Nebraska Department of Economic Development

Jamie Bright Author

10/01/2024 Added

1 Plays

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K.C. Belitz speaks about his new role as Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Recorded 7/12/2023.

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[00:00:00.000]Good morning, Cheryl.
[00:00:21.540]Good morning, everyone.
[00:00:46.900]Good morning, everyone.
[00:01:16.880]Good morning, everyone.
[00:01:18.880]Good morning, everyone.
[00:01:48.860]Good morning, everyone.
[00:02:18.840]Good morning, everyone.
[00:02:48.820]Good morning, everyone.
[00:03:18.800]Good morning, everyone.
[00:03:48.780]Good morning, everyone.
[00:04:18.760]Good morning, everyone.
[00:04:25.800]Good morning, everyone.
[00:04:55.780]Good morning, everyone.
[00:05:25.760]Good morning, everyone.
[00:05:34.420]We'll get started in a few minutes.
[00:05:37.620]We'll get started in a few minutes.
[00:06:07.600]Good morning, everyone.
[00:06:37.580]from Shadron Steve what do you do in Shadron I'm a community banker great
[00:06:45.140]that's uh that's what I try to do anyway so well I live now but I grew up northwest of Rushville
[00:06:56.620]so I spent a lot of time in Shadron when I was young northwest of Rushville so okay I'm just
[00:07:05.200]gonna I kind of call that country kind of the wellness country yeah I am a wellness well okay
[00:07:13.620]just dumb luck my mom was Deb Wellness um okay oh yeah yep
[00:07:21.960]let's see up there to see my grandma originally yeah so is it I don't know is it Deb
[00:07:32.780]Wellness Carpenter yeah
[00:07:35.040]Carpenter Nolting she remarried okay so I never knew Deb but that's what
[00:07:45.140]yeah ring the bell yeah uh was that so yep my dad
[00:07:52.020]excuse me your dad is Dan Carpenter and he's still up there okay good good enough so what
[00:08:02.640]is your name Jamie
[00:08:04.940]Jamie
[00:08:05.020]Bright and I work okay you're Jamie Bright okay got it yep gotcha and are you in Lincoln
[00:08:13.660]you in Lincoln track nope I live in Kimball okay but I work mostly out of the Sydney office
[00:08:22.720]okay got it
[00:08:24.960]got it are you on the Rural Prosperity Committee
[00:08:33.420]Rural Prosperity
[00:08:34.960]team I should say okay we're hoping to be able to refill um Jenny's position we just started
[00:08:45.520]working on the job description so hopefully that'll be posted pretty soon yeah I understand
[00:08:53.080]she just retired July 1 maybe um June 1 I think or somewhere that week okay okay good enough
[00:09:04.540]and everyone I know Casey said he was fitting us in between meetings so we will get
[00:09:26.060]he's jumping on right now
[00:09:28.500]you
[00:09:29.740]you
[00:09:31.800]you
[00:09:33.860]Thank you.
[00:10:03.840]Thank you.
[00:10:33.820]Thank you.
[00:10:50.800]Thank you.
[00:11:20.780]Thank you.
[00:11:50.760]Thank you.
[00:12:20.740]Thank you.
[00:12:50.720]Thank you.
[00:13:20.700]Thank you.
[00:13:50.680]Thank you.
[00:14:20.660]Thank you.
[00:14:50.640]Thank you.
[00:14:50.700]Thank you.
[00:14:50.700]Thank you.
[00:14:50.760]Thank you.
[00:15:20.620]Thank you.
[00:15:50.600]Thank you.
[00:16:20.580]Thank you.
[00:16:29.700]Thank you.
[00:16:45.660]Thank you.
[00:16:50.560]Thank you.
[00:17:20.540]Thank you.
[00:17:50.520]Thank you.
[00:18:20.500]Thank you.
[00:18:50.480]Thank you.
[00:19:20.460]Thank you.
[00:19:50.440]Thank you, Ron.
[00:19:56.940]I'm not sure if I need to introduce myself to Casey.
[00:20:01.920]Probably not.
[00:20:03.520]I'll put everyone else on the call.
[00:20:05.540]Yeah.
