Nebraska seeks to establish industry-led partnerships to assist businesses and grow the state’s economy.
April, 2018, marks the one-year anniversary of Nebraska’s Next Generation Industry Partnerships throughout the state. Industries are leading the way to tackle workforce challenges, rebranding and infrastructure opportunities through business-driven and collaborative partnerships.
“Next Generation Sector Partnerships are about businesses actively directing agendas around their opportunities and challenges,” said Linda Black, Nebraska Department of Economic Development Targeted Industry/Talent Manager. “Meaningful goals and outcomes are created when industries use their collective voices to become creators and active participants in the processes, in collaboration with public partners. This ultimately will create benefit to all stakeholders.”
Facilitated by consultants through the Woolsey Group, this collaborative model builds on the synergistic energy of motivated businesses and public partners who recognize that large-scale change is possible when all parties work together.
Several regional partnerships are currently underway with most focusing on manufacturing.
NPPD is becoming involved in several of the partnerships through members of its Economic Development Team by serving as a co-convener for two regional groups that are just starting up.
“The health of our manufacturing sector directly impacts the health of our rural communities. They employ residents and bring money into the local economy,” said Rick Nelsen, NPPD Sr. Economic Development Consultant and co-convener of the Southeast Nebraska Manufacturing Partnership. “Our involvement in the group is a direct extension of our role in economic development in our service territory. This partnership has determined that creating a more positive image of what a career in manufacturing looks like is a vital first step for them. I am excited to see how they can work together, with regional resource providers, like NPPD, Southeast Community College and others to bring this about.”