s Harbor of Dreams Foundation kicks off the next fundraising phase, said Liz […]

Foreign-born Huskers contribute 8% of state economic input, report says

BY: - May 22, 2023

LINCOLN — Immigrants and refugees contribute 8% of the state’s overall economic output and have potential to grow into what one policy expert called an “economic powerhouse” that helps fill unmet workforce demand felt more deeply in Nebraska than many states. “That’s a really sizable portion of our economy,” Rebecca Firestone, executive director of Nebraska’s […]

Nebraska’s latest unemployment rate drops slightly, as state yearns for more workers

BY: - May 19, 2023

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate has dropped from a pandemic-era high of more than 8% three years ago to 2%, according to the latest data released Friday by the Labor Department. The dip contributed to the Husker state’s top national ranking in a new report by WalletHub that considered various unemployment-related metrics over multiple years. […]