[00:20:06.900]But welcome, Casey.
[00:20:10.480]We're glad you're in that position.
[00:20:11.920]Good to see you.
[00:20:12.400]And promise we won't harass you too much.
[00:20:18.420]You're welcome to harass.
[00:20:20.420]Sally.
[00:20:21.420]I am Sally Sad.
[00:20:25.980]I'm the director of business services at Phelps County Development Corporation in Holderich.
[00:20:31.300]Tasha, if you're able to unmute.
[00:20:34.740]Tasha Jones, the Cheyenne County Chamber.
[00:20:38.560]President and CEO.
[00:20:40.040]Good to see you.
[00:20:42.240]Karen Anderson with the Scottsville County United Chamber.
[00:20:48.940]I've got about three weeks.
[00:20:50.400]And so you'll be working with Jody Llewellyn.
[00:20:53.560]But Casey, it's good to see they recycle chamber directors.
[00:20:57.420]We can be recycled.
[00:21:00.060]Yes.
[00:21:01.040]How about Marla?
[00:21:04.120]Hi, I'm Marla Marks.
[00:21:06.800]I work for USDA Rural Development out of the Scottsbluff office.
[00:21:10.200]And I work in business programs.
[00:21:12.040]Lauren.
[00:21:14.220]Good morning.
[00:21:17.500]Lauren Sheridan Simonson with the City of Neal.
[00:21:20.380]And the Village of Clearwater.
[00:21:22.540]Hello, Casey.
[00:21:24.160]Good to see you, Lauren.
[00:21:25.320]Good to see you.
[00:21:25.880]Steve.
[00:21:29.000]Hi, Casey.
[00:21:35.860]I'm Steve Cleveland.
[00:21:37.080]I'm a community banker in Chadron, an agricultural lender.
[00:21:41.260]And this is my first time I've joined this meeting.
[00:21:46.320]So I'm just learning right along with you.
[00:21:48.800]There you go.
[00:21:50.360]Jody.
[00:21:52.680]Hi, I'm Jody Llewellyn.
[00:21:58.340]I'm with the Scotts Bluff Gearing United Chamber of Commerce.
[00:22:00.800]Justin.
[00:22:03.660]Hey, it's Justin Pickerman here calling in from Lincoln with the Department of Economic
[00:22:11.160]Development.
[00:22:11.760]I'm on our communications team.
[00:22:13.600]And Brittany.
[00:22:17.020]Brittany Harden.
[00:22:20.340]I represent the Department of Economic Development as well.
[00:22:22.880]In western Nebraska, I serve 16 counties in the panhandle as a development consultant.
[00:22:29.140]Thank you.
[00:22:31.240]Did I miss anyone?
[00:22:32.420]All right, Casey, I will let you go ahead and start.
[00:22:38.680]Tell us a little bit about yourself and what your vision for DED is.
[00:22:46.580]Yeah, I appreciate that.
[00:22:50.320]Jamie, and great to have all of you gathered as well as Justin to chaperone me.
[00:22:58.080]That's good.
[00:22:58.760]Appreciate that, Justin.
[00:22:59.980]As many of you know, because we've worked together for 20 years in one fashion or another,
[00:23:08.560]it's more than a little bit surreal for me to be in this seat.
[00:23:14.900]You know, it's been a week, and so...
[00:23:20.300]It is certainly a whirlwind.
[00:23:24.260]I had the opportunity on day two to join the governor flying around the western part of the state.
[00:23:31.640]So, stopped in Columbus, North Platte, Arnold, Grand Island, Wahoo, and then back to Lincoln.
[00:23:41.940]And, you know, obviously, that's a really good way to spend some time.
[00:23:48.280]Maybe not day two, but it's a really good...
[00:23:50.280]It's a good way to spend some time just getting out and meeting Nebraskans and having conversations.
[00:23:54.760]And I am pleased to say at every stop, it was meeting someone anyway that I've known and known for a long time.
[00:24:06.220]And I think that's going to serve all of us well, I hope.
[00:24:09.800]Certainly serve me well in terms of filling this role, but also hopefully serving all of you well because we have those relationships.
