NGage News: Winter Edition

Membership Update:

Priority Items You Need to Know!

Annual Meeting & Banquet

Save the Date!

The Annual Meeting and Banquet will be hosted on February 21, 2025.

Guest Speaker: Jeff Siegler

Jeff has assisted hundreds of communities with revitalization, economic sustainability, and community development throughout his career. Utilizing his background in urban planning, downtown district management, revitalization, real estate, economics and organizational development, his diverse background and expertise lends a unique vantage point for addressing community concerns.

Jeff is the owner of Revitalize, or Die, a civic pride consulting firm. You can learn more about Jeff at Revitalize, or Die.

More details and an official invitation for this event coming soon!

2025 Legislative Session

The 109th Legislature convened for the first day of its 90-day session on January 8, 2025, with the swearing in of 16 new senators from across the state.

"Lawmakers this session will create a two-year state budget while facing a projected $433 million revenue shortfall by the end of the biennium. They also are expected to focus on tax policy and education funding reform. Senators may introduce bills for the first 10 legislative days, or through Jan. 22. The 2025 session is tentatively scheduled to end June 9." Read more about the first day of the session, including committee chair assignments, here.

NGage is monitoring a number of bills this session and would love to know if your or your business is monitoring specific bills or working with senators to pass legislation. Message us if we can help support you in any way!

Business Recruitment, Retention, & Expansion

Aerial view, Hickory Industrial Park

You Can't Spell Economic Development without land....

Well, actually, you can spell ‘economic development’ without the letters “L,” “A,” “N,” and “D,” but proper economic development becomes extremely difficult without suitable locations - land as well as existing buildings - to attract corporations, propel small business owners or house potential workers and their families.

NGage’s mission is to sustain and grow the region’s economy and quality of life by providing leadership and resources for business retention, expansion, recruitment, and community development. The organization collaborates with key Gage County partners to acquire and market land to drive meaningful economic development.

Industrial Park Study

With the Gage County Industrial Park at near capacity, the process of identifying land suitable for a new industrial park is underway. The NGage Board has approved executing an Industrial Siting Study and is currently reviewing various proposals. Stay tuned for updates!

Community Engagement

Beatrice, Wymore receive Community Development Block (CDBG) Grants

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $8,308,100 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to twenty-three projects in eighteen unique communities through the 2024 Downtown Revitalization, Planning, and Public Works opportunities.

“Successful economic development increasingly depends on forward-looking community development,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “For the state to grow, it’s critically important to invest in projects that enhance the attractiveness of our communities. These initiatives elevate quality of life and strengthen our ability to recruit new residents to Nebraska.”

2024 CDBG Public Works Program Awardees ($5,596,100)

Beatrice ($480,000) for a residential street improvement project.
Wymore ($480,000) for Phase II of a water system improvement project to reduce lead in water lines and improve fire protection.

Congratulations to the Cities of Beatrice and Wymore for being recognized in their efforts to elevating the quality of life for residents.

Workforce Development / Talent Attraction

Gage County YPG is excited to invite you to this exclusive event!

Join us for an inspiring presentation by Kayla Schnuelle on Network Weaving, a powerful approach to strengthening professional relationships and creating more meaningful connections.

In addition to Kayla’s insights, we are excited to offer complimentary professional headshots, courtesy of Kristin Jensen to all YPG members in attendance, helping you make a lasting impression in your career.

Come to Kala’s Savory Bites and Sifted Sweets on Janurary 29^th between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM for your headshot, and then head to the lower level where Kayla Schnuelle will be share her insights with us at 2:00 PM!

Do you know a friend that would enjoy this session, or maybe would like a new headshot for the new year? Non-members are welcome to join us for $15 for this one event. Should they decide to join our YPG membership, we will take their $15 fee off their membership for the year!

The Increasing Importance of Employee Retention

Employee retention is more than just a human resources concern; it is a critical driver of economic development and community stability. High employee turnover can cost organizations significant financial resources and reduce overall economic growth. By focusing on retention efforts, businesses can create stronger local economies, foster innovation, and improve community well-being.

