Nebraska has a variety of advantages for new and relocating businesses. Nebraska has a strong economy; our workforce is known for being highly educated, mechanically adept, and cost-efficient. Nebraska has low unemployment insurance and compensation rates plus favorable management/labor relations. Nebraska's college and university systems work cooperatively to provide outstanding training programs for employers. Nebraskans are also fortunate to receive high quality, reliable electric power at a cost far below the national average. Nebraska is in the center of it all -- our transportation systems provide businesses a means to deliver and receive product conveniently and efficiently.

NPPD's Economic Development Team's experience in working with state agencies such as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Nebraska Ethanol Board, and others can add value to your project. We can introduce you to the appropriate contacts within the agency.

Three major state agencies -- the Nebraska Workforce Development, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Education -- work together to provide a broad spectrum of recruitment and training resources.

Nebraska Incentive Programs!

In May 2005, Nebraska signed into law a new generation of benefits designed to enhance Nebraska's competitive edge by expanding business and attracting new opportunities to the state. These benefits took effect January 1, 2006. New investment and employment in ethanol production facilities may qualify for tax incentives through the Nebraska Advantage Package.

The Nebraska Advantage Package was designed to create a business climate that makes Nebraska the preferred location for starting and growing businesses. There are various tiers under this act that provide incentives based upon thresholds in respect to employment and investment. These programs include refund of sales taxes paid; slide scale job credits and investment credits. A significant enhancement is that manufacturing machinery and equipment would be exempt from sales tax.

Nebraska Advantage

LB312

• Nebraska Small Business Advantage - Part of a larger program that sets out incentives for companies impacting communities through capital investments ranging from $1 million to $30 million, and job creation ranging from 10 to 100 new jobs.
• LB312 & LB90 - Concepts originally proposed as separate legislative bills also have been incorporated into the structure of LB312 and LB90, including state and local sales tax exemptions for the purchase of manufacturing machinery, equipment and related services.
• Nebraska Research & Development Advantage - Allows qualifying research and development companies to claim a tax credit equal to 3 percent of increased expenses related to research & development.
• Nebraska Micro-Enterprise Tax Credit Program - Allows a business with five or fewer employees that make up to $10,000 in new investment in an economically struggling community or area will quality for a 20 percent refundable investment tax credit.
• Nebraska Rural Development Advantage - Amends the Employment, Expansion and Investment Incentive Act (formerly LB608 passed in 2003) to provide qualified businesses with refundable tax incentive for projects creating two new jobs and investing $125,000 in counties with less than 15,000 residents.

LB90

• LB 90 - The second bill making up the Nebraska Advantage, addressing rural development and emphasizing the contributions made by Nebraska's entrpeneurs, as well as agricultural and value-added industries, including alternative fuels such as ethanol.
• Nebraska Agriculture Innovation Advantage - Reauthorizes a value-added grant program providing grants up to $75,000 to cooperatives, groups or associations to help offset the costs of research, education, training and market development of value-added products sold by producers.
• Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act - Provides grants up to $75,000 to rural communities to implement collaborative projects addressing issues related to chronic economic distress, unemployment, below-average per capita income, and severe population loss.
• Nebraska Customized Job Training Advantage - Provides a flexible, discretionary custom job-training program to help ensure the state's workforce is prepared for advances in rapidly changing industries.

Financing for new or expanding businesses is also available from both the public and private sectors.

Highlights of Nebraska's corporate tax structure include:

• No state property tax.
• No sales or use tax on energy for manufacturing use.
• No property tax on business inventories, including raw materials, goods in process, and finished goods.
• A refund of sales tax for pollution control equipment.
• No tax on intangibles.
  

NPPD's Economic Development Consultants can assist you in understanding the benefits of these programs and guide you through the application process.

In addition to these benefits, many communities have local economic development programs, which may be applicable to your project.

Links to getting the best Nebraska Advantage for your organization!

• DED - Nebraska Advantage Package Website
          - Download 11x17 PDF brochure PDF
          - Download 8.5 x 11 PDF brochure PDF
  
• DED - Applications & Guides
  
• DED - Tiers 1-5 Tax Incentive Excel Calculator

Put Our Team To Work For You!

If you would like more information on the advantages of living and working in Nebraska, contact us.

Economic Development Department
Nebraska Public Power District
P.O. Box 499,
Columbus, NE 68602-0499
Toll Free: (800) 282-NPPD (6773)
E-mail: econdev@nppd.com

All contacts are confidential.