[00:24:20.260]You know, and then the other side of the coin today, I'm in South Omaha this morning and North Omaha this afternoon.
[00:24:28.000]So, you know, we've hit most of the state in the first five working days.
[00:24:34.260]I would imagine that trend will continue.
[00:24:36.760]As many of you know, I immediately before this worked as the chief operating officer at Nebraska Community Foundation.
[00:24:44.960]So we serve 275 communities in rural Nebraska primarily.
[00:24:48.580]Before that, it was.
[00:24:50.240]18 years at the Columbus Chamber learning
[00:24:52.320]from people like Ron and Karen.
[00:24:53.540]And so I really think those pieces kind of come together in this job
[00:24:58.380]in a lot of ways in terms of what I believe is the reality
[00:25:02.920]of economic development today, which is very different
[00:25:06.380]from when many of us started this pursuit.
[00:25:08.820]In fact, I would submit it's black and white, night and day.
[00:25:14.260]Pick your analogy, different than it was.
[00:25:17.040]Certainly Cheryl would know that better than I do,
[00:25:20.900]but that's my observation, that the days of just selling
[00:25:26.500]cheap land, cheap labor, they just don't exist anymore.
[00:25:31.460]And so we've got to be thinking differently about that,
[00:25:35.080]and that's part of the challenge that's really pretty exciting,
[00:25:37.340]I think, for me.
[00:25:38.080]And again, the experiences of now the last 23 years
[00:25:43.840]between the Chamber and NCF, I think, have really illustrated
[00:25:47.140]a lot of things to me that I hope will be helpful.
[00:25:50.040]And being successful in this role.
[00:25:52.740]And speaking of being successful in this role,
[00:25:55.940]I should also share, I really do feel a great sense of urgency
[00:26:01.820]because I think we have a really unique window of opportunity
[00:26:06.520]in this state.
[00:26:07.400]If you've heard from me so far, you've already heard this.
[00:26:11.480]And if you haven't, you'll hear it many times.
[00:26:13.400]I think a key part of my role here is sharing that message
[00:26:18.960]because.
[00:26:20.720]We have a window, I don't know, next 10 years, whatever it is,
[00:26:23.700]to truly change the trajectory of the places where all of you live and work.
[00:26:29.980]And I think the data, the evidence backs that up.
[00:26:35.800]That's not just me guessing.
[00:26:37.120]As many of you know, NCF has done a survey of Nebraska high school youth
[00:26:42.480]the last three years.
[00:26:43.460]So, you know, surveyed over 3,000 kids in Nebraska hometown.
[00:26:47.680]So, you know, plenty to be.
[00:26:49.180]Legitimate data.
[00:26:51.220]And in the strong majority, those kids want to live in rural Nebraska.
[00:26:57.220]They want to live in the place they grew up or somewhere like that.
[00:27:01.740]And that's because, in large part, rural Nebraska already has what they want.
[00:27:08.560]We don't have to reinvent ourselves for this next generation.
[00:27:11.580]And we've been trying to reinvent ourselves for decades.
[00:27:14.020]And that's never a great strategy.
[00:27:17.060]Now, the good news is we don't have to.
[00:27:19.160]We don't have to do that.
[00:27:19.700]They want safety, good schools, and family every time.
[00:27:23.900]That's the top three.
[00:27:24.900]And comparatively, what do we have in rural Nebraska?
[00:27:28.940]We have safety.
[00:27:30.320]We have good schools.
[00:27:31.720]We have family.
[00:27:32.380]So we have that piece of it.
[00:27:34.420]I would also say we have this window of opportunity because I truly believe,
[00:27:39.160]resident company accepted that we have the right people in the right seats.
[00:27:44.500]I think Governor Pillen gets it.
[00:27:48.480]He obviously believes in ag and rural Nebraska and entrepreneurship and all
[00:27:53.000]those things that all of you do.
[00:27:54.220]I think we have a great partner in Brian Sloan at the state chamber.
[00:27:59.040]We have a great partner in President Carter at the university.
[00:28:01.220]We have a lot of people that really see the world in that way.
[00:28:07.500]And I think also feel that same sense of urgency to do some extraordinary
[00:28:12.300]things in Nebraska and particularly rural Nebraska over these next few
[00:28:17.800]years.
