Trevor was recently a featured contributor for UNK's series 'Community Voices'
After working in economic development for many years, one thing has become clear to me: communities succeed when they invest in the assets that create stability, opportunity and long-term resilience. Here in central Nebraska, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is one of those assets. Its presence has shaped our region’s economy for decades, and its influence continues to grow.
UNK plays a major role in keeping Kearney and the surrounding area strong. Its operations generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic activity and support thousands of jobs across the state. That steady flow of payroll, student spending, events and visitor activity helps support local businesses year-round. Anyone who has watched hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic or retail performance in this community understands how closely they track with the rhythm of the university.
Communities our size don’t usually have this level of economic stability. The impact is felt daily. New housing starts, small business growth and steady demand for services all reflect the presence of a university that brings people and energy into the region.
Workforce Engine
Over the course of my career, I’ve sat in countless conversations with employers about workforce needs. No matter the industry, the challenge is the same: finding enough people with the right skills to fill critical roles.
UNK answers that challenge year after year.
Its graduates step into fields that are essential to both urban and rural Nebraska: nursing, teaching, IT, engineering, business, social work and entrepreneurship. What matters most to me, having grown up in rural southwest Nebraska, is how many of these graduates come from small communities just like the one that shaped me. UNK draws in students who grew up in places where you learn to pitch in without being asked, where your word means something and where you understand that community is built, not inherited.
Those students often want to stay in Nebraska. Many return to their hometowns or other rural communities because they want their children to grow up with the same grounding they had. When they return as nurses, teachers, business owners and local leaders, they help stabilize and revitalize the small towns that depend on them.
When I talk with employers, from manufacturers to hospitals to banks, there’s a common theme: “We depend on UNK.” Some employers have workforces that are 20% or more UNK alumni. That’s not an accident. That is the sign of a reliable, homegrown talent pipeline.
And UNK evolves quickly. When markets shift toward cybersecurity, data analytics, health sciences or advanced manufacturing, UNK shifts with them. That adaptability gives employers confidence to invest here.
Partner That Strengthens Community Growth
Successful communities are those that attract and retain young professionals, and universities are one of the strongest magnets for that demographic. UNK does more than educate. It contributes to the overall competitiveness of the region. Employers have confidence setting up shop here because they see a pipeline of talent. New graduates bring innovation, families, demand for housing and a desire for amenities that make Kearney and the surrounding area more vibrant.
The investment in the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex is a powerful example of how UNK aligns with regional needs. It will help address Nebraska’s longstanding rural health workforce shortage and inject new economic activity into the region. Projects like this strengthen not just the local economy, but the entire rural fabric of the state.
Call to Business, Civic Leaders
Strong communities don’t happen by accident. They happen because leaders make intentional decisions to support the institutions that drive growth.
UNK has been, and continues to be, a major factor in our region’s success. Supporting the university means supporting workforce development, business retention, entrepreneurship and rural vitality. It means strengthening the very advantages that keep Buffalo County competitive in a changing economy.
From my perspective, both as someone who grew up in rural Nebraska and as someone who works every day to strengthen this region’s economy, the connection is unmistakable:
When UNK thrives, central Nebraska thrives. When central Nebraska thrives, rural communities across the state benefit.
The students sitting in UNK classrooms today will be the people shaping Nebraska’s future for decades to come. Our job is to ensure they have every reason to stay, contribute and build their lives here.
Trevor Lee
President, Development Council for Buffalo County
