Ultimately, economic development is about improving the quality of life in our communities. It is local businesses, education, labor, youth, civic and religious organizations, and government all working together to make a difference in a community's success. In simplest terms, economic development is business development. Today, businesses compete with products made from across the globe. To be competitive in today's market, Nebraska manufacturers must offer quality products at a good price. But competitiveness is not just a question of price. Employers must address issues of productivity, equipment and technology, product development, regulations, vendor and supplier relationships, marketing, processes, packaging, transportation, strategic business planning, feasibility studies, and employee recruitment, retention and training.

In 1993, Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson organized an alliance of industry, government and academic representatives to respond to a nationwide competitive "Technology Reinvestment Project." This partnership became affiliated with the national Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) and made existing off-the-shelf high technology and modern manufacturing management methods available to small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms. Nebraska was successful in its competitive efforts and signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in June 1994. In 1997, Governor Nelson made the Nebraska Industrial Competitiveness Alliance (NICA) a permanent board, which presides over the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP).

The Nebraska MEP was formed specifically to help Nebraska manufacturers build on their strengths, identify and capitalize on opportunities, and increase competitiveness and profitability. This manufacturing extension service is the product of a public-private partnership that brings together the experience of private sector manufacturers in developing and guiding productivity and business solutions. The MEP organization is designed to capitalize on the geographic distribution of Nebraska's community colleges, supplementing the colleges' expertise in training with the expertise from programs under the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Food Processing Center, Nebraska Business Development Center and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

The NICA Science and Technology team worked cooperatively with Nebraska's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to develop Nebraska Science and Technology Policy. This first policy was signed by Governor Nelson on May 15, 1995. The role of NICA in Science and Technology was further strengthened when state funding for EPSCoR was appropriated 50% to the University of Nebraska and 50% to NICA to stimulate competitive research, technology transfer efforts and the Nebraska Research Initiative. NICA fosters industrial linkages and collaborations as evidenced by private sector matching funds for science and technology.

Whether viewed globally or locally, Nebraska's future economic health and prosperity are growing increasingly dependent on the availability of a well-educated and trained workforce. In 1994 Governor Nelson asked the NICA board to respond to the nationwide competitive School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA), designed to create a comprehensive education and training system to prepare all students for college and careers. Thirty-nine states competed and Nebraska was one of 19 states awarded School-to-Work Opportunities Implementation Grants for 1996. Nebraska's school-to-work system is not a program or project in and of itself, but an integral part of education reform and workforce development.

In 1999, Coach Tom and Nancy Osborne's TeamMates mentoring program joined the NICA family or organizations.

Innovative Structure
To assure that businesses remain competitive in Nebraska, the core strategic planning and governance of two major initiatives are located with the Alliance, with administrative support from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Policy information is provided by cross-functional working teams of educators, labor, economic development, community colleges, postsecondary education and business representatives. NICA has standing committees for the Nebraska MEP and the Targeted Industry Program that are proving to be a powerful force in providing Nebraska's competitiveness initiatives with the passion, engagement, and developmental speed of entrepreneurial ventures. The NICA Board initiatives are unique in the nation, in that they are led by a public/private partnership.

The NICA public/private partnership calls upon the best minds and expertise available to help assess current activity and address the future. School-to-Work was NICA's vehicle for making this connection between education and work. The active involvement of employers is especially important because these initiatives must incorporate the teaching of knowledge and skills that are demanded by employers and that prepare students to be successful. NICA has increased the degree of employer involvement needed to make the system truly market-driven.