[00:28:18.760]So, you know, what does that mean or what does it look like to capture
[00:28:24.120]that opportunity?
[00:28:24.960]Clearly, people attraction is job one.
[00:28:28.160]I firmly believe, have for a long time, that in large part that is purely
[00:28:34.760]a marketing challenge.
[00:28:35.820]I just firmly believe if people knew that Nebraska existed and that we have
[00:28:41.820]the opportunities we have, we would get people to move here from the coasts,
[00:28:47.720]from wherever.
[00:28:48.380]I mean, I've seen it.
[00:28:49.680]I've lived it in the work we did in Columbus.
[00:28:51.980]But I just think it's really apparent that in large part it's purely a
[00:28:56.980]marketing problem.
[00:28:57.680]And so there are tools that we have at the state.
[00:29:03.600]There are tools that you all have in your communities.
[00:29:06.540]But I think my experience has taught me that none of us have enough capacity
[00:29:13.720]to do that job effectively alone.
[00:29:17.400]It's going to take a coordinated effort.
[00:29:18.960]I think the good life is calling platform that DED created a few years ago
[00:29:27.560]is a great start and can be even more if other partners come alongside and
[00:29:34.640]use that same brand, that same platform, those same tools.
[00:29:38.840]I think it's a great start.
[00:29:40.680]So that's certainly not the only thing that needs to be done, but all
[00:29:47.080]of us using our shared resources in a marketing way, I think, is certainly
[00:29:52.080]important.
[00:29:52.500]Can't do people attraction without housing.
[00:29:56.580]Well aware of that.
[00:29:57.540]You all are living it every day.
[00:29:59.000]Obviously, there's a lot of energy going into figuring out how we make
[00:30:04.920]progress in that.
[00:30:05.800]I've quit using the word how we solve that problem because I don't think
[00:30:08.960]that's the right word, but how do we make progress?
[00:30:11.020]I mean, you just imagine your communities, the communities that I've
[00:30:14.880]worked in.
[00:30:16.760]If we'd had, magically, if we'd had enough housing five years ago, how
[00:30:20.680]many more people would be living in rural Nebraska today?
[00:30:22.800]It's an extraordinary number.
[00:30:24.220]That's an opportunity that, man, you just can't let get away.
[00:30:29.640]Nothing that old chamber guys like less than missed opportunity.
[00:30:36.320]That's even worse than losing something.
[00:30:38.120]So we got to find a way to capitalize on that opportunity by making
[00:30:42.720]progress in the housing space.
[00:30:44.360]Clearly, that's a priority.
[00:30:46.440]We're going to do people attraction.
[00:30:47.700]It's early childhood development.
[00:30:50.280]It's all those other things.
[00:30:51.360]All of that has to come together for us to truly be successful in people
[00:30:58.180]attraction.
[00:30:58.660]Certainly, another significant key to that, of course, is talking to our
[00:31:03.160]own kids.
[00:31:03.740]And as I said a minute ago, we have a very receptive audience in that
[00:31:09.040]cohort of the kids that are in Nebraska high schools today and those that
[00:31:14.540]are younger.
[00:31:14.900]We have the most receptive.
[00:31:16.360]We have the most receptive audience we've had in probably 100 years.
[00:31:18.380]So going back to the survey, statistically speaking, the only one
[00:31:25.880]reason that Nebraska students say they don't think they'll live in their
[00:31:29.680]hometown or in rural Nebraska as adults is they don't think they can find
[00:31:33.440]the job or the career or the business opportunity that they want in that
[00:31:38.100]place.
[00:31:38.480]Now, everyone on this call knows that may be true in some cases, but it's
[00:31:43.400]not true in a lot of other cases.
[00:31:46.280]That means we got to do a better job of communicating that, exposing those
[00:31:51.340]kids to those opportunities.
[00:31:52.560]And so that leads you to internships pretty naturally, of course.
[00:31:57.160]We have pretty significant investment in that, in the Intern Nebraska
[00:32:05.480]program that the Exarbon Foundation is partnering with DED on.
