Move Back to Nebraska

Bringing Former Nebraskans Home Since 2005

One of the World-Herald’s new digital initiatives called WikiCity Guides aims to harness the collective wisdom of Nebraskans by offering a set of city guides that anyone can edit. WikiCity allows Chambers, business owners, and everyday residents within their respective communities to shamelessly self-promote everything that their community has to offer. Using WikiCity’s comprehensive list of over 300 cities, towns, and villages across Nebraska, including those communities that may not have an active chamber to help promote their local resources; anyone can contribute and share what makes their community a great place to live. Examples are as follows:

Admittedly, the tough economy limits opportunities. Though Nebraska has weathered the storm far better than many regions, the employment landscape has changed dramatically since the launch of MoveBackToNebraska.com. That said, there are opportunities in Nebraska, and we believe that there will be even more in the months to come. Here are examples:

Nebraska No. 3 in fiscal fitness
(Omaha World-Herald) -- Omaha.com reports that Forbes Magazine lists Nebraska "as third healthiest" when it comes to the fiscal fitness of the 50 states -- which includes "state government debt per person" and "unfunded pension obligations per person." According to the World-Herald, Nebraska also ranked well on comparisons of "government employees, pension burdens and Medicaid enrollees to private-sector employment." See the story at <http://www.omaha.com/article/20100301/NEWS01/100309975/0/FRONTPAGE>

Economic rebound expected to pick up steam in Midwest
(Omaha World-Herald) -- Omaha.com reports that "job gains and increased inventories helped a leading economic indicator for Nebraska, Iowa and the region grow to its highest level in nearly three years." That's according to the Business Conditions Index for February. "Readings over the past several months indicate that the regional economic rebound that is under way will pick up steam in the months ahead," said Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss, according to Omaha.com. But Goss cautioned that the "economic headwinds that Europe is facing" could ultimately hurt the Midlands "major agriculture sector." Nebraska should see "minimal manufacturing job gains and very modest overall job gains," Goss says. See the story at <http://www.omaha.com/article/20100302/MONEY/703029963>

Workforce Development working for Structured Solutions
(Grand Island Independent) -- People wanting to apply for jobs with Structured Solutions, a high-technology company expanding from California, may do so through Nebraska Workforce Development.
See the Independent story at <http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/12/28/news/local/doc4b382f9141349101274596.txt>

Is Nebraska on the rebound?
(World-Herald News Service/NPTelegraph.com) -- The World-Herald News Service reports Nebraska could be one of the first states to emerge from the current recession -- the most severe in at least the past 30 years. That is according to Jason Henderson, chief executive for the Federal Reserve branch in Omaha. Henderson said "regions of the country that lag going into downturns historically tend to be the first to emerge." Scott Strain, an economist with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, said: "When I look at the data, I see improvement and a suggestion we'll have job growth by the end of the year." "New jobs posted with the Nebraska Workforce Development office in Omaha were up 10% in September over a year ago, an indication that some employers are returning to the market for workers." But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said it "is likely to take a year for Nebraska to recoup lost jobs," and it could take even longer, he said, "depending on what transpires in Washington in debates on health care, climate change and taxes." See the World-Herald story at <http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2009/10/25/news/60004454.txt>

'BusinessWeek: Omaha Area One of U.S. Metros Least Touched by Recession
(BusinessWeek magazine) -- BusinessWeek.com reports that "some metros across the nation have managed to stay out of the recession's path and could now be poised for recovery." According to data and analysis from the Brookings Institution's new MetroMonitor study, BusinessWeek.com ranked the Omaha metro area as No. 8 among the top 40 economies based on job growth, employment, economic growth, and home prices. BusinessWeek says "the Omaha-area economy is one of the nation's bright spots. In the category of job growth, the metro is ranked 15th overall. In the area of unemployment change, the Omaha metro comes in at No. 2. To see more, go to <http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1022_40_strongest_us_metro_economies/9.htm>

Need a job? Consider a move to Nebraska
(BloggingStocks.com) -- BloggingStocks.com reports that Lincoln, Neb., is the best place in the country for job-hunters. "A new survey by headhunting firm Manpower reports that 21% of employers there plan to add employees in the next quarter, with only 4% looking to cut. That 17% spread (which Manpower calls the "net employment outlook") is tops in the United States." According to the story, Flint, Mich., "is at the other end of the spectrum: 26% of employers are planning to chop jobs, while only 9% are forecasting new positions." See more at <http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/27/need-a-job-consider-a-move-to-nebraska/>

