The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry is sending a good message to the state’s residents: Let’s think long term. Let’s think statewide. And let’s think big.
Nebraskans can log in at a website — Nebraska- Ideas.com — and, through Dec. 14, submit ideas on how to boost the state’s future. People also can express support for ideas others have offered.
The project is called Forging Nebraska’s Future, sponsored by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce with support from nonprofit groups including the Nebraska Press Association and the Peter Kiewit Foundation.
Just a sampling of the key questions for the state:
>> How to help rural communities overcome population decline?
>> How to keep the state economically competitive and encourage high-quality jobs?
>> How to provide needed government services without increasing the already-heavy tax burden?
>> How to meet the state’s needs for road construction and maintenance?
>> How to promote economic development while protecting Nebraska’s natural resources?
For example, the website for the initiative sums up one of the state’s central needs:
“To win the future battle for jobs and population, Nebraska business and industry must create job and career opportunities that both retain and attract people to the state. Existing companies must find ways to better leverage technology to remain competitive in the global business environment. There must be strong support for entrepreneurial and small-business ventures, with special emphasis placed on innovation and financing. Attention should also be given to the recruitment of new companies that build upon Nebraska’s inherent strengths and help to better diversify the state’s economy.”
It’s encouraging that a leader in this initiative is Richard Baier, a respected former Nebraska director of economic development and now an executive with the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kudos also extend to MindMixer, an Omaha-based organization promoting community engagement online, for providing the technology.
By early 2013, the dozens of suggestions at the NebraskaIdeas site will be narrowed to around five central ones. It will be important for those ideas to be practical goals — challenging goals, yes, but workable. Goals with the potential to make a significant difference for the state. Well-thought-out goals around which Nebraskans can rally.
It’s crucial that the ideas pass that test. If they do, they’ll deserve support.
So, let’s have a thoughtful, collaborative conversation about where the state should be heading. Then the hard work can begin on how to get there.
Nebraskans can log in at a website — Nebraska- Ideas.com — and, through Dec. 14, submit ideas on how to boost the state’s future. People also can express support for ideas others have offered.
The project is called Forging Nebraska’s Future, sponsored by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce with support from nonprofit groups including the Nebraska Press Association and the Peter Kiewit Foundation.
Just a sampling of the key questions for the state:
>> How to help rural communities overcome population decline?
>> How to keep the state economically competitive and encourage high-quality jobs?
>> How to provide needed government services without increasing the already-heavy tax burden?
>> How to meet the state’s needs for road construction and maintenance?
>> How to promote economic development while protecting Nebraska’s natural resources?
For example, the website for the initiative sums up one of the state’s central needs:
“To win the future battle for jobs and population, Nebraska business and industry must create job and career opportunities that both retain and attract people to the state. Existing companies must find ways to better leverage technology to remain competitive in the global business environment. There must be strong support for entrepreneurial and small-business ventures, with special emphasis placed on innovation and financing. Attention should also be given to the recruitment of new companies that build upon Nebraska’s inherent strengths and help to better diversify the state’s economy.”
It’s encouraging that a leader in this initiative is Richard Baier, a respected former Nebraska director of economic development and now an executive with the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kudos also extend to MindMixer, an Omaha-based organization promoting community engagement online, for providing the technology.
By early 2013, the dozens of suggestions at the NebraskaIdeas site will be narrowed to around five central ones. It will be important for those ideas to be practical goals — challenging goals, yes, but workable. Goals with the potential to make a significant difference for the state. Well-thought-out goals around which Nebraskans can rally.
It’s crucial that the ideas pass that test. If they do, they’ll deserve support.
So, let’s have a thoughtful, collaborative conversation about where the state should be heading. Then the hard work can begin on how to get there.
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