[00:32:09.660]We have an opportunity in Governor Pillen's new mentorship program to
[00:32:16.200]reach those kids, probably even at a younger age.
[00:32:19.180]And, you know, like I said, that's the only barrier of statistical
[00:32:24.540]significance to these kids staying in Nebraska.
[00:32:26.540]Well, let's remove that barrier by exposing them to the jobs, the careers
[00:32:29.820]that are available that they don't think are available in rural places.
[00:32:33.800]And we know today, you know today, you can do virtually anything as long
[00:32:38.800]as you have decent broadband.
[00:32:40.900]Obviously, you're working on that too.
[00:32:43.120]But I was a guy making feature films.
[00:32:46.120]We're living in Ravenna.
[00:32:47.640]There's a guy doing IT in Stewart.
[00:32:49.260]I mean, you know, on and on it goes.
[00:32:50.480]So internships is a big deal.
[00:32:54.100]And I would submit to all of you, one of my passion projects, you know,
[00:32:59.960]given the workforce situation we have today, we all know, you know,
[00:33:03.280]if you're looking for a job, you can probably find that job almost literally
[00:33:07.300]in any state in the union.
[00:33:08.800]So that's not really the driver of where you're going to live,
[00:33:12.260]or at least not the only driver, large part of that decision
[00:33:16.040]now is the place.
[00:33:17.160]It's the community.
[00:33:18.100]And so I would submit that there is something there
[00:33:22.120]in creating a community component that goes with business internships.
[00:33:28.800]I think that marriage needs to be explored
[00:33:31.160]if we're really going to maximize the impact of those business internships.
[00:33:38.700]I mean, the business is doing it in large part
[00:33:42.220]to create a long-time relationship with that person.
[00:33:45.960]As a full-time employee down the road,
[00:33:47.760]and if we can, as communities or as economic developers,
[00:33:50.700]if we can show that including a community component
[00:33:54.920]in that internship increases the odds of that happening,
[00:33:57.760]I think business will certainly be on board.
[00:34:00.780]And then, of course, DED has lots of other resources
[00:34:05.300]in that student-youth engagement and recruitment space,
[00:34:09.440]and that those resources have to be maximized
[00:34:15.880]Now, I will say, I think, and any of you that know my background,
[00:34:19.860]this is no surprise to any of you,
[00:34:21.400]all of those things have to start in the community
[00:34:26.480]because the solution in Chadron or Alliance
[00:34:28.860]is different than it is in Brownville or Lincoln.
[00:34:31.340]So us at the state, DED, whoever, coming out and saying,
[00:34:36.060]here's the solution, is just not going to be the most effective path forward.
[00:34:39.940]So what I hope DED can really be is a resource
[00:34:45.800]to help fill in the gaps or provide partnerships, whatever,
[00:34:49.900]to ideas that start in communities.
[00:34:53.640]And those are the conversations I think that are most interesting
[00:34:59.100]and exciting for me is for those ideas to start at the community level
[00:35:04.580]and then we figure out how to be a resource and a partner
[00:35:07.740]at DED or other state agencies.
[00:35:12.640]You know, I said on the fly around,
[00:35:15.720]it's really good for all of you to know,
[00:35:17.880]well, literally the first day on the job,
[00:35:21.220]I had the occasion to talk to three other agency directors
[00:35:25.840]and every one of those conversations was about,
[00:35:29.320]well, how could we partner to help grow Nebraska?
[00:35:32.360]And so that should be exciting for all of us.
[00:35:37.020]If we put together transportation and ag and DOL and DED and tourism
[00:35:42.180]and everybody is rowing the same direction thinking about how
[00:35:45.640]we grow Nebraska together, there's real opportunity that comes from that.
[00:35:50.820]So literally, first day, that was pretty cool.
[00:35:54.840]And then obviously on day two, spent the whole day with the new director
[00:35:57.960]of broadband, and so he gets it as well that we've got to be successful
[00:36:03.820]in that space if we're going to maximize the opportunity
[00:36:06.720]for people to live in rural places.
[00:36:08.940]So that is more than enough of an introduction probably.
[00:36:15.560]And probably stretch this about 15 more minutes or so
[00:36:18.800]and would love to have whatever conversation any of you want to have.