The Economic Costs of Turnover

Research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that the cost of replacing an employee can range from six to nine months of the employee's salary. These costs include recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity during the transition period. For small businesses, which often operate on tight margins, this can have a crippling effect.

Beyond individual company costs, high turnover rates can destabilize local economies. When employees leave a job, their disposable income may decrease during periods of unemployment or underemployment, leading to reduced consumer spending. This domino effect can negatively impact local businesses and tax revenues, hindering economic growth.

The Link Between Retention and Productivity

A stable workforce fosters innovation and efficiency. Studies by Gallup highlight that engaged employees are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable. Retaining skilled employees ensures institutional knowledge stays within the organization, allowing companies to operate more effectively and adapt to market demands. This stability benefits not only individual businesses but also the larger economic ecosystem in which they operate.

Community Benefits of Employee Retention

Investing in retention also enhances community development. Workers who feel secure and valued are more likely to invest in their local communities, whether through homeownership, volunteerism, or supporting local businesses. Furthermore, employers that prioritize retention often focus on employee well-being, which can lead to improved mental and physical health outcomes for workers, reducing strain on local healthcare systems.

Strategies for Success

To improve retention rates, businesses can look at adopting comprehensive strategies that address both professional and personal needs. These include:

Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Offering market-aligned salaries and benefits ensures employees feel financially secure.
Career Development Opportunities: Providing training and advancement paths demonstrates a commitment to employee growth.
Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, flexible scheduling, and wellness programs can help employees manage personal and professional demands.
Workplace Culture: A supportive environment fosters loyalty and engagement.

Bottom Line

Employee retention is a strategic economic development initiative. By reducing turnover, businesses can lower costs, enhance productivity, and contribute to a thriving local economy. This is why NGage has prioritized workforce development as a strategic initiative and is a co-sponsor for the Young Professionals Gage County organization.

Sources

Society for Human Resource Management. (2022). "The Cost of Turnover."; Gallup. (2023). "The State of the Global Workplace."; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). "Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey."

Childcare

Gage County Childcare Collaborative:

Seeking Board Members!

The Gage County Childcare Collaborative is looking for dedicated, hands-on leaders to join our Board of Directors. Could that be you?

This is not a show-up-to-a-monthly-meeting kind of role —it’s a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-make-a-difference opportunity. Your passion, perspective, and willingness to dive in will help shape the future of childcare in our community. Together, we’ll tackle unique challenges facing the childcare industry, empower providers, and, ultimately, create innovative solutions that support children and their families in Gage County.

Join us as we build something extraordinary— we can’t do it without you.

Childcare Tax Credits

New tax credits are available for child care teachers and working parents in Nebraska. The aim of these credits is to help parents with the cost of child care, support child care providers, and encourage contributions to child care facilities. The tax credits are:

Tax Credit for Working Parents: Eligible parents or legal guardians of young children can apply for a refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 per child.
Tax Credit for Employers & Other Contributors: Taxpaying individuals and entities (such as employers) can receive a nonrefundable tax credit for qualifying contributions that promote or enhance child care options.
Tax Credit for Individual Child Care Professionals: Eligible, self-employed providers or program staff could claim a refundable tax credit of up to $2,300 on their next tax return.
Tax Credit for Child Care Programs: Eligible child care owners could claim a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,200 per child their program served through the subsidy.

Qualified individuals must submit an application to the Nebraska Department of Revenue to receive the tax credits. Applications are open now and available on a first-come-first-served basis, with total funding for the tax credits capped at $25M.

Source: We Care for Kids

Housing

150+ housing units/lots planned in Beatrice

As of the beginning of the year, the number of housing units listed for sale in Gage County was less than 75. In a county of nearly 22,000, this is a small number. This is one of the many reasons we are continuing our strategic work with housing developers to leverage funding to increase housing stock, including single- and multi-family homes, apartments, and senior living.

One project currently underway is the renovation of the former Stoddard Elementary School building by Hoppe Development, set to begin in Q1 2025. The vacant building is being transformed from classrooms and offices to senior living units.

There are a number of support letters for housing projects and grant applications that NGage has submitted over the last few months - stay tuned to learn more about these opportunities as they come to fruition!

NGage Staff

Rachel Kreikemeier