Heineman’s leadership, pro-business stance highly praised in corporate real estate executive publication

LINCOLN, NEB. (January 22, 2008)— Governor Dave Heineman and the State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development earned a top slot in the January 2008 issue of Industrial Asset Management Council’s (IAMC) monthly newsletter emailed to hundreds of corporate real estate executives. The Governor’s commitment to successful economic development landed front and center in IAMC Executive Director Ron Starner’s column.

Starner not only sang the praises of the Governor, but invited Michael Rareshide, executive vice president of Partners National Real Estate Group Inc., in Dallas, to share his thoughts about Nebraska, and share he did.

Rareshide, who consults for Fortune 500 companies, held up Nebraska as one of two top locations in the country for corporate expansion projects.

“Both states not only have reasonable wage rates and great incentives, but the real estate portfolio of both existing buildings and land sites does provide the user solid opportunities to pursue,” Rareshide said. “While it can be argued that all of the Central Plains states are pro-business, these two states do take it up a notch for several reasons.”
     Reasons listed were:

• “Very knowledgeable economic development officials that truly understand and anticipate what the site selector requires.”
• “Both states’ EDC’s are an excellent extension of my site selection consulting.”
• “Very quick response time to any questions or concerns—no matter how minute or technical—about their state.”
• “Keen perspective on the strengths of their communities, based upon direct discussions with all the prior local and state employers that have expanded or relocated.”
• “Great understanding of how to circumnavigate the local, county and state government matrix to help solve the intricate nature of facility relocation.”

All this praise is humbling, yet there’s no denying it also is music to the Governor’s ears, and to his Director of Economic Development Richard Baier.

“This national attention is monumental for our business retention, expansion and relocation efforts, and comes at an excellent time with the Governor’s continued commitment to economic development laid out in his State of the State address and through his recent announcement proposing the Nebraska Super Advantage. It is testament that all the hard work and efforts that the State invested in enacting the Nebraska Advantage program 22 months ago is reaping substantial exposure for the state.  Not only are we seeing significant numbers of company expansions and relocations, but our many economic development Advantages are being recognized on a national stage,” Baier said.

To access the article in its entirety, go to: http://www.iamc.org/dispatch/0801/pg01.shtml

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Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it