[00:36:21.460]Or Cheryl can tell me what I said wrong.
[00:36:23.360]Does anyone have questions for Casey?
[00:36:29.000]Or Cheryl, did you want to add anything?
[00:36:32.200]That's right.
[00:36:33.780]We should have opened the floor for Cheryl.
[00:36:35.780]No, I don't think so.
[00:36:37.980]I think he's right on.
[00:36:39.000]Those are all things that the field service team deal with every day,
[00:36:42.580]as he knows.
[00:36:43.280]Yep.
[00:36:43.580]I think Brittany would.
[00:36:45.480]I would agree.
[00:36:45.780]She's on as well.
[00:36:47.020]Yes, absolutely.
[00:36:51.640]And I think sharing those relationships, Casey,
[00:36:56.920]like we talked a few days ago,
[00:36:58.560]that there's so much of that already happening in our communities in terms
[00:37:02.740]of not only through our intern Nebraska program formally,
[00:37:06.840]but then also through businesses just on their own,
[00:37:09.700]taking their own initiative to connect with young kids who are actually
[00:37:14.000]getting them to come back.
[00:37:15.400]After college.
[00:37:16.160]So there are some great examples of that.
[00:37:18.960]Any questions?
[00:37:29.920]Carrie,
[00:37:33.680]I know you already work closely with Deb and have a good relationship between
[00:37:38.620]economic development and tourism up in that area.
[00:37:41.980]What are your thoughts on,
[00:37:45.320]making that stronger at the state level as well?
[00:37:48.220]Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, we,
[00:37:51.520]we try and do that here in Northwest Nebraska.
[00:37:54.540]That's the whole point of the interlocal agreement between Dawes and Sioux
[00:37:58.000]counties is working together.
[00:37:59.360]I'm also the chairman of the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition and
[00:38:03.540]secretary for Nebraska Travel Association Board.
[00:38:07.380]So very much a part of collaborating across the industry and across the
[00:38:13.480]region and the state.
[00:38:15.240]So I know that that's from my industry and from my corner of the state,
[00:38:19.380]that's definitely just built in.
[00:38:23.220]We don't get much accomplished in rural Nebraska by ourselves.
[00:38:26.300]We have to work together.
[00:38:27.160]That's right.
[00:38:27.740]So true.
[00:38:30.780]Casey, I really appreciate all of the people attraction work you've already
[00:38:40.440]done.
[00:38:40.800]And I think that's such a good area to focus on.
[00:38:45.160]You know, somewhat related to that with Sean on the call,
[00:38:52.640]particularly I'd be remiss if didn't also mention that, you know,
[00:38:57.160]is certainly a focus area that I would like to see evolve to a somewhat more
[00:39:06.140]prominent position in the, in the department.
[00:39:08.380]Clearly we're not going to stop recruiting it.
[00:39:10.340]And we're never going to put up a sign that says Nebraska is closed for
[00:39:14.360]business from that perspective.
[00:39:15.080]But as I said earlier,
[00:39:16.360]I think that the reality is economic development has changed and,
[00:39:19.220]and in particularly in the places where you all are working entrepreneurship
[00:39:23.680]slash growing your own with slightly different things,
[00:39:29.220]maybe that really is the most viable economic development strategy.
[00:39:33.860]And so I,
[00:39:37.300]I think there will be a growing focus in,
[00:39:42.140]in that area in terms of DED's portfolio,
[00:39:45.000]whatever that means.
[00:39:46.100]And obviously on day five,
[00:39:47.220]I don't know what that means entirely.
[00:39:49.200]But I also know it's an area of,
[00:39:52.160]of great interest for the governor.
[00:39:54.020]And obviously that matters while he's in that seat as well.
[00:39:57.660]So already having the first conversation with some potential partners on
[00:40:03.600]that this Friday and we'll,
[00:40:06.080]yeah,
[00:40:06.760]it's just an area where I think it's pretty clearly a strategy that needs to
[00:40:13.880]be,
[00:40:14.920]maybe more in the center of what we do than it has been historically for good
[00:40:21.180]reasons.
[00:40:21.520]You know,
[00:40:22.040]that,
[00:40:22.480]that was a fit then.
