Preliminary summation of Notes, Concerns, and Opportunities
by Industry Council, per survey results 11/15/18
- Notes
- A lot of pride and satisfaction
- Don’t need to sell importance
- Concerns
- Next generation of producers
- Low Prices
- Trade
- Opportunities
- Value-added agriculture
- Innovation
- Crop diversification
Banking & Finance Industry Council
- Notes
- Many solid banks
- Strength of having local, community banks
- Concerns
- Banks could make more investments locally Businesses/entrepreneurs should be more educated about financing
- Opportunities
- Reduce regulations, especially those that hurt local, community banks
- People should bank locally
- Banks should invest in new services and technology
Community Vitality Industry Council
- Notes
- Great pride in communities and people
- Concerns
- Rural areas are falling behind
- Opportunities
- Funding for further investments in community revitalization to grow the community and its businesses and housing
- Keep and engage young people
- Attract and welcome new residents (some specific mention of immigrants)
Education Attainment Industry Council
- Notes
- Most popular to answer three questions about
- Great pride in K-Post secondary schools (with vocal minority)
- Concerns
- High costs for post-secondary Preparation for jobs
- Opportunities
- Connect with businesses Early childhood education
- Funding (more, less, different)
Energy & Natural Resources Industry Council
- Notes
- Public power and vast natural resources are assets Higher percentage of Millennials rated Poor for Current Status
- Concerns
- Sustainability and diversity
- Protection of public power
- Protection of water resources
- Opportunities
- Renewable technologies
Entrepreneurship Industry Council
- Notes
- Nebraskans are hardworking and creative
- Good low-cost environment for start-ups
- Concerns
- Lack of capital invesment funds
- Opportunities
- Techology is hot, but so are “non-tech” opportunities
- Cut taxes and red tape for start-ups
- Notes
- Quality and Current Status based on location
- Omaha and other parts of Greater Nebraska ranked Current Status as Excellent
- Many rural communities did not share same the perspective
- Quality and Current Status based on location
- Concerns
- Rural availability
- Workforce High costs
- Coverage {insurance, reimbursements)
- Opportunities
- Improve retention of young people Recruit from elsewhere
- Reduce costs
- Policy: Expand public programs/Reduce public programs
- Notes
- Marked negativity
- Concerns
- Shortage of affordable housing
- Opportunities
- Develop financing tools and partnerships to solve this problem
Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion Industry Council
- Notes
- Complicated with three concepts combined Divergence in opinions about current status in all three areas
- Concerns
- Nebraska has work to do
- Nebraska is fine
- Opportunities
- Articulate what leadership, diversity, and inclusion looks like
- Articulate how leadership, diversity, and inclusion strengthen Nebraska
Manufacturing Industry Council
- Notes
- Many career opportunities
- Nebraskans have a great work ethic
- Rated as Important by a lower percentage of persons from Omaha area and by Millennials
- Concerns
- Workers don’t know about the opportunities in manufacturing
- Need to attract more businesses and workers
- Opportunities
- Diversify beyond agriculture
- Create connections between educational institutions and manufacturers
- Develop housing
- Create tax, building, land incentives
- Notes
- Importance rank lowest:
- Lots of wide-open spaces
- Concerns
- Attracting businesses: may work or may not work
- Opportunities
- May need to articulate what these are and how/when it makes sense to use them as a development tool
Military & Veterans Affairs Industry Council
- Notes
- Nebraska respects vets and has an array of supports
- Offutt AFB
- Concerns
- Veterans don’t stay in Nebraska
- It is difficult obtaining healthcare
- Opportunities
- Recruit vets for workforce needs
- Reduce taxes on employed military and veterans
Taxation & Incentives Industry Council
- Notes
- Very divergent opinions
- Panhandle region had higher rate of Poor for Current Status
- Concerns
- Mixed, but most think there is a problem to be solved
- Opportunities
- Reduce/maintain/increase/reform/rebalance taxes
- Abolish/maintain/create incentives for businesses
- Provide more/same/less funding for various programs
Technology & Innovation Industry Council
- Notes
- University, Omaha, and Lincoln are seen as centers
- Concerns
- Rural areas are falling behind
- Opportunities
- Rural broadband access
- Many sectors are/could be more innovative
- Retain and attract young people and businesses
Transportation & Infrastructure Industry Council
- Notes
- I-80 and rail are assets
- Higher percentage of Millennials rated Poor for Current Status
- Concerns
- Poor public transportation
- Maintenance of roadways and rails
- Opportunities
- Expand public transportation, including multimodal
- Invest in maintaining and expanding roadways and rails
- Notes
- Important but current status is Fair
- Pride in work ethic
- Concerns
- Not enough of us
- Opportunities
- Better coordination with education
- Improve retention of young people
- Recruit from elsewhere (acceptance of immigrants)
- Higher pay/benefits