Strategic Discussions for Nebraska hosted a community conversation in each of five Nebraska communities, as well as a focus group at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The conversations took place in January and February of 2009,. Participants were asked questions about their views on the economy of the state and of the nation.
Each community was selected based on diversity of size, location and population. Recommendations were also considered regarding community reputation.
- Ord, an agricultural Valley County community of 2,200 located in the Sandhills, was selected because of its economic development work in the last five years.
- North Platte, a Lincoln County community of 23,000 located on Interstate 80, was selected because of its identity as a railroad community and its location halfway between Lincoln and Denver.
- Kearney, a Buffalo County community of 25,000 in central Nebraska, was selected because it is a university community, because of its legendary leadership and because it is known as a Nebraska convention center.
- Beatrice, a Gage County community of 12,500 just 40 miles south of Lincoln, was selected because it is a mid-size community and because of the unique dynamics of its proximity to the state's capital city.
- Columbus, a Platte County community of 21,000 just 75 miles northwest of Lincoln, was selected because of its diversified employment, its location and its community leadership.
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Students
SDN Projects
Opportunities for Nebraska is the first magazine in a series that showcases University of Nebraska-Lincoln research. The world population is expected to grow to nine billion by 2050 and this research will result in producing twice as much food with the same amount of land and water. Watch and listen as UNL experts tell the stories of research and innovation at one of the top research universities in the country!
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UNL student researchers along with SDN conducted a major research project to study the ways Ord residents communicate about what is happening in the community.
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Published in June 2009, Nebraska's Economic Future includes a summary of findings; stories based on individual interviews; summaries of community conversations; and articles written specifically for this magazine. The articles represent varied geographical perspectives as well as perspectives on various parts of the state's economy.
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SDN published research on Immigration in Nebraska for the project's initial study in May 2008. We selected Scottsbluff, Lexington, Crete and Omaha and looked at the impact immigration has had on those communities.
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