[00:40:23.580]And I think this is a fit now.
[00:40:24.840]So let's get to work.
[00:40:27.900]You could do like regional mini grants for e-coaches.
[00:40:33.920]So.
[00:40:35.120]Yep.
[00:40:36.720]Jamie.
[00:40:37.820]Yes.
[00:40:40.680]I think I'd like to just share,
[00:40:43.860]share,
[00:40:44.840]a short story here and maybe why,
[00:40:48.820]why I'm interested in,
[00:40:51.820]in this group.
[00:40:52.720]We have,
[00:40:56.020]I have a small company that we formed in 2018 and it it's called
[00:41:02.780]ag critic consulting.
[00:41:05.800]We saw in rural America that there,
[00:41:09.660]there's just less local bank charters and try to get ahead of
[00:41:14.760]continuing access to credit for the next generation of,
[00:41:19.600]of agricultural producers.
[00:41:22.060]It seems like at times,
[00:41:24.780]the more rural you are,
[00:41:26.200]the more economic penalties you have to overcome that.
[00:41:30.980]So,
[00:41:31.300]so we,
[00:41:32.040]we saw that coming.
[00:41:33.460]So we went applied for USDA small business innovation research grant,
[00:41:41.820]a phase one grant was awarded.
[00:41:44.680]In 2020.
[00:41:45.600]And we developed a minimum viable product.
[00:41:50.740]And what it is,
[00:41:51.600]it's a digital lending software that is all mobile based.
[00:41:58.060]So we,
[00:41:58.640]we kind of learned through our research that the next generation grew up
[00:42:03.320]with this in hand and they know how to use,
[00:42:05.940]really use this to solve problems.
[00:42:08.520]So we based it really off of that platform.
[00:42:11.240]So we built an MVP.
[00:42:12.680]We were successful,
[00:42:14.600]in landing the phase two portion of that grant.
[00:42:20.120]And we're just in the last couple of months of the phase two.
[00:42:24.880]So the next is to reach revenue.
[00:42:28.620]So it's been all research and development at this point,
[00:42:32.640]but I think more for an information,
[00:42:35.120]but just the difficulty of accessing capital in rural Nebraska,
[00:42:44.980]specifically in the far outstate regions of Nebraska is really difficult.
[00:42:52.040]And we're finding that difficulty.
[00:42:54.040]Now our focus, again,
[00:42:57.260]our primary user is the next generation agricultural producer and give them
[00:43:03.720]access credit, which really relies on broadband.
[00:43:06.880]It relies on connectivity because that's how they will access the credit
[00:43:14.440]We have made very good progress though,
[00:43:18.620]in building connections across the state of Nebraska,
[00:43:22.860]particularly with the Department of Economic Development and the BIA
[00:43:28.840]programs.
[00:43:29.680]We were able to leverage our phase one and phase two grants and get
[00:43:36.640]additional dollars to do some things that weren't permitted within those
[00:43:42.480]grants, get dollars from,
[00:43:44.360]in DED that was really helpful. And again,
[00:43:48.860]we've learned that we are one Nebraska.
[00:43:52.300]We've learned that economic development, Chatham, Nebraska, Harrison,
[00:43:57.240]Nebraska is just as important as Nebraska city.
[00:44:00.260]We've learned that through this process,
[00:44:02.540]but there are still obstacles that have to be overcome.
[00:44:06.540]And I think the Department of Economic Development really has a nice handle
[00:44:13.200]on that.
[00:44:14.280]And I appreciate the opportunity to again,
[00:44:18.520]participate and share our story that I think we are headed the right
[00:44:23.200]direction.
[00:44:23.280]Good.
[00:44:25.400]Yeah.
[00:44:27.440]It's, you know, access to capital is an issue.
[00:44:30.080]I will say, you know,
[00:44:33.960]I've certainly spoken several times with both Invest Nebraska and Nebraska
[00:44:40.920]Enterprise Fund.
[00:44:41.680]And now particularly they have these SS
[00:44:44.200]BCI funds they need to get out the door.
[00:44:46.160]And both Jim and Dan are very interested in finding more opportunities in
[00:44:51.380]rural Nebraska.
