Global Destination

GREATER OMAHA NEBRASKA REGION

GLOBAL DESTINATION

The Greater Omaha region is a multicultural area with a strong business community and diverse economic base that attracts companies and individuals from all over the world.

The region includes the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan areas, connected by the Interstate 80 corridor, and provides international businesses an ideal central location for U.S. operations. From importers and exporters to the headquarters of global operations, the growth and success of these international organizations has contributed to the overall growth and development of Greater Omaha.

Lower overall cost of doing business Nebraska has a pro-business tax climate. According to Moody’s Economy.com North American Business Cost Review, Nebraska has a cost of doing business that is 15 percent below the national average and energy costs that are approximately 40 percent below the national average.

• Nebraska is the only public power state in the nation.

All electrical utilities are nonprofit and customer owned, assuring rates that are extremely competitive with other areas of the country. Industrial rates in the region are typically 29 percent to 38 percent below the national average.

• Nebraska customers benefit from natural gas rates that are the 13th lowest of the 50 states for industrial and third lowest for residential. Greater Omaha also offers an abundant, low-cost supply of water for industrial and commercial users.

• There are more than 76,000 businesses located in Greater Omaha. While being the headquarters

location for five Fortune 500 companies, more than 60 other Fortune 500 companies have manufacturing plants or service centers in the metro area.

• Through the use of targeted business tax incentives and exemptions, and relatively low tax rates, Nebraska has fostered a tax structure that is equitable to both businesses and individuals. At a time when many cities are in financial trouble, Omaha and Lincoln can boast a AAA credit rating, two of only a few cities to earn this rating from Standard & Poor’s.

Additionally, Nebraska has the lowest per-capita state debt and allows no state deficit financing.

• Greater Omaha has a history of strong businessgovernment partnerships in area development projects. Since 2004, this cooperative effort has resulted in nearly $13 billion in new investment across the region. In the past decade, the downtown area has seen more than $3 billion in development investment. And an additional $1.8 billion in investment is planned for downtown Lincoln.

Quality, Educated Labor Market Greater Omaha’s employment base is well diversified and reflects the city’s status as a regional service and trade center. The labor force within a 60 mile radius of central Omaha totals more than 730,000 people.

Nebraska workers are known for their work ethic and productivity. Compared to the national average, Nebraska manufacturing workers produce 10.6 percent more goods for every dollar of wages paid. And, wages in Greater Omaha are four percent to seven percent below the national average.

The quality of the workforce is also enhanced by exceptional educational attainment. More than 92.3 percent of adults 25 years or older have graduated from high school compared to 86 percent nationally.

Greater Omaha also has a higher percentage of graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher with 33 percent versus 27 percent nationally.

Greater Omaha and surrounding communities offer 17 colleges and universities with a combined enrollment of more than 70,000. Some with specialized programs include the University of Nebraska’s Peter Kiewit Institute, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management and the Joe Ricketts Center in Electronic Commerce and Database Marketing, a division of the College of Business Administration at Creighton University.

Approximately 15,000 graduate each year from the area’s colleges and universities, which range from private colleges with enrollments of 600 students to the University of Nebraska with over 47,000 students.

International Trade Hub More than 55 million people, with an effective buying income approaching $1 trillion, live within a 500-mile radius of Omaha. With a metro population of nearly 1.2 million, companies can reach their customers quickly and efficiently.

• Located where Interstate 80 intersects with Interstate 29, Greater Omaha is at the crossroads for regional, national and NAFTArelated commerce. This makes it possible to reach the majority of U.S. destinations within two to three days by truck.

• The region’s two foreign-trade zones (19 and 59) provide a competitive advantage when doing international business by reducing, deferring or even eliminating duties on goods imported into the zones.

• From 2005-2010, exports increased from $3 billion to $5.8 billion. Exports to China, in particular, increased from $111 million in 2005 to $279 million in 2010 — nearly 150 percent in five years. China now ranks as Nebraska’s fourth largest trading partner behind Canada, Mexico and Japan, and followed by Australia.

• The nation’s largest railroad company, Union Pacific Railroad, is headquartered in Omaha where the central location promotes efficient rail service and intermodal freight transportation to destinations across the U.S. and throughout North America. Other carriers operating in Omaha include BNSF Railway and Canadian National Railway Company.

Both BNSF and Union Pacific maintain rail yards in Lincoln.

• Located just minutes from downtown, Greater Omaha’s Eppley Airfield is a major commercial airport that provides service to about 4.2 million people and transports approximately 102 million pounds of cargo. In addition, it offers the capacity for continued growth to meet increasing demands.

• Greater Omaha is also served by several barge lines via the Missouri River. Six mainstream dams near the source of the Missouri River ensure adequate water for navigational purposes. River transportation is available March through November.

Truck transit times from Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. International companies with subsidiaries in the Omaha-Lincoln region (not inclusive) Company Country Rinker Australia BCS Brazil Coreslab Structures Omaha, Inc. Canada LBT, Inc. Canada Easyway International LLC China BHJ USA, Inc. Denmark Novozymes Denmark BNP Paribas France Conductix-Wampfler France Bosch Germany CLAAS Germany Graepel North America, Inc. Germany Siemens Industry, Building Technologies Division Germany Evonik Industries Germany Praj India ICON Development Solutions Ireland Daitron Japan Enovation Graphic Systems Japan Henningsen Foods Japan Kawasaki Japan Linweld Japan Marubeni America Corp.

