Economic Development Services

Since the creation of public power in Nebraska significant resources have been dedicated to stimulate economic growth in the state. NPPD's Economic Development Team partners with NPPD's customers concentrating on positioning communities and regions for economic growth, assisting with the expansion and retention of existing industry, and/or attracting new business.

Positioning Communities

NPPD assists communities in preparing for economic growth by providing facilitation, consultation, education, research, and printed and online materials.

Consulting

The NPPD Economic Development Team is available to meet with your organization to provide expertise as you evaluate your programs, prepare marketing plans, develop new materials or programs, or answer questions you may have about the economic development process. The Team, with more than 120 years of combined economic development experience, will guide you through the process and find the necessary resources needed. Whether it is a simple question or a comprehensive economic development plan, the Team can offer assistance with your endeavor.

Leadership & Facilitation

Economic Development Team members are trained facilitators, working with communities in developing strategic plans. OptionFinder, a computer-based program, enables the audience to vote on issues anonymously. The strategic plan is monitored and modified and goals are set. The written action plan becomes an important tool for successful communities.

Educational Opportunities

The Economic Development Team hosts customer representatives as well as economic development professionals at Economic Development Workshops via video conferencing at convenient locations across Nebraska. Attendees personally meet the staff and learn in detail the resources available to them through NPPD.

NPPD also cosponsors and participates in various educational opportunities, including the Nebraska Economic Developers Association conferences, Heartland Basic Economic Development Course, and other special workshops.

Mock Prospect Visits

Mock prospect visits, conducted by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), are used to prepare communities for an actual prospect visit. Community leaders are encouraged to put together a prospect proposal, tour of the community, and be able to answer all questions that may be asked by a real prospect. A critique by the team follows on areas well presented and areas needing improvement.

A team comprised of DED, the NPPD Economic Development Team, and other development agencies role play a prospect visit to a community.

Site Evaluations

The Nebraska Site Evaluation Team, headed by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, will assist communities in the evaluation of land suitable for an industrial site. The team includes members from NPPD, other utilities, railroads, and state and local agencies.

NEDI Online

Nebraska Economic Development Information (NEDI) Online is a site dedicated to providing economic and demographic data for Nebraska communities.

Residing at sites.nppd.com, the database of sites and buildings has grown to include a wide variety of economic and demographic data points for every Nebraska community -- including individualized Community Profiles, expanded Site and Building Profiles, links to report and studies, and much more.

NEDI is a FREE, interactive, online database that generates community profiles featuring basic economic and demographic data for every incorporated town in Nebraska. While a base set of data is provided for every community, NEDI allows local control over expanded and customized data. A community can add or update community-specific information quickly and easily. Comment boxes in each section allow communities to expand the information reported. Links are automatically placed to available buildings, sites, facts books, local websites, and much more.

In addition, NPPD communities have access to an integrated Geospatial Information System (GIS) capable of providing economic and demographic information for specific counties or communities within seconds. Features on this system will make the research process for prospect proposals quicker and easier for you.

Research

The Micro Implan Impact Analysis Software and Database is used to prepare economic impact analyses. Studies show the impact of a new or expanding business or the loss of a business in the area.

NPPD has a subscription to the Economic Research Institute's Relocation Assessor, which provides cost of living data. These data include consumables, transportation, health services, housing (including utilities and property tax), income, and miscellaneous items. This information is helpful when preparing prospect proposals.

NPPD can also provide database research. With a subscription to Dun and Bradstreet, searches for U.S. companies, public records, and reports can be conducted and shared with customers. Zapdata, a product updated daily by Dun & Bradstreet, contains information on more than 12 million U.S. businesses. By using this database, NPPD can help communities find information on specific companies, assist existing businesses looking to expand their markets, and develop targeted mailing lists for communities wishing to do direct mail marketing. Zapdata features include: business name, location, SIC/NAICS code, annual sales, number of employees, legal status, corporate information, and more! By being specific, a mailing list can be generated to fit a community's mailing budget. These mailing lists can be electronically shared with NPPD's customers.