[00:44:51.860]It doesn't mean it's easy or there aren't hurdles.
[00:44:53.760]I certainly wouldn't argue that,
[00:44:55.540]but there is legitimate interest in bringing those resources and getting
[00:45:02.700]rural projects on their books.
[00:45:05.320]So I would certainly encourage all of you to make those connections with
[00:45:12.180]whether it's capital or loan funds,
[00:45:14.120]whatever you need or whichever you have a client who needs.
[00:45:17.520]Those opportunities are there.
[00:45:20.400]They really do want to do more projects than they're doing in rural
[00:45:23.820]Nebraska.
[00:45:24.280]Thank you.
[00:45:26.780]Any final questions for Casey before he has to jump to his next meeting?
[00:45:44.040]If not, well, that was awful easy on him.
[00:45:47.820]Let's not discourage that sort of behavior.
[00:45:54.580]I know. I look forward to seeing what you'll do, Casey.
[00:46:00.300]I appreciate it.
[00:46:01.800]Lauren look forward to working with you and figuring out how we're going to
[00:46:05.580]put some childcare in your place.
[00:46:07.520]Perfect.
[00:46:09.280]Thank you so much.
[00:46:13.960]All right. I appreciate the time friends. If not all of you,
[00:46:17.080]most of you know how to get ahold of me. So feel free to do so.
[00:46:21.580]Look forward to getting out and seeing you.
[00:46:23.580]It was great meeting you. Have a good day.
[00:46:25.900]Thanks everybody.
[00:46:28.440]And if anyone else has anything else,
[00:46:35.520]I forgot one more announcement that I should have made for RPN.
[00:46:39.020]For those of you who know Jordan Rasmussen, our colleague, she had a,
[00:46:43.880]a baby on Friday is doing well.
[00:46:46.380]I'm probably going to get the name wrong. Hadley, I think it's a little girl.
[00:46:51.660]And she will be on maternity leave for a few months.
[00:46:56.340]So if you don't see her around, that is why.
[00:46:58.980]Anyone else have final announcements you'd like to make?
[00:47:03.440]I think on RPN side, we have four open positions.
[00:47:08.880]Is there something that we can post?
[00:47:13.800]That they can help us advertise, especially since one is Jenny's, right?
[00:47:18.580]And so Jenny's isn't officially posted yet, but the three others are.
[00:47:25.220]I sent out an email to the group last week, but I'll see if I can find that link.
[00:47:43.720]The position will be posted as a dual track level.
[00:47:47.240]So people with a bachelor's degree who don't yet have their master's will be able to apply
[00:47:52.240]and are just asked to complete a master's degree within five years.
[00:47:57.640]So that should open up some other opportunities up there in the Northwest.
[00:48:01.280]So Carrie, once we have that job posting, I'll make sure you have it so you can send it out.
[00:48:07.720]The Heartland Expressway will be having their annual meeting August 5th
[00:48:13.640]15th at the Gearing Civic Center at 1130.
[00:48:16.840]I don't think they have the keynote speakers confirmed yet, but
[00:48:21.080]that's a strong initiative we need in western Nebraska.
[00:48:24.280]Thank you, Karen.
[00:48:31.060]Karen, are you having a going away party?
[00:48:36.420]We'll have a reception on the 27th of July
[00:48:41.300]from 3 to 5 here at the Chamber.
[00:48:44.360]Thank you.
[00:48:45.140]Not that she's on countdown or anything.
[00:48:57.760]No.
[00:48:58.780]10 work days, but just counting.
[00:49:01.420]For those of you in the panhandle,
[00:49:07.920]Pat Comfort with DOL.
[00:49:10.300]Her retirement party is Friday,
[00:49:13.480]the afternoon in the Scottsbluff.
[00:49:16.120]Anything else?
[00:49:24.000]Thanks for hosting, Jamie.
[00:49:33.720]Hey, we'll let everyone go a little early today.
[00:49:36.860]Thank you.
[00:49:37.380]Have a good rest of the week.
[00:49:38.980]See ya.
[00:49:40.200]Bye.
[00:49:43.400]Thank you.

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Nebraska Department of Economic Development

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