Businesses and organizations hardest hit by the COVID-19 public health emergency are taking advantage of a new Nebraska grant program signed into law in June of 2023.
The North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program (NSORG) will provide a substantial $225 million in grant funding to organizations in critically affected areas. The grant is broken down into eight funding categories addressing a variety of critical needs, from small business support and workforce development to arts and culture improvements. Federal funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was designated for these specific communities by the Nebraska Legislature.
Grant applications opened in September for businesses and organizations in affected areas. Deadline and application requirements vary by category and can be found on the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s website, along with helpful guides and workshop recordings.
The NSORG Program is just one example of good public policy spurring economic development in the region.
LB 531, passed in the Legislature during the 2023 session and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen over the summer, directed the application and distribution process of NSORG and builds upon last year’s economic and community development efforts, initially introduced as LB 1024 in 2022.
The Greater Omaha Chamber supported both bills in the Legislature and remains committed to partnering with other community entities to ensure that process rolls out smoothly.
“The Legislature has recognized that areas of our city have historically been underinvested or disinvested in,” said Jennifer Creager, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at the Greater Omaha Chamber.
As the Greater Omaha Chamber outlines its priorities for 2024, economic development is at the top of the list. Programs like NSORG create a path for growth and expansion in key Greater Omaha neighborhoods, bringing greater prosperity to the region as a whole.
“This is a generational and transformational opportunity and one we all have a responsibility to make sure succeeds. We believe that prosperity for Omaha truly means prosperity for all Omahans,” said Creager.
As the city and state transition out of the pandemic emergency and the related economic uncertainty left in its wake, the Chamber will continue to participate in conversations with city and neighborhood officials, elected officials and local businesses to ensure that the distribution of funds remains consistent with the needs identified by the application process. We also plan to establish North and South Omaha Economic Development Working Groups in coordination with our partner organizations to ensure we are providing adequate resources to support the community’s needs.
Working together with regional partners, the Greater Omaha Chamber prides itself on connecting key resources with the people and organizations who need them most. The Chamber team of public policy, economic development and program experts are dedicated to continuing to make Greater Omaha a vibrant place to do business, work and live.
Save these Dates:
November 08: CODE “I Am” Series: I Am More Than My Mental Health
– Learn and celebrate diversity in the workplace.
November 15: Community Board Connect: Bridging Tomorrow’s Leaders – Connect and learn about serving on local boards.
November 17: Economic Outlook
– Get 2024 insights to guide your business decisions.
November 28: Unveiling the Future: Navigating Omaha’s Urban Core Strategic Plan for Young Professionals – Get an exclusive view into the Urban Core.
November 30: 2023 Holiday Open House – Jon GOC members to sip, sample and celebrate!
Economic Outlook
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an informational event that promises to shape the future of business in the Greater Omaha area.
The Greater Omaha Chamber invites members of the community to attend the annual Economic Outlook Breakfast on November 17, 2023 from 7:30 to 9:00 A.M. at Embassy Suites La Vista (12520 Westport Pkwy, 68128).
Each year, this insightful event provides business leaders with thought-provoking information and data that can’t be found elsewhere. Results from a recent workforce survey of Chamber members will be shared along with insight on talent attraction and retention, followed by a question-and-answer session for attendees.
The Greater Omaha Chamber is honored to present keynote speaker Dr. Jim Harter, chief scientist of workplace management & wellbeing at Gallup. Dr. Harter is the primary researcher and author of the first large-scale, multi-organizational study to investigate the relationships between work-unit employee engagement and business results.
Registration is currently open and closes on Friday, November 10. Both individual tickets and tables of 10 are available for purchase at omahachamber.org/eol/
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their support. Presenting sponsors are Baird Holm, Deloitte, and DA Davidson. Supporting sponsors are Bankers Trust, Lamp Rynearson, and Verizon.
Address: 808 ConAgra Drive, Ste 400, Omaha, NE 68102
Contact Us: (402) 570-9955
Website: www.omahachamber.org
Social Media: twitter.com/omahachamber
