Partnership Orchestrates Economic Development Double Header: Select Tour 2013 and Nebraska Data Center Day Showcase Metro Benefits

The Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership wrapped up a successful economic development "double header." Select Tour 2013, featuring the College World Series, ran June 13-15. Nebraska Data Center Day, also tapping into CWS excitement, was held on Wednesday, June 19.

The annual Select Tour draws business site selection decision makers to Greater Omaha every summer and provides them a well-rounded view of the city and its many moving parts. The 2013 event attracted eight guests. Activities this year included: 

• A "Why Invest in Greater Omaha?" business briefing
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation Tour at The Mastercraft featuring Greater Omaha Chamber's E&I Director Dusty Reynolds and a representative of Silicon Prairie News
• Driving tour of Omaha
• Concurrent data center and manufacturing tours
• Hot Shops Art Center tailgate party 
• A visit to the NCAA Men's College World Series

Select Tour is made possible through the combined effort of Partnership members consisting of the Greater Omaha Chamber, Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation, Gateway Development Corporation, Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council, and the Greater Fremont Development Council. Partnership staff worked with a variety of venues, volunteers, presenters and hosts to ensure a positive and potentially prosperous event.

The Partnership followed Select Tour with the second annual Nebraska Data Center Day on Wednesday, June 19. Organized by the Partnership, the daylong event showcased Greater Omaha's exceptional data center environment and included a tour of the nationally-recognized Scott Data Center and the Peter Kiewit Institute, a premier technology learning and research facility and home to the Holland Computing Center. Guests were also treated to a golf outing at Shadow Ridge Country Club and a visit to the CWS.

Kevin Timmons, CyrusOne's chief technology officer, served as the event's keynote speaker and focused on the future of data center development for Midwest markets.

"Over the past few years Nebraska has earned a reputation as a world-class location for mission-critical facilities and I'm pleased to join other data center professionals at this premier event," said Timmons. "The State of Nebraska understands the needs of mission-critical facility providers, and they continue to be an innovative partner to the data center industry with events such as this one."

Nebraska Data Center Day drew 11 guests from companies all involved in selecting sites for future data centers locations. Gov. Heineman and Mayor Stothert greeted guests at a reception aboard the Union Pacific Heritage Train before heading to the College World Series.

Like Select Tour, Nebraska Data Center Day involves multiple sponsors, including the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District, Greater Fremont Development Council, Buffalo County Economic Development, Aurora Area Chamber & Development Corporation, South Sioux City, Union Pacific and MECA.