Online data sources have changed the way we do business in economic development research. Visit sites.nppd.com/library.asp for links to available data sources.

Trend Studies

Economic and Demographic Trend Studies provide an overview of economic and population conditions and trends for a community, the county, and surrounding counties. Past and current information on labor force and employment, population and migration, retail sales and pull factors, and personal and household income are included. These reports are available in printed or electronic formats and are included in the searchable database.

Trend studies are used for presentations to city councils, boards, prospect proposals, grant proposals, retreats, and facilitations. These reports are eye openers for many communities.

Community Facts Books

For a successful economic development program, a community needs an up-to-date Community Facts Book. Industrial prospects and others want this information in evaluating business locations. Facts Books also prove valuable to communities in attracting retail or commercial businesses as well as recruiting doctors, teachers, and other professional occupations.

The books are divided into nine sections: General Information; Economic Development; Labor; Transportation; Utilities; Communications; Tax Structure & Local Government; Education, Community Facilities & Services; and Agriculture, Raw Materials & Climate.

The Facts Book questionnaire conforms to the national data standards. The publication of a Facts Book takes approximately six months from start to finish.

Community Facts Books are available in three formats -- printed, online, and compact disc (CD). Facts Books are located on NPPD's searchable database for a three-year period. At that time Facts Books must be updated or be removed from the database. Hundreds of Facts Book downloads are completed each month. Communities may order a desired number of Facts Books but must update the information before additional books are printed. Several color copies of the Facts Book and CDs are delivered to the community when the books are printed. Additional CDs may be purchased. Books are distributed to national site location consulting firms, libraries (both in and out of state), state agencies, development districts, and other utilities and railroads. Communities are encouraged to update their Facts Book as often as needed by submitting changes via phone, letter, email, or fax. Up-to-date information is essential to industries considering expansion or relocation! Communities can be quickly eliminated from the site selection process by lacking available current information, putting them at a distinct competitive disadvantage.

Industrial Site Brochures

NPPD's industrial site brochures are effective marketing tools in locating new businesses. Communities can manage their properties online using the NEDI Online system. Online access allows communities to upload information and images for properties with just the click of a button. Online profiles are incorporated into the searchable database.

Premium property designation can be obtained by NPPD customers who meet the printed material qualifications (explained below). Premium properties receive preferential search treatment and other value-added features such as sidebar demographics and online listings. NPPD places "premium" sites and buildings on target profilers such as www.fastfacility.com, www.callcentersites.net, and www.SitesAcrossAmerica.com. To view available properties, visit http://sites.nppd.com.

Sites - Site brochures are printed on sites five acres or larger and feature colored photographs, layouts, and specifications of industrial sites. Information on utilities, transportation, and other information are identified. Available sites that are controlled (owned or optioned by a city or development corporation) and have a state price are called "premium."

Buildings - Industrial buildings are often a key resource for industries looking to expand. Site location consultants indicate as high as 75 percent of their clients are looking for an existing building. NPPD's color brochures feature photographs and floor plans of buildings as well as information on building features and specifications, utilities, transportation, and other information. Brochures are printed for buildings of at least 5,000 square feet and suitable for manufacturing or information intensive industry. Buildings are qualified as "premium" when a price is stated and other criteria are satisfied.

The state of Nebraska offers financial assistance to communities to build speculative buildings. NPPD's Economic Development Team is knowledgeable about Nebraska's speculative building program and can assist communities in determining the type and best location for a building in a community.

In addition to assisting communities with the development and printing of industrial building brochures, NPPD works with construction firms in Nebraska to obtain building costs for industries considering construction of new facilities in the state.

Community Web Pages

In the age of information technology, having community data available online is expected! NPPD has been assisting Nebraska communities with web development since 1996. This unique program is an effective economic development tool for communities. NPPD's basic package for communities includes a free site (content and graphics), unlimited links, monthly statistics, storage, domain registration, and indexing. Additional services include assistance with marketing the website, security, and several methods of keeping the page up to date. For further information, please e-mail Clint Przymus or call (402) 563-5889.

