2020 Vision of the Economic Outlook The 2020 Economic Outlook brought together insight from leaders across the county to 300 attendees. This year’s virtual event was held over Zoom and provided a timely look at the area’s economic trajectory, measures taken to soften the economic impact of COVID-19, as well as what to expect for economic development in the coming years. Read on for highlights from event speakers: Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike, Gretna Mayor Jim Timmerman, La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig, Papillion Mayor David Black, and Senator Carol Blood.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT I hope this issue impresses upon
development and be introduced
you how as a community and a
to new leadership at the Sarpy
chamber, we’re progressing, not
Chamber. While we have yet to face
pausing. You’ll get an outlook on
many obstacles brought on by a truly
our economic development, read
unique year, life continues for us with
about the adapations we’ve made
a commitment to a bright future.
with events, see how our Foundation has been active in business
Karen Gibler
WHAT’S INSIDE:
FOUNDATION IN ACTION....................1
NEW LEADERSHIP IN SARPY
DIGITAL MARKETING
The Sarpy Chamber welcomes
Learn more about the
new board members and a new
marketing resources availble to
Leadership Sarpy Class.
you online.
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EVENTS HIT THE COURSE......................4 THE GOOD IN 2020..............................6
402.339.3050 WWW.SARPYCHAMBER.ORG 1243 GOLDEN GATE DRIVE
Economic Outlook Highlights La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig While the overall financial impact is unknown and unprecedented, Mayor Kindig shared sales tax projections that have been adjusted compared to pre-COVID projections. 2021 has been budgeted at a 25% decline, a 15% decline for 2022, and sales activity have been projected to resume normal levels for 2023. The city’s financial strengths of a healthy General Fund Reserve and conservative budgeting practices has the mayor optimistic. The mayor closed with highlights of La Vista business expansions at Rotella’s, Streck, and Securities America, as well as the 84th Street Redevelopment.
Gretna Mayor Jim Timmerman Mayor Timmerman’s presentation highlighted the projects that characterize the way Gretna’s economic development has expanded from being solely agriculture-based. Projects in the works include Gretna Crossing Park that will come with an outdoor water park, recreation center, ball fields, as well as several subdivision developments. Burlington Park and NC Industrial Park are also in development with industrial lots already filling fast. Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike Mayor Hike started his presentation with financial information on the city, stating essential services like Police and Fire Departments were fully funded. An annexation package from last year put sales tax income higher than where Bellevue was last year, but it was 5-10% lower than projected likely due to COVID impact. Developments in infrastructure became the focus of Hike’s presentation. Bellevue’s 36th Street project is nearing completion, construction should
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be starting in March for the South 370 project, and engineering is in the works to expand North 370 to four lanes. Hike sees projects like these facilitating essential accessibility connections between Bellevue’s hubs. Papillion Mayor David Black Mayor Black outlined several current major projects including Facebook Data Center expansion, R&R Commerce Park, OPPD Natural Gas Power Plant and more. The mayor also explained how the city had been actively planning for an economic downturn for the past five years. Papillion has been experiencing an exceptionally positive economic period, so they implemented a formal Cash Reserve Policy among other preparedness policies, in anticipation of the “good times” coming to an end. Nobody anticipated this event would come in the form of a global pandemic, but the city is now executing those business plans to keep Papillion on its course. Senator Carol Blood The 2020 Economic Outlook ended with a state legislative presentation from Senator Carol Blood. 132 bills were passed in this year’s legislative session and Blood singled out LB1107 as one of the most interesting. This bill has also been called “the great compromise,” because it provides property tax relief as well as economic development incentive measures for the state. Reformed and renewed tax incentives were developed to maximize benefits to Nebraska. The tax incentives are performance-based and earned by businesses that have already created verifiable jobs in the state. This feature ensures that incentives reward actual job creation in Nebraska.
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New Leadership in Sarpy No pause has been put on the programming and future planning for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is thrilled to announce the 2020-2021 Leadership Sarpy Class as well as four new board members! (Scott Buchholz, Clayton Mulford, Mark Rodgers, Melissa Spearman)
2020-2021 Leadership Sarpy Class Tyler Albers - Cornhusker Bank Stephen Berggren - Citizens State Bank Marcus Chavez - Electric Express David Ciavarella - DLR Group Marcia Crawford - Cox Communications, Inc. Tom Dargy - City of Bellevue Jack Duren - MMC Contractors Sean Ehmke - Ayars & Ayars, Inc. Phil Green - City of Papillion Carla Heathershaw Risko - City of Papillion Amber Houghtaling - Sarpy County Clerk Bobbi Lang - Farris Engineering Kyle LeMay - The Weitz Company Jonathan McCarville - Leo A Daly Sam Neal - Sampson Construction Blake Raughton - Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office Jordan Runnels - Cox Business Carrie Schneider-Miller - UNL Extension in DouglasSarpy Counties Jillian Staley - American National Bank
Lisa Summers - Hillcrest Mable Rose Andrea Walker - PayPal New Members of the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Scott Buchholz has been Senior Vice President – Chief Information Officer at Black Hills Corporation since 2008. Clayton Mulford is a REALTOR and a Success Coach for kwELITE and Elite Real Estate Systems based in Omaha, NE. Mark Rodgers is the Vice President of Treasury Services at Core Bank. Melissa Spearman is a Principal at DLR Group and leads the Workplace Studio in Nebraska and Iowa.
