The U.S. bioeconomy is driven by access to domestic feedstocks and our ability to successfully convert those feedstocks into the manufactured goods that we use every day. America’s heartland is a rich source of these feedstocks — including corn, soybeans, and sugar beets — that can be used by bioindustrial manufacturers to realize the promise of the bioeconomy.

Specifically, Nebraska has abundant natural resources and a strong, capable, resilient, workforce. Gov. Jim Pillen has said, “The biobased economy is gigantic for the future. It’s [Nebraska’s] Silicon Valley.”

While the U.S. tries to reach its full potential of this bioeconomy, many factors have fallen into place that could allow Nebraska to emerge as a leader, including political support, government and private sector funding and workforce development. Growing the bioeconomy is a state priority, and Lincoln-based Southeast Community College (SCC) is working to help meet the current and future demands of our state.

SCC serves a primarily rural 15-county area in southeast Nebraska, including the future home of Citroniq Chemicals’ decarbonized plastics production facility, the largest in the world. To ensure our workforce is adequately prepared, SCC in 2021 launched a new biotechnology program featuring three stackable credentials to prepare the next generation of skilled technicians to work in the industry.

Students acquire industry-relevant skills, along with the knowledge of how to work in a regulated environment. Twice a year, industry professionals provide input on the most relevant skills they hope new employees hold — to ensure that graduates fit industry needs. Furthermore, SCC’s programs ensure that agreements are in place and that courses remain transferable to 4-year institutions, so that education opportunities can extend beyond a 2-year degree for those who want them.

Another key priority has been to ensure that a full pipeline has been built from middle school through graduate school, resulting in key partnerships with educational institutions and industry partners.

One success has been the development of an industry-relevant citizen science research project that links dog genetics to attachment behavior. SCC’s industry partner Neogen runs an animal genomics facility, also located in Lincoln, and many graduates of this program have gone on to lead successful careers at the site.

Furthermore, middle and high school teachers have been trained in summer workshops onsite at Neogen. During the school year, teachers are supported with equipment, materials and in-person assistance as they incorporate the research project into their classes. Career awareness helps expose teachers and students to the breadth of careers available in the bioeconomy. From the network of over 40 teachers trained, many are interested in adding more biotechnology to their current courses, as well as dual credit biotechnology courses. SCC is working to expand our capabilities and this network of teachers.

Collaborating with industry partners in the development of relevant curriculum is also a feature of SCC’s work. In partnership with Bluestem Biosciences and their recently funded BioMADE project to scale up production of bioacrylates, SCC is creating a module of related bioindustrial manufacturing curriculum. This will include study materials, assignments, and assessments designed to expand resources for community college programs in bioindustrial manufacturing.

This initiative supports Bluestem’s commitment to leveraging existing bioethanol assets in the Midwest, which includes cultivating workforce talent. The curriculum will provide an engaging introduction to fermentation and purification of organic acids, life cycle assessment and environmental justice.

It will also be crafted to resonate with Gen Z and Gen Alpha students and to align with best practices in educational content creation. The approach fits with BioMADE’s efforts to equip the next generation of technicians, engineers, entrepreneurs and plant operators.

Lastly, SCC has partnered with trade organization Bio Nebraska in its Fermentation Collaborative that seeks to increase collaboration between industry and educational institutions to improve opportunities for seamless work between 2- and 4-year institutions and raise awareness of the usefulness of precision fermentation. These collaborations have led to more connections with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, allowing for more opportunities for SCC students to engage in summer research and improved transfer opportunities.

Collectively, this work demonstrates the important role of community colleges in ensuring industry needs are met in the short term while also facilitating long-term partnerships that lead to future gains for a trained workforce. There are opportunities to participate in STEM careers at all education levels. Together, this will bring bio-based solutions to global problems.

Misty Wehling is a biology instructor at Southeast Community College, where she also co-chairs the biotechnology program. She led a team at SCC focused on meeting the workforce needs of Nebraska’s bioscience industry. This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/02/expanding-education-and-workforce-pathways-in-rural-communities/

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