Area Development
Measure non-metropolitan manufacturing employment since the mid-1980s and you'll find that it's been on the decline nationally. Not so in Nebraska. The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is playing a role in keeping the state economically vibrant.

The organization's economic development services are often behind the scenes - a lot of the work involves giving member public power providers the tools they need to attract business and serve commercial customers better. It also conducts opportunity studies to determine which industries are particularly good matches for Nebraska sites: Some of its studies have focused on such sectors as industrial machinery and equipment, food processing, fabricated metal products, and plastic products.

NPPD serves public power providers across the state, and it's a big job, because public power covers virtually the entire state. That gives Nebraska a distinct advantage when it comes to energy rates, which are among the nation's lowest.