National Rankings Provide Perspective on Lincoln’s Economy
In late May, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development released the latest Business Conditions and Indicators report for Lincoln. The report is a combination of data analysis conducted by the University of Nebraska’s Bureau of Business Research and survey work completed by the Partnership as part of their Business Retention and Expansion program.
The report once again shows Lincoln’s economy is strong and remains on-track to grow jobs through 2016. Manufacturing, commercial and tech economies remain strong and we should expect further growth with the development of Nebraska Innovation Campus and the LPS Career Academy. The report also highlights the growing need for added investment in Lincoln’s infrastructure and workforce development efforts.
I can assure you both areas will be the focus for the Partnership and for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in the coming months. The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development has already taken the first steps by adding a position dedicated to coordinating workforce recruitment and retention among businesses and educational institutions throughout the area. The Partnership is also hard at work implementing recommendations put forward by the Angelou Economic Report last year. A Human Resource Professionals group is currently meeting to share best strategies for recruiting talent to Lincoln, a task force is working on ways to capitalize on the capabilities of the community’s new 1-Gig fiber network, and there are efforts underway to combine the city’s vibrant music, arts, technology and start-up scene into a regional event designed to showcase Lincoln as a great place to do business.
More national rankings continue to roll-in and back-up our assertion that Lincoln is indeed a destination for anyone looking for quality jobs and vibrant community. Recently, leading personal finance outlet Wallet Hub named Lincoln as the 4th Best City to start a business and the 19th Best City to start a career. Both awards cited Lincoln’s access to resources, low costs, and friendly business environment as leading factors for the high rankings. Of particular note was Wallet Hub’s ranking of Lincoln as a top-15 city for “Quality of Life” amenities. The report looked at median annual income, the percentage of the population aged 25-34, projected population growth, and housing affordability among other factors.
Clearly, we are scoring highly with both today’s workers and the next generation of America’s workforce.
If you would like to get involved with “What’s Next for Lincoln” you can visit the Partnership’s website at www.selectlincoln.org , follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or simply contact our office today. I would also encourage your business to become an investor in both the Chamber and the Partnership. Both organizations are dedicated to growing the economy and advocating for the best business climate possible in Lincoln. It is a community effort and we need your help.
Thank you for your support!
The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information on the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, (www.lcoc.com) please contact Jaime Henning at jaimehenning@lcoc.com.