Calling Card/Nebraska

The Calling Card/Nebraska is a quick reference guide listing names, addresses, and phone numbers of federal and state agencies, university departments, state colleges, community colleges, and other resources available to assist businesses and communities in Nebraska.

Prospect Proposal Guidelines

This publication helps a community in preparing a prospect proposal. First impressions are very important. Your proposal is the first step in getting a prospect to look at your community. NPPD's Economic Development Team is ready to assist your community in this endeavor to make your proposal stand out. NPPD can assist in preparing a professional-looking cover and index tabs as well as specific maps upon request. The Economic Development Team will also assist in some of the research requested by prospects, facilitate your prospect team meetings, and in hosting the prospect. Prospect proposals are usually requested with a very short response time. If your community has a slogan or logo, NPPD could design a cover in advance of a prospect proposal and personalize it as needed. This proactive effort would allow more time for creativity in the design.

Expansion and Retention of Existing Businesses

The expansion and retention of existing businesses is a very important component of economic development. NPPD will identify programs and resources available as well as provide technical assistance to existing businesses.

Resource Identification

Call NPPD's Economic Development Team when you hear about an expansion, relocation, plant closing, or workforce reduction in your community. NPPD can facilitate meetings to help turn obstacles into opportunities. The Team is knowledgeable about the financial tools available to assist with the retention or expansion of existing employers.

Technical Assistance

NPPD's Technical Solutions Team works with the Economic Development Team to provide valued, energy-related solutions that assist customers in managing their energy resources in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The Team acts as a technical resource and trusted energy advisor by partnering with NPPD's wholesale municipal, rural public power district, and PRO community customers. In doing so, they provide total energy solutions and support for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and residential energy needs.

Key energy solutions include:

Energy audits
Energy monitoring
Heating and air conditioning analysis
Lighting analysis
Demand side management analysis
Rate comparison/margin analysis
Power quality
Power factor recommendations
Distributed generation
Numerous other energy-related solutions

In addition to the extensive experience Technical Solutions Team members possess, the Team is further supported by membership in numerous technical and professional organizations that serve as resources to meet customers' specific needs. For further information, please contact the IBAC's.

Attracting New Business

Successful business recruitment programs require an effective way to communicate Nebraska's locational advantages to business and industry and to identify companies which may be expanding or relocating manufacturing facilities.

NPPD is constantly evaluating different methods of attracting the attention of site selection consultants and business executives. Our marketing program is designed to create a positive image of our state and to generate interest in locating a project in Nebraska.

Currently, our marketing program consists of a combination of advertising, trade shows, direct mail, and geographic recruitment trips.

Industry Targeting

A member of NPPD's Economic Development Team serves on the State Industry Targeting Team. The team researches the industries which will compete well in Nebraska.

Targeted industry studies are prepared by NPPD, often in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These studies define the characteristics of an industry and compare labor and energy costs for a model manufacturing plant. Manufacturing costs in states with significant production in the targeted industry and surrounding states, which compete for industrial location projects, are compared with a Nebraska plant location.

Studies have been completed for the following industries:

Plastics Products
Industrial Machinery and Equipment
Food Processors
Fabricated Metal Products

Community industry opportunity studies are prepared to support the industry recruitment efforts of communities which have targeted a specific industry group and are committing resources to a business attraction campaign. These studies quantify the locational or competitive advantages of the subject community for companies in the targeted industry.

Advertising

NPPD's advertising objectives are to educate companies on the advantages of a Nebraska location, encourage inquiries and visits to the state by companies searching for plant sites, focus on industries with potential for Nebraska, improve the image of Nebraska, and encourage the use of our website (sites.nppd.com) , which is continually enhanced with vital information necessary for making site selection decisions.

