Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Encouraged by Governor’s Get Nebraska Going Initiative

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (www.lcoc.com) is encouraged by Gov. Pete Ricketts’s recently announced Get Nebraska Growing initiative to help Nebraska’s economy recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state will receive $1.2 billion in funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), which the initiative directs to four grant programs to stimulate small businesses, workforce retraining, expansion of rural broadband, and leadership training.

“Collaboration and partnerships have long been strengths of the Chamber,” said Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall. “Now more than ever, those are strengths we need to build on and utilize toward recovery in Lincoln and across Nebraska. The Chamber looks forward to our continued work with Gov. Ricketts and Nebraska Economic Development Director Tony Goins as we get our businesses back up to full speed.”

Get Nebraska Going includes dedication of $330 million in working capital for Nebraska small businesses and livestock producers through the Small Business Stabilization Grant, plus $16 million to the Workforce Retraining Initiative, which will help community colleges across the state provide training programs to those who have had their employment affected by COVID-19. The Rural Broadband Remote Access Grant will dedicate $40 million to help communities gain important quality-of-life and workforce-development improvements; an additional $1 million will be directed to the Gallup Leadership Training Grant to provide leadership training to keep Nebraska businesses moving forward; and $85 million will go to the Community CARES Program to provide food security, housing, PPE, behavioral health, and other resources to organizations serving Nebraskans that have been strained by COVID-19.

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (LCOC) is Lincoln’s leading business organization, representing more than 1,700 member businesses by providing advocacy and connections to help businesses grow and thrive in the city. For more information, visit www.lcoc.com or contact Communications Coordinator Chris Whitney at (402) 436-2376 / cwhitney@lcoc.com.