NE Chamber Backs ‘Game Changing’ Agenda for Relief Cash
With the state Legislature preparing to allocate a little more than $1 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds, four state senators unveiled proposals that they say will change the trajectory of the state’s economy and improve its labor pool and infrastructure.
Last week, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Zoom briefing with state Sens. John Arch, Mike Flood, Mark Kolterman and Anna Wishart. They outlined legislation they’re pursuing that they say would make Nebraska more attractive to entrepreneurs looking to start companies and the workers those companies would hire.
“We are really focused in this legislative session on five areas: clearly solving the workforce issue, dealing with some core infrastructure issues that are necessary to attract the kinds of jobs and the kinds of employees that we need, driving innovation, empowering our communities so that our communities become even more attractive to younger people and younger families, and modernizing our tax system,” NE Chamber President Bryan Slone said.
Altogether, the senators’ proposals would cost about $435 million and would be paid for out of the $1.04 billion that Nebraska is receiving from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Arch said his proposal would cost $195 million and focus on infrastructure issues. The La Vista senator would allocate $10 million to the Nebraska Department of Transportation for much needed road repair and upgrades. Another $10 million would go to industrial rail parks and site acquisitions to help with supply chain issues.
An additional $10 million would go to the state Department of Economic Development for purchasing land and buildings, construction of new buildings and improving infrastructure.
Arch’s proposal would also allocate $15 million to the ImagiNE Nebraska Revolving Loan Fund for workforce training, infrastructure development, broadband access, utilities and street upgrades.
The largest part of Arch’s proposal would allocate $150 million towards attracting larger companies to the state with the development of megasites of 500 to more than 1,000 acres.
“We know that we have missed out on some opportunities for some very large employers because we weren’t ready,” Arch said. “This would give us the advantage of being out ahead, so when the next opportunity comes around for the state of Nebraska, we would be ready to seize that opportunity.”
Flood said he will propose a bill that will recommend a “sizable investment” in the InternNE program, creating more internship opportunities not only for college students, but high school students as well.
“We have to get really serious about connecting our greatest resource – our people – with the job opportunities that exist before they ever consider going out of state,” the Norfolk senator said. “We need to introduce them to the opportunities that are here.”
Flood’s bill would also make funds available to the Department of Labor for training and apprenticeships. The funds would also be used to provide grants to businesses for supporting talent development.
Kolterman proposed LB 699, which would provide $100 million for one-time grants to businesses to foster innovation via research, development and implementation of new technologies.
“We believe this grant program can help us bring new people to the state, increase talent, increase production, increase labor needs, and reduce the number of low skilled positions,” said Kolterman, whose district includes Seward.
Wishart’s proposal would invest $20 million in the existing Business Innovation Act, which is designed to encourage and support the creation of high-growth technology companies, small businesses and microenterprises that create quality jobs.
“This is basically one of the best working programs in our state when it comes to a dollar for dollar of what we invest in it and what we see in return,” said Wishart, who hails from Lincoln. “It’s the program that helps to create our entrepreneurial ecosystem in this state.”
Slone believes the next three years are critical to Nebraska’s future. He sees these proposals as ensuring the economic stability and sustainability of the state.
“For the next three years, there’s really a window that is a one time opportunity for Nebraska to make a difference on these workforce and innovation issues in ways that will pave the way for the next 30 years,” Slone said. “And we truly believe that what we do over the next three years in terms of the use of these American Rescue Plan dollars and the excess revenues we have in the state right now, will dictate our success competitively as a state going forward.”
Find more information from the chamber briefing at
nechamber.com/good-life-game-changer.html.
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