The economic development advertising program is an essential part of the overall program designed to identify companies that have expansion or relocation plans. Advertisements designed to communicate Nebraska's location advantages are placed in industrial development magazines and online.

Trade Shows

Exhibiting at trade shows provides identification of companies with expansion projects, state exposure to industry, distribution of Nebraska materials, and one-on-one conversations with CEOs and industry executives. NPPD-sponsored trade show events offer our communities the opportunity to participate in out-of-state marketing activities and leverage their marketing dollars.

Direct Mail

Assistance is also available to communities on the design and implementation of their own campaigns.

NPPD utilizes Zapdata to generate targeted direct mail campaigns. Mailing addresses are furnished while the cost of designing and printing is billed to the customer. The goal for direct mail marketing is to generate an action from the recipient -- their response.

The key is to offer them something they are interested in -- an available building, available labor force, or special information. A number of ways to respond should be provided-phone, fax, mail, email, and website.

Geographic Recruitment Trips

Geographic recruitment trips have a threefold purpose -- targeted industries, headquarter companies with plants in Nebraska, and site selection consultants. These recruitment trips are scheduled several months in advance, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and are preceded by a direct mail campaign.

A marketing piece is mailed to the key decision makers in the targeted area soliciting their time to discuss the advantages of a Nebraska plant location. The prospect is "prequalified" by responding. The lead is followed up with a face-to-face interview by NPPD's economic development consultants and other participants on the recruitment trip.

Contacts are also made prior to the trip with key decision makers of headquarter companies with manufacturing plants in Nebraska. Although the purpose of these calls is to thank company executives for their business, these discussions often uncover opportunities.

A third targeted group in the recruitment trip is the professional site selection consultants in the area. These consultants work closely with Fortune 500 companies and other medium- to large-size corporations in their site selection process. Personal visits with these site selection consultants allow NPPD the opportunity to update them on Nebraska's advantages.

NPPD will also assist communities wishing to conduct a geographically targeted recruitment trip. Assistance could include developing the mailing list and marketing piece as well as participation on the trip with the community.

Referrals

Some of our best leads come from referrals -- adding credence to the adage, "it's who you know." Talk to your businesses about suppliers and customers. If you have generated a lead, contact NPPD's Economic Development Team for assistance. Your lead will remain confidential and "exclusive" to your community.

Prospect Services Brochure

The "Confidential Plant Location Assistance" brochure lists the services NPPD provides to industrial prospects. These services include community information, available buildings and sites, customized research, site visitations, state and local incentives, and online services.

Industrial Overview

This quarterly newsletter is sent or emailed to industrial prospects and site location consultants to keep them informed of the new plants and expansions taking place in Nebraska. It is an effective means of communicating with companies who have asked to be on the mailing list. The intent of the publication is to get prospects to think about Nebraska when planning for new expansions. Each issue features a community with an up-to-date facts book and a controlled site or available building. Please inform the Economic Development Team or your local NPPD representative of special events to be included in the next edition of the Industrial Overview. This publication can be viewed online at sites.nppd.com/io/overview.asp.

Project Management

Generating the lead is just the beginning. You must follow up, follow up, follow up-relationship building is effective and vital to your success.

Using a contact management software, NPPD maintains a database of projects and uses the system to maintain timely contacts throughout the recruitment process. Each prospect file includes company information, source of lead, history of all contacts made, current status, and an automatic reminder system of the next contact.

You Can Help Your Community

Keep NPPD informed of the changes occurring in your existing companies. Are they planning expansions? Are they having problems such as not enough room to expand? Power quality issues? Bottom line issues? Is another company looking to locate in your community? With NPPD's expertise, we may be able to find resources to help with these issues.

Recommendations to be "Prospect Ready:"

Have up-to-date Facts Book
Have current web page
Have complete NEDI community profile
Prepare generic prospect proposal covers
Get organized
Have a team ready to host industrial prospect visits
Call on existing industry
Document available labor
Develop controlled industrial sites
Get funding
Partner with allies on marketing trips and trade shows