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Nebraska's Issues
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NO COMMUNITY LEFT BEHIND
As I travel throughout Nebraska I am continually reminded of how blessed I am to be living in such a great state. It is true - there is no place like Nebraska. Our two major urban areas, Omaha and Lincoln, have the potential to offer citizens opportunities that rival most cities their size. If provided with effective incentives there's no question both will be economic powerhouses in the 21st century. Leaving the Omaha-Lincoln corridor and traveling west on I-80 from Lincoln, or to northeast Nebraska, the Sandhills, panhandle, or along the Nebraska-Kansas border, I witness an amazing diversity that presents our state with unlimited economic potential.

Teamwork between east and west, urban and rural, in order to foster statewide economic development is essential.

As we celebrate our diversity we must realize that within the borders of Nebraska we are a family. Teamwork between east and west, urban and rural, in order to foster statewide economic development is essential. The next governor, legislature, agricultural and business communities, along with those in education – from all across the state – must come together in a spirit of cooperation, roll up their sleeves and get to work, and do whatever it takes to reach the goal of transforming Nebraska into the Jewel of the Midwest. As we move forward on this exciting and challenging journey of creating a state on the cutting edge of value-added agriculture, business creation and expansion, lower taxes, quality education, and a 21st century economy able to attract high-tech industries and manufacturing, we must make certain no community is left behind.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONES
Focusing on new and creative approaches in the area of economic development is an essential piece of the puzzle in creating a vibrant economy statewide. By utilizing a strategy which takes advantage of our wide array of strengths and resources we can structure our state into dynamic economic development zones, empowering Nebraska to reach its potential as an economic force.

Nebraska will become the economic model of the Midwest creating new wealth and opportunity.

The key to the success of this strategy will be in working with businesses, state senators, local government officials, civic organizations, and educators in determining the strengths of each zone followed by the development and implementation of customized incentive programs for each zone. We will not only become a magnet in attracting new businesses from all across the nation, but this game plan will also help existing businesses in our state grow and expand. Nebraska will become the economic model of the Midwest creating new wealth and opportunity. There's no question, establishing economic development zones is an innovative, 21st century, "blueprint for success."

A PROSPEROUS RURAL NEBRASKA
When I travel to rural areas and discuss with local citizens the needs of their communities, this is the recurring theme I hear: "Lower our taxes, and give us incentives to start our own businesses, sustain current business, and attract new businesses to our area." Let me assure you, that is my goal. Although rural Nebraska has a variety of business enterprises, most of the economy is related to farming operations. For those who work the land, farming is not always the only, or for that matter the main source of income.

A prosperous rural Nebraska is no longer optional - it's a must. And it's in the best interests of the entire state.

 According to the USDA 94% of the income for farm-operator households comes from off-farm sources. This condition establishes the importance of putting into place an effective package of economic incentives resulting in the creation of well-paying off-farm jobs in rural areas across the state. A growing economy in rural Nebraska will: 1) reverse the population decline in those areas by attracting more young people and entrepreneurs (53 out of 93 Nebraska counties lost population in 2003), 2) ensure that health care remains viable, accessible and affordable, 3) keep quality schools open for local residents, 4) preserve a way of life we all cherish, and 5) enable us to continue lowering taxes by growing the tax base. A prosperous rural Nebraska is no longer optional - it's a must. And it's in the best interests of the entire state. 

DIRECTOR OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Because rural economic development is so vital to Nebraska's success, it's imperative we design a strategic plan focusing on rural areas of the state. As mentioned earlier, customized incentives within economic development zones is one component of the plan. However, before developing effective incentives we must first identify the needs, strengths and resources of each zone. In this identification process we must acknowledge that the quality of education, a tax-friendly business environment, health care, infrastructure and work force all play an important role in the development of a sustainable prosperity in rural Nebraska.

Establishing a position of Director of Rural Development will show all Nebraskans that economic development - STATE WIDE - is a priority and will, in fact, become a reality.

I believe appointing a Director of Rural Development (DRD) whose sole focus is dealing with all aspects of greater Nebraska, offers the quickest and most effective route in establishing what needs to be done in order to put rural Nebraska on the path to prosperity. Let me stress, I'm NOT talking about another government agency of any kind. The last thing we need in Lincoln is more bureaucracy. Rather, what I envision is an individual who serves at the pleasure of the governor. The DRD will work with businesses, state senators within each zone, local government officials, civic organizations, and educators to determine the strengths and resources available, and then develop a strategy to maximize the economic potential of each zone. Establishing a position of Director of Rural Development will show all Nebraskans that economic development - STATE WIDE - is a priority and will, in fact, become a reality.

A SLEEPING GIANT
Tourism in Nebraska is a $2.8 billion dollar industry and is responsible for approximately 43,000 jobs. Each dollar spent by tourists in Nebraska is re-spent in the state to produce an additional $1.70 in business and income. While these are impressive numbers, I believe we can do better. Let's raise the bar. Maximizing the tourism industry in Nebraska should be part of a comprehensive statewide economic development plan.

Because we don't have the ocean, the beaches or the mountains, Nebraska rarely makes the list of "top 10 most popular vacation spots." However, with a commitment to putting the right policies into place I'm confident we can attract more vacationers from all across the country. I believe a tourism master plan for our state should include the following components:
1) Striving to position Nebraska as the hunting capital of the United States is long overdue. Let's get it done. 2) Making the Sandhills a national tourist attraction is a realistic goal. What are we waiting for? 3) Enticing more out-of-state travelers to pull off Interstate 80 - a virtual artery of money - to spend more of their tourism dollars should be a priority. Almost 11,000,000 cars per year pass Kearney on Interstate 80 near the Kearney Arch. However, with no convenient exit we're missing out on a lot of tourism revenue, which means we need to plan better in the future. I believe state agencies must have tourism, along with other forms of economic development, as part of their mindset when building roads. 4) The placing of effective promotional highway signage just makes sense. This is especially true when it comes to promoting off-the-beaten-path tourist sites located in rural areas of Nebraska. What a boon increased tourism would be to those communities. 5) Creating incentives to develop new and exciting tourism attractions all across the state is sound economic policy. If we build it, they will come. 6) Aggressively promoting A Good Life Getaway to those not only living in other parts of the country, but also to families residing within the borders of our state should be an area of emphasis. We need to "sell Nebraska" – to everyone – like never before. These six ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine what's below the surface; the potential is staggering. A growing tourism industry in our state means a bigger economic pie, more jobs and lower taxes. The time has come to awaken tourism – Nebraska’s sleeping giant.

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