In a world that feels like everything is different, one thing hasn’t changed – our desire to help the communities we serve prosper and thrive.
It’s in that spirit that you’ll find below just a few of the planned economic development activities for 2021. Whereas in years past, our calendar has been packed with travel and face-to-face consultations, we have shifted to online meetings, virtual workspaces and webinars.
We are excited to bring you an expanded offering of educational content in 2021, designed to help you achieve your economic development goals. We also feel like this is a perfect time to take advantage of the many free research, marketing and consultation services we offer.
We will continue to network with business prospects, corporate real estate professionals and site selection consultants to match opportunities with communities. We will tout Nebraska’s strong business climate and statewide opportunities in an effort to attract businesses here.
Read on for more information!
Site Readiness Assistance Program
Now in its third year, the Site Readiness Assistance Program is designed to help communities get controlled sites ready for market by partially funding due diligence items like ALTA surveys, geotechnical investigations, Phase 1 Environmental studies and more. In the last two years, we’ve helped communities get more than ten sites market-ready, and have listed them on our “Featured Properties” program. There will be a free webinar to learn more about the program on January 12 and 13. Contact us if you are interested in attending.
Webinars
We are planning several webinars for 2021. Topics will include: an economic development briefing, how to conduct a business retention and expansion program, preparing a request for a proposal and Emsi. Stay tuned for more information.
We are pleased to host Jay Garner, site consultant and co-author of the book Economic Development is Not for Amateurs in February.
Economic Development is Not for Amateurs – February 2
Learn how to transform your local economy and supercharge your revitalization efforts to attract jobs, investments and residents. This webinar will identify practical, real-world solutions and help provide the steps you can implement to create a roadmap for long-term economic success. This would be a great webinar for key stakeholders in your community to attend, so consider inviting a guest. Each participating community/organization will receive a copy of the book. Registration will be available soon.
Targeted Industries
We continue to target five key industries primed for growth – biotechnology (with a focus on ethanol), food processing, industrial machinery manufacturing, plastics, fabricated metals and data centers. Our goal is align companies looking for growth and expansion opportunities with Nebraska communities.
We achieve this through lead generation services and attendance at various trade shows, conferences and expos. The news about potential COVID-19 vaccines is promising, and we are hopeful that we can resume travel by mid-2021. There are several industry expos and forums we are tentatively planning on attending, including Central Plains Dairy Expo, Pet Food Forum, Fuel Ethanol Workshop, Bio World Congress and World Dairy Expo. If you’re interested in attending any of these events alongside our Economic Development team, please reach out to your Economic Development Consultant.
Strategic Planning Services
Now is a great time to embark on strategic planning – yes, even during a pandemic! Our free strategic planning services can help you look at both short- and long-term goals, including how your community can navigate the current and post-pandemic economic climate. Meetings will be held virtually until travel is deemed safe.
Material & Research Development
Our research team has a wealth of data and information that can help you in your efforts to grow your local economy. We can design a study for you, or we can provide you with valuable data from a variety of databases like Emsi.
Ask us about trend studies, labor studies, impact studies, target industry studies or customized survey development. Read more here.
This is also a great time to develop marketing materials for your community. We can design – free of charge – marketing pieces for your community like site and building brochures or community guides. Learn more about all of the community positioning support services we offer.
From all of us on the NPPD Economic Development team, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We look forward to serving you in 2021.