OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 24, 2019 – The Greater Omaha Chamber announced 2018 capital investment, angel capital, new-to-market businesses and additional six-county accomplishments at their Annual Meeting, January 24, 2019 at CHI Health Center in Omaha.
Regional capital investment exceeded $1.4 billion, bolstered by economic development projects that included 33 new-to-market companies and business expansions.
More than 101 startups, fueled by angel/venture capital investment in excess of $145 million, also contributed to 2018 achievements.
“Collaborative work is about the power of ‘we,’ about creating successful outcomes together,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber, adding “engaging partners to make a difference” contributes to the momentum of Greater Omaha – a city Zip Recruiter named the 2018 “Best New City for College Grads to Start Their Careers” and Fortune called the No. 5 “City Where Employees are the Happiest.”
Additional annual report data – https://www.omahachamber.org/2018annualreport/ – indicated the region’s multi-partner REACH initiative, a multi-faceted program designed to connect small and emerging businesses with business education, technical assistance and capital, facilitated 26 startups; while the region’s largest two-state food incubator, Kitchen Council, launched, offering members access to a fully-equipped commercial kitchen and a foothold in the new food economy.
The Annual Meeting also included a slate of recognitions:
Chairman’s Award of Excellence
Justin Hughes, Renaissance Financial and Greater Omaha Chamber’s Engagement Council
Jill Schoenherr, Southwest YMCA and Greater Omaha Chamber’s Engagement Council
Headliner of the Year
Terence Crawford, WBO welterweight champion, B&B Sports Academy
Volunteer of the Year
Tim Kerrigan, Investors Realty, Inc.
Deb Calvert, president, People First Productivity Solutions, and coauthor of Stop Selling & Start Leading®, was this year’s keynote speaker.
About Greater Omaha
Greater Omaha is a No. 1 ranked up-and-coming-tech hotspot and Time magazine’s 2017 No. 3 Most Up-and-Coming City in America. Recognized for its “We Don’t Coast” attitude, and named America’s No. 2 Best Small City, Greater Omaha is home to more than 30 communities and nearly 1 million people, with a youthful population (more than 40 percent are age 24 or younger), low cost of living and steady economic growth that outpaces the nation. Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. and Union Pacific – all Fortune 500 companies – call Greater Omaha “home.”
About the Greater Omaha Chamber
The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration.
About the Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership
The Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership (https://www.omahachamber.org/economic-development/) represents a six-county area from two states (Nebraska and Iowa) that includes Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Pottawattamie, Sarpy and Washington Counties. The partnership offers a unified, regional, comprehensive resource, driving growth and championing collaboration.
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