FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rhonda Porter: 402-391-2273, Dave Nabity: 402-618-6759

Nabity: Nebraska Still Needs LB 500 to Grow Rural Nebraska

Dave Nabity, Republican candidate for governor, urged the Nebraska Legislature to continue pushing for a revised version of LB 500, a tourism and development bill that stalled in the last legislative session. Nabity reminded the legislature that the urban project planned by retailer Cabela’s was not the only project that would benefit from the bill.

“The recent news that Cabela's has decided to build the project in LaVista is great for Nebraska. We should thank the company, LaVista leaders and people like Dennis Hoth, who worked hard to keep the Nebraska company expanding inside the borders of Nebraska,” Nabity said. “The new investment, jobs and economic growth will have a very positive impact on Nebraska. It is especially good news given that much tourism development has been occurring in Iowa, instead of Nebraska.

“When the legislature and the governor failed to support LB 500, my biggest fear was that Cabela's would build in Iowa and further damage Nebraska's competitive position for tourism. Now that the project is moving forward, some have said there's no longer a need to address LB 500. In my opinion, we should bring it up again and work the bugs out so it passes. Nebraska needs this type of legislation to help make the state competitive for family-oriented tourist destinations all across the state—not just in the metro areas.

“The lack of support for tourism in Nebraska is one reason our economy isn't growing fast enough. The only two states that spend less on tourism are Delaware and Rhode Island. Interstate I-80 is the main street of America, and we need to do more to draw people from it, so they spend money in Nebraska. The Sandhills are our state treasure. We should be developing destination spots similar to the Wisconsin Dells or Silver Dollar City to draw tourists—maybe a new attraction between North Platte and Ogallala, a location with easy access from both the Interstate and the North Platte airport. We need more sites around the Kearney arch, too.

“Have we all forgotten about Buffalo Bill and the Wild West Show? The Valentine area is ripe for tourism development, with the Niobrara River and Merritt Reservoir. Burwell and beautiful Lake Calamus offer tremendous opportunity. The western panhandle has a scenic landscape that makes it an excellent area where family-oriented vacation spots could be created. Our lakes need further development of marinas and lodges where people from Nebraska, Colorado and South Dakota can vacation. Most of our lakes offer nothing more than camping, which many in the 21st Century do not want to do. Finally, we should be doing significantly more to transform Nebraska into the hunting capital of the United States and compete with states like South Dakota for national hunting tourists.

“LB 500 or legislation like it can be designed to support these types of ventures and help entrepreneurs cost-justify development in Nebraska. With the passage of a new version of LB 500, new projects will begin to occur in areas that need a boost in population and jobs. So, I call on the legislature to streamline the bill and pass a new package that will help to increase tourism statewide and turn Nebraska into the Jewel of the Midwest.”

Dave Nabity for Governor
9140 West Dodge, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 391-2273
www.davenabity.com