2023 was a year full of accomplishments for the Lincoln community. As I reflect on the accolades of the year, I am filled with gratitude for the work that was done to pave the way for a successful 2024. Together, your Lincoln Chamber team and the business leaders of our community made a significant impact on our city.
Among the many successes of 2023, several noteworthy accomplishments stand out, including:
Introducing Vitality Lincoln – In collaboration with our board of directors, the Lincoln Chamber joined forces with two premier consulting firms to craft a comprehensive plan for the future of Lincoln. Vitality Lincoln is a culmination of the insights of over 3,500 community members and the thoughtful guidance of a 42-member steering committee of business and community leaders. This blueprint outlines our city’s trajectory and includes the creation of a downtown Lincoln convention center, the establishment of a coordinated career pathway system, support for workforce expansion, prioritization of an East Lincoln Beltway and the innovative promotion of our community to external markets. While considerable progress has already been made, more work remains in the years ahead. Visit lcoc.com/vitality-lincoln to learn more.
Hosting the Guardians of Freedom Airshow – This summer, Lincoln served as the proud host to the Guardians of Freedom Airshow. Your Lincoln Chamber of Commerce team was honored to partner with the Nebraska Military Department and the Lincoln Airport to welcome over 340,000 attendees to the record-breaking event. Headlined by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, the Guardians of Freedom Airshow demonstrated the power of partnerships and significantly impacted our local economy.
Breaking Ground on the Sandhills Global Youth Complex – This fall, the Sandhills Global Youth Complex became one step closer to reality. Plans for this cutting-edge baseball and softball facility were unveiled by our Visit Lincoln team last year in collaboration with Nebraska Wesleyan University, the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County and other community partners. The complex will feature eight turfed fields, including two championship fields for baseball and softball, along with a dedicated field for Homers Heroes. The addition of this complex in our community will offer a positive impact on the experience of athletes and further solidifies Lincoln as a top-tier destination for youth sports.
Making Strides in the Legislature – As your voice for local business, the Lincoln Chamber’s public policy team had a successful year lobbying for the issues we prioritized for 2023 and beyond. This included supporting accelerated income, corporate and property tax relief, helping to secure funding for a secondary source of water for Lincoln and supporting reinstating convention center assistance through sales tax turnback funding opportunities. Additionally, the Chamber policy team made two trips to Washington D.C. to lobby on efforts related to infrastructure, university research, tax provision and immigration reform.
On behalf of our entire team at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, thank you to the Lincoln business community for your ongoing dedication to moving our city forward.
The Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information, contact Derek Feyerherm at dfeyerherm@lincoln.org.