With the last few months of the year upon us, I wanted to dedicate this column to highlighting the vital work of the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) (selectlincoln.org). With a unified commitment to driving economic growth in Lincoln, I am incredibly proud of the work of the LPED team. Through innovative programs and strong partnerships, this talented team plays a crucial role in ensuring Lincoln remains a dynamic place to start or grow a business, live, work and thrive.
In September, I had the honor of traveling to Denver to accept the prestigious 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council. This award was bestowed specifically for LPED’s work in the talent development and retention category, recognizing the outstanding ongoing impact of the Lincoln Manufacturing Council (LMC) on our community.
LMC addresses the workforce needs of Lincoln’s manufacturers by increasing the number of individuals with the skills to work in the manufacturing industry. The program’s success can be attributed to a strong partnership between LPED, the City of Lincoln and members of Lincoln’s manufacturing industry, including the Lincoln Manufacturing Council’s chairs – Nick Cusick and JC Stiles of Bison, Diane Temme-Stinton and James Warren of TMCO and Jim Townsend of Kawasaki.
LPED’s talent development and retention efforts also extend beyond the manufacturing sector. This summer, LPED’s talent team successfully concluded another year of MyTern, a program designed to connect hundreds of interns from a variety of Lincoln businesses with networking opportunities and an introduction to life in Lincoln after graduation. Through four signature events, participating interns were positioned to expand their networks, exchange ideas, connect with members of the Lincoln Young Professionals Group and explore the rich opportunities that Lincoln offers.
On October 22, the LPED team will host the inaugural Talent Connect Conference to unite business leaders, human resource professionals, educators and community stakeholders to explore the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in talent development and workforce strategy. This exciting new half-day summit will feature a keynote speaker, interactive panel discussions on topics such as workforce attraction and retention, the future of work and strategies for building a resilient pipeline. Learn more at lcoc.com/events.
LPED’s support and leadership for Lincoln’s startup community also remains strong. This summer, five early-stage companies participated in an exclusive 60-day coaching partnership with Ripcord Strategy, positioning participants to achieve significant milestones, illustrating the importance of targeted support for high-growth local businesses. Exciting plans are also underway for the first Silicon Prairie Startup Week, a celebration of the entrepreneurial and startup community in Nebraska, scheduled for November 11 – 16.
Stay tuned for additional updates from the LPED team in the months ahead, including ongoing opportunities for businesses to connect with job seekers through CareerPathway.com and application dates for the LaunchLNK grant program. In the meantime, please visit selectlincoln.org to learn more about LPED’s work and programs.