VALENTINE, NEB. (July 15, 2005)—Nebraska recently committed more resources to tourism and entrepreneurial development when Governor Dave Heineman signed the Nebraska Advantage jobs creation package and the Local Tourism Marketing Grants into law. The Governor was in Valentine today as part of his promotional tour to convey the many benefits that the Nebraska Advantage offers business and industry.

“Tourism is a great growth opportunity in Nebraska,” Gov. Heineman said. “We have many treasures in this state, and it is our hope that through continued promotion and support of local entrepreneurs and tourism projects we can lure people from neighboring states and around the country to share the places we enjoy.”

The Legislature appropriated $350,000 in aid for dollar-for-dollar matching grants to regional and local tourism promotional groups for advertising, marketing, and promotional efforts.

“During our start-up years, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, specifically, the Travel and Tourism Division, has been instrumental in our success. This is an endeavor that we started nine years ago due to the National Scenic River designation on the Niobrara River,” said Kerry Krueger, owner of Heartland Elk Guest Ranch near Valentine. “Realizing that tourism is the third largest revenue producer in the state, it is vital that we use all of our assets, private, state and federal entities, for the economic development of our county and that each of those entities work together and understand how important tourism is to our economy.”

Building Entreprenerurial Communities, initially proposed by Senator Doug Cunningham, District 40, is a significant part of the greater Nebraska Advantage package. The program is designed to create jobs by enhancing Nebraska’s competitiveness with other states in attracting new businesses and encouraging the expansion of existing ones.

Bob Stowell, vice chair of the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, and law partner in Stowell, Kruml, Geweke, and Cullers in Ord knows firsthand about the benefits of community collaboration.

In spring 2000, a group of Valley County community leaders came together to discuss how to best develop Ord and outlying areas. With help from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Nebraska Public Power District, the group engaged Valley County, the city of Ord, the Ord Chamber of Commerce and Greater Loup Valley Activities Inc., to pool resources and hired an economic development director. Soon, the group had more projects than it could handle, so it refocused its efforts by developing a plan, conducting a business survey and ultimately narrowing its focus on facilitating business transfers and helping businesses expand their production and market areas.

“We learned that we needed to build more community capacity in terms of growing leaders and developing entrepreneurs,” Stowell said. “Building Entrepreneurial Communities is a mechanism that will move communities toward business development readiness. For example, if a community needs to attract technology-driven entrepreneurs, it could hire a technology expert to assess existing infrastructure and then develop and implement the desired plan. I am excited about the possibilities because I believe it will help develop the linkage between community needs and available resources.”

In addition to providing for Building Entrepreneurial Communities, the overall Nebraska Advantage package outlines five tiers targeting a wide-ranging list of businesses and industries, and provides sales tax exemptions for designated manufacturing machinery, equipment, and related services.

Gov. Heineman also signed into law $15 million for job training, providing a flexible, discretionary custom job training program to help ensure that the state’s workforce is prepared for advances in rapidly changing industries.

The Nebraska Advantage Act also provides tax credits equal to 3% for qualifying businesses conducting R&D activities and tax credits for businesses with five or fewer employees that make up to $10,000 new investment in economically challenged areas.

“Each of these components will help keep Nebraska’s economy strong through greater investment in businesses of all sizes, and in the workforce of tomorrow,” Gov. Heineman said.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development administers the Nebraska Advantage package and the Local Tourism Marketing Grants.

For more info contact:

Richard Baier, 402-471-3747