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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

There Are Many Reasons It's Called The Heartland

Located in the geographic center of the United States, Nebraska is the heart of opportunity for transportation, logistics, distribution, and warehousing.

LDW: Logistics, Distribution & Warehousing 2009
Nebraska offers excellent transportation infrastructure, low-cost electricity, strong labor resources and work force training, development incentives and assistance programs, and an exceptional quality of life. These advantages make Nebraska an attractive logistics hub.

Transportation
Nebraska is home to a 482-mile stretch of Interstate Highway 80, with I-29 and I-25 passing in close proximity to the state's eastern and western borders. Motor carriers are able to reach Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis, and St. Louis from most Nebraska communities in one day. Most all U.S. destinations can be reached in two days.

Two major railroads serve the state - the BNSF Railway Company and the Union Pacific. The Union Pacific, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, is one of the nation's major rail centers. In fact, the most direct mid-continent route to the West Coast passes through Nebraska. No major city in the United States is more than five days away by rail from Nebraska.

Commercial air service is available at nine locations in Nebraska, including Omaha and Lincoln.

Electricity Rates
Nebraska utilities generate electricity with a diverse fuel mix of coal, nuclear, water, wind, and other fossil fuels. This contributes to industrial electric rates in Nebraska that are much less than the national average.  

Strong Labor Resources and Work Force Training
Nebraska offers a reliable, educated, and well-trained labor pool, along with low unemployment and workers' compensation rates. In 2007, 89.4 percent of the state's population 25 years of age and older were high school graduates, compared to 84.0 percent nationally.

The University of Nebraska System has the largest facilities among the state's 21 colleges and universities and offers advanced degrees in most professional fields. To meet the needs of new and expanding businesses, Nebraska's statewide community college system provides specialized training programs.

Incentives and Development Assistance Programs
The Nebraska Advantage incentive package provides transportation and logistics companies investing at least $10 million and creating 100 new jobs with a 10-year personal property tax exemption on machinery and equipment. In addition, it provides a sales tax refund, jobs credit, and investment credits for qualifying businesses.

In addition, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) employs a professional economic development team that will facilitate the site selection process. NPPD's website, sites.nppd.com, lists available properties, energy and labor costs, community information, and industry profitability studies.

Exceptional Quality of Life
Nebraska's centralized location and Midwest values offer a safe place to live, raise a family, and make a good living. Nebraska's recreational facilities provide quality of life experiences for residents and tourists, and the amenities of good health care, quality communities, and genuine people make Nebraska the "heart" of the Heartland.

Dennis G. Hall, CEcD
Economic Development Manager
Nebraska Public Power District
P.O. Box 499
Columbus, NE  68602
Phone: (800) 282-6773, ext. 5634
Fax: (402) 563-5090
E-mail: dghall@nppd.com
sites.nppd.com

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