Neb. Labor Commissioner: Nebraska still has second-lowest jobless rate in U.S.
(KRVN.com) -- KRVN reports that Nebraska Labor Commissioner Cathy Lang "says even though the state's unemployment rate rose 1.7% over the past year to 5% in June, Nebraska still has the second-lowest jobless rate in the nation." Based on historical trends, Lang expects another increase in the state's unemployment rate in July, followed by a decrease into the fall, KRVN reports. See the article at <http://www.krvn.com/news/index/8ad79fee-776c-4960-a2a8-8122137d439e>

MONEY Magazine Names Papillion as No. 3 Best Place to Live
(MONEY/CNN) -- MONEY.CNN.com has ranked Papillion, Neb. as the No. 3 best place in America to live. According to the story, "the winners were chosen by measuring and weighting the factors that Americans value most," including low crime, affordable homes, lots to do, top-notch schools and good health care. According to the CNNMoney poll, "It's rare for a town to rack up great scores in both economic performance and housing affordability," and Papillion "delivers both." The article notes that Papillion's May "jobless rate in its county was less than half the national average, thanks to diverse area employers including Mutual of Omaha, TD Ameritrade, Union Pacific Railroad, and Con Agra. Within Papillion's borders are Alegent Health and InfoUSA." See more at <http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/107317/best-places-to-live-2009-edition.html?mod=realestate-buy>

Nebraska in the top 10 for being pro-business
(Nebraska Radio Network) -- NebraskaRadioNetwork.com reports there is "some good economic news for Nebraska," which has been named "one of the top 10 pro-business states in the country. ... Governor Dave Heineman credits the state’s economic incentive programs as part of the reason for the high ranking." The governor said, "The new business interests we have attracted as a result of the Nebraska Advantage have made a real difference." According to the story, "the governor says this ranking is especially noteworthy in these tough economic times." See the story at <http://nebraskaradionetwork.com/2009/06/25/nebraska-in-the-top-10-for-being-pro-business/>

Omaha named among 10 best places for struggling Americans to start over
(BusinessWeek.com) -- As unemployment continues to increase, some Americans might be wondering what to do next. And while no state has been completely untouched by the current state of the economy, Nebraska is among the few that have seen some positive impacts. According to BusinessWeek, the healthiest states are Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. BusinessWeek has named the Omaha area the fifth-best place in America "to start over." "Construction, durable goods manufacturing, nondurable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activities, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality are considered to be the best job prospects" in the Omaha area, the magazine said. See the story at: <http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/06/0611_cities_to_start_over/1.htm>

Spared the worst? Recession not as rough for Omaha
(Omaha World-Herald) -- Omaha.com reports that "new evidence suggests that Omaha is riding out" the national economic conditions much better than most places." The World-Herald reports that "a study looking at how the nation's 100 largest metropolitan cities are coping during the deepest recession in decades ranks Omaha as the 10th-strongest performer." The study found that while Omaha has "shed jobs and felt the effects of the housing downturn," it has been at a "much lower" rate than the nation as the whole. "The report in particular cites Omaha and Des Moines as insurance centers, an industry that has fared relatively well in the downturn." The World-Herald also reports that Omaha "has strength in information technology (consider First Data, PayPal, Google, Yahoo), transportation (Union Pacific Railroad), health care (regional hospitals that draw from a wide area), education (two sizable universities and two medical centers) and government (Offutt Air Force Base) — all employment sectors that nationally have been spared massive job losses." Jason Henderson, chief of the Federal Reserve branch office in Omaha, said: "The diversity of Omaha's economy is a big strength." Read the story at <http://omaha.com/article/20090617/NEWS01/706179899>

Omaha's Economy Remains Comparatively Stable in Turbulent Times
With a virtual boulder being dropped in the national economic pond, Omaha is feeling just a slight ripple thanks to a strong, diversified and stable economy compared to other parts of the nation. http://www.omahachamber.org/News/newsdetail.aspx?StoryID=13262

Omaha lands IT center
PayFlex bringing more jobs to Omaha
Pipeline project to deliver jobs, cash to Nebraska
Panhandle job demand thriving
Omaha Ranks No. 6 as Great Affordable Places to Retire
Nebraska is the only state with jobless drop in February
Despite Economy, Omaha Hiring
Report: Nebraska is happiest state economically

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