• Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
  The Nebraska MEP provides business and technical services to manufacturers and processors throughout Nebraska to remain competitive in this global economy.
• Edgerton Quality Awards
  Encourages Nebraska organizations to examine existing business practices with an emphasis on performance excellence, recognizes Nebraska companies' outstanding quality achievements, and supports innovation and continuous improvements in order to develop new technologies, products, and markets.
• International Organization for Standardization—ISO Certification
  ISO is a global network that identifies what International Standards are required by business, government and society, which specify the requirements for state-of-the-art products, services, processes, materials and systems, and for good conformity assessment, managerial and organizational practice.
• LEAN Manufacturing
  Lean Manufacturing describes a concept of business operation that uses less human effort, capital investment, floor space, materials, and time in all aspects of production. A team with the concepts and tools for Lean Manufacturing can improve the bottom line of any manufacturing operation. Lean organizations benefit from : Productivity improvements of 10-30%, up to 90% reduction in work-in-progress, 50% increase of space utilization, 85% improved quality, and up to 90% reduction in lead times.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ)
  ASQ is the world’s leading membership organization devoted to quality. We have the knowledge, tools, expertise and resources to inspire you and your organization. When ASQ says “quality” we mean best practices, continuous improvement, and tapping the full power of knowledge. Quality means making ourselves and our world better. Quality defines and drives successful individuals, organizations and communities. And it never stops evolving.
• Baldrige National Quality Program
  The Baldrige Award is given by the President of the United States to businesses—manufacturing and service, small and large—and to education, health care and nonprofit organizations that apply and are judged to be outstanding in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results.
• Nebraska Logistics Council
  The council serves its members as a forum for professional and educational advancement in the area of worldwide transportation, warehousing, distribution and logistics.
• Business Assistance Center
  We are dedicated to helping your business locate the information and resources needed to succeed, grow, and prosper in Nebraska.

Market Access
Look at a map of the United States and you'll immediately notice one of Nebraska's biggest advantages – location!
Nebraska's central location along key transportation routes provides your business unmatched speed to all major markets regardless of direction. Within one day, goods shipped by truck reach 26 percent of the U.S. population; add a second day and the percentage skyrockets to 91 percent. The state's central location within the Mid-Continent NAFTA Trade Corridor makes it an ideal location for companies that rely on trade with Canada and Mexico.
Nebraska's transportation routes are congestion-free, allowing for more efficient and timely delivery, unloading and loading of freight, no matter what the transportation mode – highway, rail, air, or barge. With Nebraska as your distribution point, your company is guaranteed to save millions of dollars.


Highways: Nebraska is devoted to the upkeep and development of its transportation infrastructure. Nebraska works hard to maintain and improve its 483-mile stretch of Interstate 80, which links to both the East and West Coasts. Seven national highways run north-south across the state in all 22,156 miles of hard-surfaced roads. Nebraska is part of a nationwide automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system that allows participating transponder-equipped commercial vehicles to bypass designated weigh station facilities. This system features technologically advanced plates built into roadways so trucks are weighed while maintaining their 75 mph speed.
Rail: The nation's two largest rail companies -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific -- serve Nebraska providing rail service to most of the state's communities. Thirteen freight railroads operate more than 3,600 miles of track throughout the state. No major city in the United States is more than 5 days by rail from Nebraska. Amtrak provides passenger service in Nebraska with stops in five communities


Air: Commercial airline service is available in nine Nebraska cities, providing direct service to major hubs. Schedules airfreight service is provided to five additional communities with on-demand service available. A total of 83 public-use airports are located throughout the state.
Water: The Missouri River, on Nebraska's eastern border, provides a water link to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean via the Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a 9-foot deep, 300-foot wide channel for 735 navigable miles from Sioux City to the mouth of the Missouri River near St. Louis. The free-flowing river with no locks or dams is navigable approximately eight months of the year.
Time Zone: Nebraska's location also provides a time zone advantage to companies with national customer service requirements. Approximately two-thirds of the state rests in the Central time zone (the other third is in the Mountain time zone).