Japan Tri-Con Japan Yasafuku Japan EM Gear Korea Grupo Lala Mexico Lincoln Composites Norway Novartis Switzerland Syngenta Switzerland Zurich North America Switzerland E.Construct USA-LLC United Arab Emirates BAE Systems United Kingdom Travelex United Kingdom

Including the following headquarters, scores of other Fortune 500 and 1000 companies have operations in the metro area.

Fortune 500s

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Union Pacific Corp.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc. Mutual of Omaha

Warren Buffett CEO, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

Fortune 1000s

Green Plains Renewable Energy TD Ameritrade Valmont Industries, Inc. Werner Enterprises West

Multicultural Metropolitan Area Greater Omaha’s population represents a diversity of origin, ancestry and ethnicity, enhancing this cosmopolitan place to live and work.

• Companies from all over the world have invested in the region. More than 350 foreign-owned businesses employ more than 19,000 workers in Nebraska, with international trade directly sustaining more than 56,000 jobs and creating more than $5 billion in new yearly revenue.

• 7.7 percent of the region’s population is foreignborn, and approximately 72 languages are spoken in Nebraska, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Students from 140 countries attend the region’s colleges and universities.

• Greater Omaha has a Japanese school and two Chinese schools. The University of Nebraska’s Confucius Institute in Lincoln teaches Chinese language and culture.

• Greater Omaha has a Mexican Consulate, as well as honorary Consuls from Canada, Denmark, France, Japan and Norway.

• Omaha is actively involved in Sister Cities International, with six sister city relationships to date including Yantai, China; Braunschweig, Germany; Shizuoka, Japan; Naas, Ireland; Siauliai, Lithuania; and Xalapa, Mexico.

• Nebraska is home to one of the largest Sudanese populations in the United States.

Nebraska’s top trading partners Canada Mexico Japan China South Korea Australia Netherlands Hong Kong Germany Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, 2010 data.

Quality of Life Greater Omaha offers a variety of cosmopolitan attractions, yet provides a relaxed lifestyle envied by many urban dwellers. Omaha continues to appear at the top of national media quality of life rankings.

The quality of living and level of community services have contributed significantly to the attraction of new business and industry.

• There is so much to see, do and enjoy in Greater Omaha and it’s all at a cost seven percent to 12 percent below the national average. – Council for Community and Economic Research, ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

• The cost of the region’s food, healthcare and services are three percent to 10 percent lower than the national average. Housing in the Greater Omaha area costs approximately 20 percent less than the national average. – ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

• Thousands of local and visiting fans attend the NCAA Men’s College World Series held each June in Omaha.

• Omaha hosted the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming. In 2008, Omaha hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship and will again in 2015. In 2013, Omaha will host the U.S. Senior Open Championship and the U. S. Figure Skating Championships.

• Golf enthusiasts take advantage of more than 45 golf courses in Greater Omaha.

• One of Greater Omaha’s most popular tourist attractions, the Old Market, is home to numerous specialty shops, gourmet coffee shops, restaurants, taverns, galleries, nightclubs and bakeries.

• Omaha Performing Arts, the largest arts organization in the region, manages the Holland Performing Arts Center, a world-class concert facility that is home to the Omaha Symphony. A thriving theatrical community includes more than 15 theater organizations. A wide variety of museums and galleries in the metro area with international partnerships help the city’s cultural programs rival those of a much larger city. The Lied Center in Lincoln is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility known as “Nebraska’s Home of the Arts.”

• Sports enthusiasts have varied options to support the area’s collegiate-level teams, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Husker Athletics, which boasts nationally ranked programs in football, baseball, volleyball, softball, wrestling, track and gymnastics.

• Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo is considered one of the best zoos in America, attracting more than a million visitors each year.

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Nebraska State Capital in Lincoln

Average Temperatures January April July October

0°C 17.3°C 30.7°C 18.4°C

Here to Help You We can help! The 20 staff members of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership offer full-service economic development resources and nearly 250 years of combined economic development experience to serve you. We use a consultative approach, listening to your business needs and working closely with your company to find the best resources to meet those needs.

We will help you: • Search available sites and buildings to find the right location for your business.

• Meet appropriate business incorporation and immigration attorneys.

• Understand human resources laws that may differ from laws in your home country.

• Determine tax incentive, training and other businessassistance program eligibility.

• Connect with international bankers, accountants and logistics providers.

• Make contacts with government and private sector service providers.

Our staff will work with you on an ongoing basis to assure that your business benefits from all resources available in Greater Omaha.

Contact Marisa Ring, director – international business development, Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, mring@selectgreateromaha.com, +1-402-346-5000.

For more information contact: Marisa Ring

Director – international business development +1-402-346-5000, mring@selectgreateromaha.com

SelectGreaterOmaha.com +1-402-346-5000 1301 Harney St., Omaha, NE 68102

The Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, a program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, embraces an innovative two-state, regional approach to economic development, increasing jobs and investment in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa by providing a full range of economic development services. Working across state lines, the Partnership brings together the economic development organizations of the Chamber and the city of Omaha (Douglas County), Advance Southwest Iowa (city of Council Bluffs/Pottawattamie County), Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council, Gateway Development Corporation (Washington County), Greater Fremont Development Council (Dodge County) and Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. The combined organizations are co-located within the Greater Omaha Chamber.

The Partnership’s professional team uses a consultative approach, working closely with companies to find the best resources to meet their needs.

The team’s ongoing relationship assures companies benefit from all resources available in Greater Omaha. Results of these efforts include increased employment, income and capital investment throughout the region.

The Partnership, with its partners the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the I-80 Council, also promotes business growth and expansion along Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln.

Jan. 2014. Additional data, go to bit.ly/idIV9P