OMAHA, Neb.—The state has hired consultants to study and come up with a strategy for economic development along Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha.
The plan would hope to boost economic development in six counties that make up the majority of the state’s population.
The consultants are expected to report back on Feb. 1 about residential, commercial, industry, environmental, recreational and tourist opportunities along the corridor.
The study was commissioned by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Nebraska Innovation Zone Commission.
The Innovation Zone Commission was created by the Legislature in 2005 and is made up of representatives from cities, counties, universities, colleges and natural resource districts.
“The six counties have 90 percent of the state’s population, so it’s obvious that there’s growth here,” said Kathy McKillip, the commission’s executive director. “Everybody’s interested in how that growth and development’s going to occur.”
The consultants, Omaha-based HDR Engineering, Olsson Associates of Lincoln and Omaha-based RDG Planning and Design were hired for $184,000.
McKillip said that while the commission hopes to create a regional plan, it can’t impose that plan on local governments. Without the jurisdiction, it could only make recommendations, she said.
“We do not want to take the place of the local jurisdictions,” McKillip said. “That’s not our intent, and that’s not our goal.”
McKillip said the commission hopes to present the information it finds to the Legislature which has 29 senators in the six counties being studied.
“They’re probably very interested in what the public and the citizens and this process is going to unveil,” she said.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald,
