Gov. Ricketts Announces Site Selection Award

Magazine ranks Nebraska second highest for most qualifying new and expanded facilities per capital.

OMAHA – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Site Selection magazine has awarded Nebraska with its Governor’s Cup as the number two state in the nation in 2015 with the most qualifying new and expanded facilities per capita.

“This Governor’s Cup confirms Nebraska has a fantastic team in our economic development community committed to growing our state,” said Governor Ricketts.  “I know from personal experience that when you hire a Nebraskan, you get someone who is well-educated, has a great work ethic, is loyal to your company, and will help your company succeed.  We are continually striving to create and maintain a welcoming atmosphere for quality business development and expansion, whether it is working with the Legislature to make Nebraska’s tax climate more competitive or making state government run more like a business and more business-friendly.”

“Our staff works closely with Governor Ricketts, and economic and community development partners at the local, state, and federal levels to meet and consult with prospects, to map out their goals, objectives and needs, and ultimately help them turn potential project ideas into highly successful companies,” said Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Courtney Dentlinger.

The State of Nebraska was not the only one earning a coveted top spot.  Site Selection named the City of Omaha number one of its 2015 Top Tier 2 Metro Areas for Corporate Project Attractions and Expansions.

“Economic development is a team sport,” said Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO David G. Brown.  “This ranking wouldn’t be possible without our shared vision, ‘We Don’t Coast’ attitude and a lot of collaboration – our regional partners working closely with our state and city leaders and Departments of Economic Development to grow existing businesses, attract new companies, and bring new jobs.  The end result is a collective win in the form of a stronger business community and higher quality of life.”

Site Selection magazine is the recognized leader in reporting on corporate real estate strategy and area economic development, as well as extensively covering domestic and global business climate issues.  The magazine, based in Atlanta, Georgia has awarded the Governor’s Cup yearly since 1978 to the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by Conway Data’s New Plant Database.  In 2014, it added new criteria to its national rankings system to account for smaller and more sparsely populated states that still maintained high caliber economic development agencies and recorded investment successes.

Conway Data’s New Plant Database stores more than 190,000 new plant and expansion records dating back many years.  Entries include location of the project, company name, product manufactured, or services performed, NAICS code, type of facility, and stage of development.  It also includes new or expanded facilities encompassing manufacturing, distribution/warehouses, corporate headquarters, R&D labs, call centers, Liquefied Natural Gas terminals, ethanol plants, refineries, tank farms, and mining operations.