Labor & Growth
Home builders group eager for Nebraska to dig 4,000-acre recreation lake
OMAHA — The thought of a $1.83 billion economic impact and plenty of real estate development potential has local builders eager to push the idea of a 4,000-acre recreational lake in Nebraska. After a state senator provided a progress report, members of the Metro Omaha Builders Association told the Nebraska Examiner they stand ready to […]
Public buses wrapped in love and koi fish, the work of young Omaha area artists
OMAHA — Soon to be rolling through the streets of the metro area: Buses wrapped in love and koi fish. The winning entries for the “Wheel Appeal” student contest were announced Friday by Metro, the regional public transit system that covers the Omaha metro area. And the two young victors, Cecilia Urbanski of Omaha and […]
Nebraska labor update: Unemployment rate ticks up; nonfarm workforce hits new record
Nebraska labor officials on Friday reported a bright spot in the workforce: Nonfarm employment in the Husker state has reached a new high. “Total nonfarm employment reached a record high of 1,044,832 in October,” said Labor Commissioner John Albin. “That’s over 2,000 more filled jobs than the prior high reached in June of this year.” […]
Front Porch team awards funds to 14 Omaha housing programs, projects
OMAHA — The winners of about $11 million in housing-related loans and grants were announced Thursday, and in part should spark the creation of up to 645 affordable dwellings in the city. The awards come mostly from American Rescue Plan Act funds that the City of Omaha previously directed to nonprofit Front Porch Investments. Front […]
Millions of workers are dealing with long COVID. Advocates call for expanding social safety net.
Emily Withnall caught COVID-19 from her teenager in July 2020. In the more than two years since, the 40-year-old has suffered from debilitating fatigue, spinal pain and heart palpitations. In addition to her primary care doctor, she regularly sees a cardiologist and says her acupuncturist and craniosacral therapy help relieve her pain and the trouble […]
Business survey: Remote working in Nebraska may be leveling off
OMAHA — While remote workers have multiplied since the pandemic hit, a new survey of Nebraska businesses signals that the trend locally might have leveled off. “Remote working has grown, but managers don’t expect it will grow further in the next year,” said economist Eric Thompson, who led the study. “The flip side is they […]
Tiny Nebraska towns, including one uniquely located in three counties, get a boost
Officials in northeast Nebraska’s Emerson are accustomed to dealing with 3s. The village of about 800 residents has the distinction of being located in three counties: Dakota, Dixon and Thurston. So perhaps it’s fate that Emerson has been awarded a state grant, $33,000 worth, to help plan for an improved downtown. “It will basically bring […]
Transforming an old water park and convention center in central Omaha
OMAHA — More ventures are poised to fill in the former CoCo Key water park and convention center site northeast of 72nd and Grover Streets. A $2.8 million two-story dental office structure is now to be constructed and connected to the existing New Image Dentistry corner building. Owners say they’re bursting with business, and the […]
PepperJax grows out of teen years, returns corporate flag to Omaha, where it all began
OMAHA — An Omaha-founded restaurant chain that for a time moved its headquarters out of Nebraska has returned its corporate flag to the city where it started 20 years ago. PepperJax Grill, positioning itself for area growth, bought and opened a nearly 4,000-square-foot building off 144th Street and Interstate 80 for its national operations and […]
Century-old family bakery to expand in Sarpy County frontier
PAPILLION — A century-old, family-owned bread business is among the latest entities headed to the Steel Ridge development, one of the newer, hot growth slices of metropolitan Omaha. But don’t expect to smell the aroma of freshly baked pumpernickel or honey wheat loaves when passing by Schram Road and 156th Street. Rotella’s Italian Bakery intends […]
Federal funds to help add ‘affordable’ dwellings in flood-impacted Nebraska areas
OMAHA — About $8 million in federal funds is slated to go to four different Omaha area development projects to help deliver 159 affordable dwellings. The grants, announced this week by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, target communities impacted by the March 2019 floods. They are the second wave of 2022 funding from the […]
Small Nebraska towns get spiffed up with federal funding boost
LINCOLN — Five Nebraska towns, including two with only 100 or so residents apiece, have been awarded a total of about $2 million to develop projects ranging from sprucing up Main Street to building a center for seniors. The funds announced by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development come from the federal U.S. Department of […]