Save The Date

Business After Hours

Join us for an exciting evening as Adams County Faigrounds hosts a Business After Hours event to announce their Fairfest 2024 concert lineup on Thursday, February 15 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

This is a great opportunity to network with local business leaders. Enjoy great food and refreshments. Save the date now and we hope to see you there!

Click Here For Flyer

Member Resources

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), in collaboration with GROW Nebraska Foundation, is pleased to announce the statewide availability of the Nebraska Small Business Assistance Act (NSBAA) Program.

The purpose of the program is to support individuals looking to start a small business or seeking to expand a small business they opened within the past five years.

Under the program, a small business is defined as a business with no more than five full-time equivalent employees based on hours worked (not including the business owner).

The NSBAA Program provides two benefits to qualified individuals:

Funding to access professional services: These include services such as strategic planning, accounting and budgeting, tax return preparation, payroll processes, website development, or assistance setting up an LLC
Grants for both new businesses and existing businesses: Grant funding can be used for eligible business purposes including, but not limited to: startup costs, working capital, franchise fees, equipment, inventory, or purchase/renovation of a place of business.

Applicants for a new business grant could receive up to a $25,000 grant.
Applicants for an existing business grant could receive up to a $12,500 grant.

Click Here For More Information

Join BetterCulture on Tuesday, February 6th at 8:30 AM

This free, 60-minute networking and learning opportunity will take place on Zoom and will provide a unique opportunity to connect and discuss trends in leadership and company culture.

Click Here To Learn More or Sign Up

State Chamber

Hunting Down Housing

It's no secret that housing has been giving Nebraskans some grief statewide over the past year, whether that be cost or availability. An October report by UNO's Center for Public Affairs Research named housing as the top reason Nebraskans are moving away, over jobs and family reasons.

As of this month, the average Nebraska home cost $268,900, which comes in in the top 15 for affordable housing in the U.S. From December 2022, that went up over 3.3%.

New in NELEG

LB1023

Introduced by Senator Brad von Gillern, LB1023 would decouple Nebraska's tax code from federal provisions, reintroducing a provision in the now-expired 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that allows businesses to immediately expense R&D investments. NE Chamber President Bryan Slone testified in support of this bill on behalf of the NE Chamber, Omaha Chamber and Lincoln Chamber. He emphasized how timely the legislation is for Nebraska businesses to "continue to grow, compete and provide economic opportunity within our communities."

LB856

A bill that would expand childcare assistance to childcare workers would "be a game changer within our state," according to NE Chamber President Bryan Slone. Introduced by Senator John Fredrickson, LB856 could recruit and retain 2,000 parent providers in the workforce, ensuring care for over 16,000 children.