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For several years, Jim McGraw and KMK Consulting Company have worked closely with Greater Omaha in their economic development programs. One of our friends in Omaha, Natalie Peetz, recently published an article in the Omaha Chamber of Commerce newsletter discussing how successful public/private partnerships work as part of the economic development delivery system. Many of the activities that Natalie discusses in the article were initiated by Target Omaha, a program developed by KMKC.
We were so impressed by Natalie’s article that we decided to share it with you.
Celebrating the Public/Private Partnership
By Natalie Peetz
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
proFile, July 1, 2001
I am not sure there is another state or community that comes close to matching Nebraska and Omaha in the utilizing public/private partnerships for furthering economic growth, infrastructure improvement and the overall bettering of our quality if life that comes with these partnerships. I think of the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology, and Engineering; the Convention Center-Arena; LB 775 and the Quality Jobs Act as prime examples of this. And a number of great examples came out of the recently wrapped up session of the State Legislature.
Among the proposals approved by the Unicameral and Governor in 2001 were the Invest Nebraska Act (LB 620), which will foster economic all across the state; LB 657, which will provide $1.5 million per-year from cigarette taxes for the Omaha riverfront redevelopment effort; the Biomedical Research Partnership Initiative, which will receive up to $14 million per year from the state’s tobacco suit settlement (Omaha is already on the map with its medical treatment and research facilities but this initiative will make that mark with a big gold star); and LB 433, which will allow a tax credit for businesses that provide new daycare facilities for employees’ children.
On the national front, Congress has already made no less than amazing progress in enacting major tax reforms. Congress, though, still has a full agenda on front of it. And the State Legislature will return in January with a number of tough issues still to confront. For starters, LB 305 (the teacher salary increase bill) will be eligible for near immediate consideration, proposal still looking for a funding source. Education funding will not be the only issue seriously affected if recent revenue shortfalls set a pattern—the ever increasing debate about state versus local funding for services will certainly heat up. A number of tax increase proposals were considered to fund the teacher salary bill, including those for income and sales taxes. As demands on government continue to increase and outlays go up by six, seven, or eight percent each year, the tax increase option is going to get more attention, even as conventional wisdom tells us that higher taxes inhibits the economic growth that has allowed the many needs of the people of the state to be addressed. And the new City Council and Mayor, and the County Board, will be confronted by so many perennial issues and some new ones as well. (How, for instance, will our local governments react to the Legislature’s enactment of LB 142, the long-discussed city/county merger authorization legislation?)
Our elected officials have demonstrated they are up to the difficult task of balancing the various needs of their constituents and should be commended for confronting these issues with action and a vision for the whole state. Special thanks goes out to Speaker Kristensen for his efforts and leadership on the Invest Nebraska Act and the Biomedical Partnership, Senator Beutler for his effort and leadership on the Riverfront Redevelopment, Senator Landis for his convincing and tireless shepherding of the childcare bill, and to the Governor for his vision and effort on these and other proposals.
As the Fourth of July approaches, take a look around at all that has resulted from the 225 years and counting great experiment. It is not just what has been accomplished but also how it has been accomplished. In the winter and spring, Nebraskans go to Lincoln and wander the halls of the Capitol and converse with their senators about what could be done and how it can be done. Recently, I joined a delegation of Nebraska business leaders and elected officials to Washington, DC, where we wandered the halls of the Capitol, conversing with Representatives and Senators about what could be done and how it can be done. This is where the public/private partnership begins. And when the public and private sectors communicate and corperate, things can and do get done.
Happy Independence Day. |
