March 24, 2020 Beatrice and surrounding communities, We recognize that this is a challenging time for you, our residents and businesses. Many of you have made the difficult decision to lay off employees and cut store hours while bills continue to pile up. Some could face these challenges soon. Because of this publi...Continue Reading

Gage County, Nebraska offers attractive incentives and opportunities for businesses and developers looking to grow in a strategic Midwest location. Gage County is open for business and actively seeks to partner with businesses who are creating jobs and growing within the region. This collaborative attitude makes it easier for businesse...Continue Reading

For nearly 100 years, people with disabilities have been supported by the work of Mosaic (originally named Martin Luther Homes). In 1925, a private residence was opened in Sterling, NE to house seven people with disabilities. In 1955, the facility moved to Beatrice and in 2003, Martin Luther Homes merge...Continue Reading

Beatrice – Gage County communities are making progress on a score of community facility improvement projects, according to a survey of community leaders conducted by the Heartland Center for Leadership Development.  Nearly 100 leaders from eight communities responded to the survey as part of a community development initiative funded b...Continue Reading

Koch Fertilizer Plant in Beatrice, Nebraska, One of First Two Nitrogenous Fertilizer Plants to Earn ENERGY STAR Certification   WASHINGTON (February 25, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes two nitrogenous fertilizer plants as the first of their kind to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Koc...Continue Reading

Companies must take the time to identify potential new hires, build a relationship, and follow up with training and support in order to build today’s — and tomorrow’s — workforce.   It’s no secret the manufacturing and construction industries are facing a shortage of workers at every level. To build a talen...Continue Reading

Although the number of jobs lost during the Great Recession have been regained, not all regions or industry sectors have experienced the same recovery. Where are the best job opportunities, and in what sectors? The research from market analytics consultant Emsi suggests that some of the most attractive sectors in term...Continue Reading

Attracting and retaining the next generation of talent is now a critical input to the facility design process. When looking to build a new facility or renovate an existing one, manufacturing leaders need to consider several factors for the best return on investment. In the past, operational efficiency was often th...Continue Reading

“Economic success” is a critical component of the Department of Transportation’s new initiative. Last October U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced a new initiative focusing on transportation and related development challenges in rural areas. The new effort was called ROUTES — Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success...Continue Reading

While there are many key factors to consider when selecting a location, the three “must haves” for entrepreneurial, high-growth companies are an existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, an affordable cost of doing business, and the “cool factor.” I'll start off by stating the obvious…you’re reading this article because you understand the importance o...Continue Reading

A thorough understanding of the components of each incentive program is key to a mutually successful incentive offer and ultimately a community partnership. More Collaboration Expected Compared to 10 years ago, there have some notable changes to today’s site selection process. I think one of the more important changes is the incentiv...Continue Reading

A look at what makes fintech firms and ecosystems tick. What do fintechs do all day? “That’s the million-dollar question, right?” says Jackson Mueller, associate director at the Milken Institute’s Center for Financial Markets. He defines fintech as “the use of technology in the provision of financial products and services.” Among th...Continue Reading

We may one year choose to rank states’ primary workforce development programs, but not this year. That would take a panel of objective experts gauging outcomes based on copious input from program clients and many other sources. Perhaps one year. Instead, this exercise looks in general terms at states’ workforce developmen...Continue Reading

Our annual 50-state report focuses on economic development laws, leaders, policies, indicators and projects from the past year. Use it to form a clearer picture of every state’s business climate. The collective knowledge and capabilities of the U.S. workforce is worth an estimated $240 trillion,” wrote Joe Parilla, a fellow a...Continue Reading

Nebraska's new economic development director was confirmed by lawmakers who praised him for his business experience. Senators voted 42-0 to put Tony Goins, of Lincoln, in charge of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Goins in July. Read full article. Continue Reading

BEATRICE – The Beatrice City Council has approved a study of an east Beatrice area to determine if it can be declared blighted, which would open the way for use of tax increment financing for development. Called area number nine, it extends from near 19th and Court, east to nearly Orang...Continue Reading

Communities statewide are encouraged to celebrate the talent, insight and energy of Nebraska’s young professionals by participating in Young Nebraskans Week (YNW) 2020! This April 17-25, join other communities in hosting YNW events — from networking luncheons and coffee socials to concerts and local business tours — that are designed t...Continue Reading

An east Beatrice bowling alley that closed last year is expected to reopen under new ownership this weekend. The former Orange Bowl on East Court Street was recently purchased by Bowl Co., an Omaha based bowling center marketing and management company. The alley will be rebranded as Family Bowl and Social o...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Greg Ibach announced that USDA has invested $5.7 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity in parts of three Nebraska counties. The investment is expected to connect 489 rura...Continue Reading

LINCOLN – Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted news from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that Nebraska’s GDP growth surpassed the national average during the third quarter of 2020.  Previously, the BEA reported that Nebraska’s GDP growth had exceeded the national average in both the first and second quarters of 2019. Rea...Continue Reading

Did your growth stall in 2019? Here's how you can engineer a bigger, better year for your business. Q: My business stalled out in 2019. What can I do to give myself the highest likelihood of growth in 2020? -- Aden, Minneapolis The challenge of growing a business is surprisingly similar to the difficulties o...Continue Reading

At 7a.m. every day, whatever the weather may be, someone at the Beatrice Municipal Airport measures the precipitation amount in town for the National Weather Service. In the fall, airport manager Diana Smith and staff received a 35 year service certificate for being the official National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observe...Continue Reading

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it won’t do anything to cure you of a case of the Mondays. Making a successful transition from weekend mode to workweek mode can require practice. After all, we have a lot working against us on Mondays. For starters, science say...Continue Reading