Lincoln/Omaha Announce Tech Talent Initiative
Lincoln and Omaha have many things in common, especially when it comes to the combined workforce. Boasting over 1.3 million people in the combined metro areas of both cities, there are many advantages we can use to our benefit. One area we’ve seen both Lincoln and Omaha excel in is the recruitment and job offerings for tech talent, and we are all in on capitalizing on this great asset. With our similarities, proximity, and common strengths, it only makes sense to collaborate and potentially turn the area into a super region. That’s exactly what we hope to do with the recent announcement of OPTiN, our new tech talent initiative between the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and the Greater Omaha Chamber.
This partnership to grow our tech talent pipeline will combine not only technology, but also growth and innovation as it shapes up to be the largest collaboration of its kind in Nebraska. As the region tackles the need for tech professionals, naturally it’s in our best interest to focus on the opportunities in tech that both cities provide.
In addition to our branding efforts, we’re also launching a new website that lists tech jobs from companies in the region. Optinomalnk.com will feature a job portal that showcases tech jobs at Omaha and Lincoln companies while also building a brand and related messaging that blends the two cities as one tech super region.
Our shared message and goals with OPTiN are so important because our tech ecosystem is incredibly strong, diverse, and a vital cog in our workforce development efforts. To attract these tech job seekers, we’re looking to bring in recent graduates, those that have connections to this super region through family and those that have lived here previously and can possibly return or “boomerang” back to the Good Life.
The momentum behind our efforts remains strong in our super region, and our national reputation continues to grow as a result. In April 2019, MarketWatch named Lincoln/Omaha as America’s No. 1 New Tech Hot Spot. The resulting article from MarketWatch reads, in part, “Lincoln and Omaha, have both become havens for entrepreneurs seeking a home that’s not only affordable, but extremely supportive of new tech businesses.”
Lincoln and Omaha have gained a deserved reputation as a corridor of innovation and a thriving environment for a variety of growing companies that operate at the intersection of technology and disruption. For example, Hudl, a world-renowned sports video software company, announced in May 2019 that they would pursue continued growth plans in the region. Hudl currently has 540 Nebraska-based employees—490 in Lincoln, and 50 in Omaha.
I want to thank everyone involved in making the announcement and continued work on OPTiN, including our business partners and other local companies that have helped facilitate this effort.
Pictured (L-R): Dee Baird, Greater Omaha Chamber; Pat Haverty, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development; Mike Dunlap, Nelnet; Mindy Simon, Conagra Brands; Dan Houghton, Buildertrend; Wendy Birdsall, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce; David Brown, Greater Omaha Chamber