The Nebraska Innovation Zone Commission (NIZC) was established August 2005 per LB 546. The nineteen appointed Commissioners, representing three NRDs, the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Community Colleges, Class I and Class II cities, as well as Omaha, Lincoln and six Nebraska counties: Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Saunders, Washington and Lancaster. The Commission held its first meeting October 5, 2005 at Mahoney State Park, near Ashland, NE.

The creation of the Nebraska Innovation Zone Commission is built upon the declaration that the area adjacent to the Interstate 80 corridor, running through the entire length of Nebraska' affords an excellent opportunity for business expansion, economic development, job creation, and education-business partnerships. This opportunity for growth is best realized through regional cooperation among the communities, businesses, and educational entities within the corridor to pursue common goals along this opportunity zone.

The NIZC shall advocate and recommend programs that encourage regional cooperation and foster community sustainability and economic development initiatives. Other areas of focus for the Commission are to encourage and support continuity, coordination and cooperation among national, state, multi community, and local economic development initiatives and service providers.

The Innovation Zone is strategically located along the Interstate 80 Corridor with its abundant natural resources, easy access and growth – this corridor represents the zone between Lincoln and Omaha. The growth strategy must generate grass-roots support. The process involves key decision makers and the communities at large, and builds upon the core values of residents. It provides easy and ongoing opportunities for input and offers extensive public awareness and educational efforts. The process also embraces the existing technical resources to analyze the impacts of growth on a variety of features in the targeted zone. As a result, active participation and support by public agency staff at all levels of government, education, business and local residents is necessary for long-term success.

Creating this vision and planning strategy is no small task. The large number of stakeholders and interests along the corridor requires a team that has a deep understanding of local issues and in-depth knowledge of the corridor. This team offers expertise in the fields of urban planning and design, economic analysis, land development and financial packaging, surveys, community capacity and consensus building, core values research, and public involvement strategies. It is the desire and goal of the Commission to create an all encompassing plan that represents more than faceless sprawl, degraded environment, and fleeing investments. The opportunities are evident for the Commission by transforming the corridor into an area of mixed use public realm, strong economic development components, combining vehicular and bicycle transportation with pedestrian destinations and quality of life components that develop a new kind of place for the 21st century Nebraska while maintaining the character and charm of its 20th century heritage.

Fostering regional partnerships and promoting economic development opportunities for all communities within the Lincoln/Omaha I-80 corridor.