Rural Nebraska Isn't a Footnote, It's the Foundation

Submitted on behalf of economic development leaders in Ogallala, Holdredge, Kearney, and Hastings.

The recent commentary published by the Nebraska Examiner and submitted by leaders of the state's largest chambers of commerce and our statewide economic development association rightly calls for a laser focus on economic development and competitiveness to grow Nebraska's economy. As representatives of rural Nebraska communities—Kearney, Holdrege, Hastings, and Ogallala—we echo that call, but with a critical addition: rural Nebraska must not be an afterthought in this vision. It must be a cornerstone.

Our communities are home to some of the most resilient, innovative, and hard-working people in the state. We are proud stewards of Nebraska's agricultural legacy, but we are also hubs of advanced manufacturing, logistics, and health care. Yet, we face unique challenges that threaten our ability to compete: workforce shortages, housing constraints, broadband gaps, and aging infrastructure.

At a time when Nebraska needs to grow its tax base and attract new investment, the Department of Economic Development (DED)—the very agency tasked with driving that growth—is continuously threatened with serious budget cuts and the potential loss of critical programs. This is not just short-sighted, its self-defeating. Cutting the agency best positioned to spur growth in our tax base undermines the very goal of reducing property taxes, it's a contradiction we can't afford.

We support the call for the next DED director to bring with him/her a pro-growth agenda. But that agenda must be inclusive of rural priorities: 

• Modernizing and simplifying incentive tools that work for small and mid-sized communities, not just urban centers. 
• Investing in site-readiness and infrastructure in rural industrial parks and business corridors. 
• Expanding workforce housing and childcare options to attract and retain talent. 
• Supporting rural innovation in ag-tech, clean energy, and remote work ecosystems. 
• Marketing rural Nebraska as a place where families can thrive and businesses can grow.

We also support a comprehensive economic competitiveness assessment. But such a study must include rural voices and data—not just metro metrics. The future of Nebraska depends on the success of all its regions, not just its largest cities.

Governor Pillen and state leaders have an opportunity to build a truly statewide growth strategy. One that recognizes that rural Nebraska is not a problem to solve, but a partner to empower. We are ready to work alongside the next DED director to ensure that our communities are not left behind—but are leading the way.

Let's build a Nebraska where opportunity doesn't depend on your ZIP code—and where economic development is treated as an investment, not a cost to cut.

About the Authors

• Mary Wilson serves as Executive Director of Keith County Area Development, where she draws on her experience as a small business owner, along with a background in education, finance, and community leadership, to drive development in Ogallala and the surrounding region.
• Ron Tillery, an economic development leader with over three decades of experience, has spearheaded transformative initiatives across Nebraska—including co-founding KAAPA, recruiting major biofuel investments, and revitalizing communities through leadership roles in Kearney, Fremont, and most recently as Executive Director of the Phelps County Development Corporation.
• Trevor Lee serves as President of the Development Council for Buffalo County, where he leads strategic efforts to attract and grow businesses, drawing on over a decade of experience in Nebraska communities and a background in city planning.
• Shannon Landauer, CEcD, currently serves as Executive Director of the Hastings Economic Development Corporation and Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, where she continues to lead regional growth initiatives across Nebraska and the Midwest with experience spanning two decades.