Chamber Events Hit the Course COVID-19 has altered the logistics for many of the meetings and events at the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, putting a squeeze on typical procedures. Gatherings are foundational to the Sarpy Chamber’s identity, but fortunately, so is innovate thinking and adaptability. This characteristic allowed for the quick development of virtual T.I.P.S. meetings and events over Zoom, and it also allowed the chamber to continue major in-person events in new ways. With the limit of indoor gatherings in spring and summer, the Sarpy Chamber turned to the golf course.
typically happens on the day of the event, but this year the online aspect of the auction saw the most action. Funds raised from the Grand Giveaway auction directly support the Sarpy Chamber’s work of providing networking, development, and educational resources to our business community. The chamber is incredibly thankful to the sponsors and attendees of both these important events for making them possible in 2020.
The 23rd Annual Golf Tournament was the first major Sarpy Chamber event to be held in person in 2020. The important fundraising event quickly sold out and 216 golfers gathered at Tiburon Golf Club on July 30th. Adherence to social distancing made the event look different than past golf tournaments, but the fun and supportive spirit remained the same. While the golf course is the typical setting for the Annual Golf Tournament, it was a first for the Grand Giveaway. Originally scheduled for April 2020, the fundraising event was able to return the calendar as a golf tournament and online auction. Table reservations for a dinner were turned into golf foursomes and the course was spotted with a variety of classic, popular auction items like game night packages, bar sets, golf gear and more. A majority of the auction bidding
(Auction Items: Adult Game Night Package donated by Gene’s Auto & Tail Gate Game Package donated by Moore Services.)
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Marketing from a Distance Understandably, a natural first reaction to the current business climate is to cut all spending, back out of marketing and wait for things to blow over. However, this can be a huge mistake. Marketing is essential to reach potential customers and drive new leads and sales. Now could be the right time to move your marketing online. Marketing channels that are entirely digital are immune to the COVID-19 consequences of in-person interactions. Digital marketing is a way you can bridge the social distance between you and your audience. There are numerous channels for this type of marketing and you even have these resources available at the Sarpy Chamber that are kept exclusive to members. Website Banner Ads at the Sarpy Chamber Website There are multiple spaces on the Sarpy Chamber’s website for you to connect with a local and engaged audience. Website traffic has grown significantly each year and the website consistently sees thousands of visitors each month. Large Home Page Banner Space - $300/30 days Small Home Page Banner Space - $75/30 days Directory/Events Banner Space - $599/year The Directory/Events Page Banner space is a small but mighty option for high visibility. The Events Page and Online Directory are in the top 3 most visited pages, averaging over 5500 page-views in 90 days. Your ad appears at the top of each page.
(The new Large Home Page Banner Space on website landing page.)
Enhanced Listing on the Sarpy Chamber Website For $299 a year, an Enhanced Listing gets your business listed above alphabetical order in the Online Directory. It also significantly expands your business’ directory entry, so it functions more like a website homepage. E-Blast Marketing Reach out to the inboxes of over 5,000 addresses with a Sarpy Chamber E-Blast. This is a great option to directly promote a service, offer, or event. Want people to attend a workshop, rent your facility, or use a product promotion? Schedule an E-Blast that’s exclusive to your messaging for $250. Contact marketing@sarpychamber.org to get started and learn about bundle discounts on E-Blasts as well as Enhanced Listings and banner advertising.
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Seeing the Good in 2020 Local businesses and organizations have gone above and beyond to rise to the challenges of a unique year to positively impact their community. Some of the editorial contributors to our Annual Magazine & Directory have shared what made them proud of their work in 2020. Mark Rodgers, Vice President of Treasury Services at Core Bank [On the influx of loan processing for the Paycheck Protection Program] I’m most proud of how we managed the process with speed and communication for our clients. We never lost our anchoring in being a community bank. We never lost sight of our people-first mentality in the face of a true disaster.
Nancy Ermitano, Manager of SmallCakes of Omaha, a Cupcakery “I’m proud of supporting the community and finding ways to give back. Around Easter we had a program where we would match the order of anyone who ordered a dozen mini cupcakes and donate the cupcakes wherever they wanted. We delivered to hospitals, police departments, and fire stations. It was such a huge program, we matched a 100 dozen cupcakes.” You can read more about their experiences by checking out our Annual Magazine & Directory. Visit www.sarpychamber.org/publications to read online or pick up a copy at our office!
Katie Fourney, Marketing and Communications Manager at SHARE Omaha “SHARE Omaha was honored to help 10+ nonprofits collect personal hygiene supplies during the metrowide Hygiene for Humanity Drive this summer. This campaign also sparked 11 local banks to come together in support of a dozen organizations and their need for school supplies with the Banking on School Supplies drive.”
(Staff from area hospitals with donations from the SmallCakes matching program.)
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SARPY CHAMBER STAFF Karen Gibler President Annisa Visty Vice President
Karen Gibler Celeste Pille
Marketing Manager Brian White
OUR MEMBERS PUT THE HEART IN SARPY!
Groups & Engagement Manager Quinn Cooper Membership Manager
“It worked extremely well for us to partner with the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce Foundation to move quickly through their existing system for the applications and distribution of the funds. They truly have their fingers on the pulse of needs in the community which enabled us to collectively pool resources and ensure an impactful response.”
Gery Whalen Administrative Assistant Jim Masters Leadership Sarpy Facilitator
-Matt Sexton Community Development Regional Manager Central Facebook Data Centers
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