As leaders of the state’s largest chambers of commerce and industry actively engaged in economic development, we write to express the importance of statewide economic growth, the urgency of our state being more competitive and growth-oriented and to highlight our interest in the selection of the next permanent director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

At the heart of our statewide economic development efforts is the goal of growing Nebraska’s tax base, because the best and most sustainable paths to reducing the tax burden on Nebraska families run through expanded economic growth, private-sector investment and job growth.

To achieve this, Nebraska must become more competitive focused on economic growth. While we are home to nationally significant industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, construction and financial services, these sectors are rapidly evolving.

Companies are investing in automation, data analytics and artificial intelligence-driven processes, and they are making location decisions based on where innovation is embraced and where the policy environment supports growth. Increasingly, we are seeing companies, including those with existing footprints in Nebraska, choose to grow in other states that offer more competitive incentives and greater speed to market.

The next permanent DED director must champion a pro-growth agenda that prioritizes business attraction and retention, modernizes incentive tools and site-readiness programs, reimagines our state’s marketing and seeks innovative ideas to utility infrastructure enhancements.

To assist this new director, we recommend having an industry-respected entity undertake a comprehensive economic competitiveness assessment of Nebraska to assist in evaluating the state’s current economic and workforce landscape — eyeing opportunities and challenges.

Having the Nebraska Department of Economic Development work with other stakeholders on growing new high-wage, high-skilled, high-demand jobs is not only critical to Nebraska’s economy, but also generates the kinds of opportunities young people seek.

Transformations underway in agriculture, manufacturing, health care and financial services demand new skills, new technologies, and new thinking, qualities that define our emerging talent base. By creating the right economic environment, we can ensure that our state remains a place where younger Nebraskans can find rewarding careers, build their futures and stay closer to home.

We are encouraged by Gov. Jim Pillen and other state leaders focusing on making Nebraska stronger. As organizations engaged in the daily work of growing our economy, we stand ready to support the administration’s next permanent DED director in building a more competitive, prosperous and opportunity-rich Nebraska through a new pro-growth agenda.

Together, we can ensure our state is not only open for business but positioned to lead in a rapidly changing economy.

Heath Mello is president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Jason Ball is president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. James Caraway II serves as president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association and Nebraska director for the Mid-America Economic Development Council.

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/2025/07/19/laser-focus-on-economic-development-competitiveness-essential-to-growing-nebraska/

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