Latest news with #OmahaInlandPortAuthority
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Omaha ‘Innovation District' funded by $30M from state is topic of May 21 public input meeting
The boundaries of the Omaha Inland Port Authority. (Courtesy of City of Omaha) OMAHA — Community input will be heard May 21 on a plan for a new 'Innovation District' in the North Omaha area, which is being funded by a $30 million state grant. The effort is to be overseen by the Omaha Inland Port Authority, the steward of the funding awarded by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The public is invited to the 6 p.m. meeting at the Venue at Highlander Accelerator, 2120 N. 30th St. Representatives of the port authority will introduce the planning process and gather input to shape a vision for 'inclusive economic development in the area.' The proposed Innovation District is separate from the planned airport area business park project that is also being steered by the port authority board, in partnership with a development team led by Omaha Economic Development Corp. and Burlington Capital. Funds for both projects originally were approved by the Nebraska Legislature as part of the Nebraska Economic Recovery Act of 2022, though the legislation and funding sources have since been updated. On the Innovation District initiative, the port authority board has started to lay groundwork in awarding a $546,000 consulting contract to HR&A Advisors Inc. Focus group sessions are to be held the day before the public meeting. HR&A secured the contract in April after a competitive bidding process. In conjunction with Lamp Rynearson and Vireo, the contractor over a six-month period is to create a vision and business plan model for a local Innovation District, which is to be developed within the boundaries of the Inland Port Authority. The consultant is to outline project costs and identify key indicators to measure success. Such a district is envisioned as an urban hotbed of leading-edge institutions, business and entrepreneurs. On the business park venture, a concern voiced by a few state lawmakers and community members was that it lacked community input early on. The business park initiative is funded partly through a separate $90 million state earmark. Both the business park and the Innovation District are seen as anchors within the boundaries of the port authority and seen as key to helping private businesses produce jobs and economic development that benefits North Omaha area residents. The port authority jurisdiction, members say, is roughly 3,000 acres, although not all of that is buildable property. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill moves forward, but with resistance, to expand boundaries for North Omaha business park
The boundaries of the Omaha Inland Port Authority. (Courtesy of City of Omaha) LINCOLN — A bill aimed at enlarging the area where a long-awaited North Omaha business park could be developed advanced Tuesday to its final reading in the Nebraska Legislature. However, Legislative Bill 290, introduced by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, faced continued resistance led by State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County. McKinney told the lawmaking body that he was asking for flexibility on the boundaries because there are problems with the top two locations identified by the development team awarded the $90 million in state funds to prepare the industrial site. McKinney's bill would drop a requirement that the park be located within two miles of a major airport, instead allowing it to be within the broader boundaries of the Omaha Inland Port Authority. McKinney also chairs the board that oversees the Port Authority. Its jurisdiction, members said, is roughly 3,000 acres, although not all of that is buildable property. A new twist in $90M Omaha airport area business park plan gets mixed reaction The $90 million for a business park was part of the Economic Recovery Act approved by the Legislature in 2022 and updated in 2023. The act, which included other elements, was championed by McKinney and then-Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. A team led by the nonprofit Omaha Economic Development Corp., Burlington Capital and the Greater Omaha Chamber won the $90 million grant to develop the park. The team plans to use the funds to prepare a shovel-ready site and to market the area to businesses that would build a job-producing industrial hub. The Omaha Inland Port Authority Board was established after the Economic Recovery Act laid out parameters for the business park. The Port Authority Board now has oversight. One of the two sites the OEDC team identified as a priority location for the park has environmental cleanup expenses that could cost $40 million, McKinney has said. The other contains numerous households, some of which have balked at relocation to make way for the park. During debate Tuesday, Andersen noted that he opposed the bill during committee stage and again during legislative debate. Once again, Andersen charged that McKinney was 'unclear' on certain details such as how much of the Economic Recovery Act funds remained unspent. With the budget shortfall facing the state, he said lawmakers should consider stopping the business park plan. The Legislature voted 25-3 to advance the bill. Twenty legislators were present but chose not to vote. One senator was excused. A bill with no emergency clause needs 25 votes to pass with the governor's signature. The bill had passed the first round Feb. 28 with a 31-5 vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
