Photo courtesy of Scott Bruhn & Husker Athletics
L I N CO L N
C H A M B E R
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Women in Business Keynote speaker Cassandra Worthy
LINCOLN, NE LINCOLN, NE
2023 BY THE NUMBERS
97 Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Program Events
156 New Members
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Groundbreakings
48 Ribbon Cuttings
The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, two top consulting firms, a 42-member steering committee and 3,500 community members outlined a vision for Lincoln’s economic future and how to achieve it. Together, we created Vitality Lincoln, which was launched in February at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Learn more at lcoc.com/vitality-lincoln
SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR LINCOLN BUSINESS
GUARDIANS OF FREEDOM AIR SHOW – THE LARGEST SPECTATOR EVENT IN LINCOLN’S HISTORY LINCOLN, NE
The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce team was honored to partner with the Nebraska Military Department, the Lincoln Airport Authority and the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base to host the 2023 Guardians of Freedom Airshow. The two-day August event was headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and welcomed over 340,000 attendees.
RECEIVED AIR SHOW AWARD
The 2023 Guardians of Freedom Airshow was named the Military Air Show of the Year by the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels, during the International Council of Air Show Convention Dec. 5, 2023.
WELCOMED COACH RHULE TO FACE THE CHAMBER
In one of his first public speaking engagements, Husker Football Head Coach Matt Rhule addressed the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce membership at the May Face the Chamber event. Together, we learned about his vision for Husker football and why he was so excited to call Lincoln home.
The Lincoln Chamber continued to serve as a voice for Lincoln businesses throughout 2023. As your voice for local business, the Lincoln Chamber’s public policy team had a busy and successful year. This included supporting accelerated income, corporate and property tax relief, helping to secure funding for a secondary source of water for Lincoln and supporting reinstating convention center assistance through sales tax turnback funding opportunities. Additionally, the Chamber policy team made two trips to Washington D.C. to lobby on efforts related to infrastructure, university research, tax provision and immigration reform.
CHAMBER EXPANDS PROGRAMMING FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS
In January, RISE Lincoln officially became a program to the Lincoln Chamber. Designed to connect the women of Lincoln’s business community through education, networking and professional coaching, four sold-out RISE events took place in 2023 and three sessions of RISE Coaching Communities were led by our seven certified RISE coaches. In partnership with the University of Nebraska College of Business and with the incredible support of the JoAnn Martin Leadership Legacy Endowment, the Chamber’s annual Women in Business event was elevated to new heights as over 300 women gathered for an impactful keynote presentation and engaging panel discussion.
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
• $4.5 million in follow-on funding
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
Roger T. Larson Community Builder Award Dan Duncan
CELEBRATE BUSINESS AWARDS 2023 In December, we recognized the valuable contributions made to our community at our annual Celebrate Business Awards. Congratulations to the very best of the best of Lincoln:
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Cornerstone Award Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals
Manufacturer of the Year Speedway Motors
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award 86 Bar Staffing
Green Business of the Year LI-COR
new program launches
graduates applyied for a job in manufacturing
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Tom Lorenz Tourism Development Award Joel Green & Robber’s Cave
Small Business of the Year Wax Buffalo
graduates from Manufacturing Basics
EmployLNK Career Fairs
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CONTINUED FOCUS ON 20+ 100+
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CaseTALENT Managers RETENTION Job Seekers
Employers
Our focus on talent retention continued in 2023 through MyTern – a program of the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. This year, MyTern expanded to unite 300+ interns from 27 Lincoln companies, exposing them to the benefits of life in Lincoln once they step into fulltime careers.
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Manufacturing Basics Certifications
ELEVATED INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
750+ Attendees at Lincoln Startup Week
200+
MAJOR BUSINESS EXPANSIONS IN 2023
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Events Connecting Lincoln’s Startup Community in 2023
– Instinct – General Dynamics 2
Grants Awarded to Local Startups
63 –3DuncanEmployLNK Aviation Employers Career Fairs new program
• $237,000 mobilized • $4.5 million in follow-on funding67%
graduates applyied for a job in manufacturing
APPLAUDED YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
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Lincoln Young Professionals Group’s annual YP Week united Lincoln YPs for a wide array of events to elevate, engage and educate the future leaders of our community. The 4th annual Young Lincoln Leader Awards (YLLA) honored seven recipients for their outstanding contributions to the Lincoln community. Congratulations to the 2023 YLLA winners!
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Best State Capitals to Live In —• Smartasset
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Best City in America for Young Professionals —• Insurify
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Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance —• SmartAsset
graduates from Basics Basics graduates from Certifications Manufacturing Certifications Manufacturing Basics Basics
Basics Basics Certifications Certifications
Attendees at
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Events Connecting Lincoln’s
PARTICIPATED IN THE GOVERNOR’S TRADE Lincoln MISSION TO JAPAN Startup Week Startup Community in 2023
Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year – Jordan Gonzalez | UNL Alumni Association
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750+ 200+ 7 57 7| Nave 7 7 57 57BovEye |Manufacturing Curbside Analtics, Inc. | Cattle Kettle, LLC | InforMedic Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing
graduates from graduates from Manufacturing Manufacturing Basics Basics
Diversity and Inclusion Excellence – Jordan Feyerherm | City of Lincoln
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Congratulations to the 2023 LaunchLNK cohort, who each received a $25,000 grant, connections to potential sources of additional capital and local mentorship:
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Next Generation Workplace – DLR Group
Manufacturing Basics Certifications
graduates from Manufacturing Basics
Ribbon Cuttings ANNOUNCED THE 2023 LAUNCHLNK COHORT
Young Citizen of the Year – Andrew Farias | Asian Community and Cultural Center Emerging Leader of the Year – Brooke Imm | Ameritas
2 2 7 57 63 63 63 EmployLNK EmployLNK 20+20+ 63 20+ EmployLNK EmployLNK 20+ 100+ 100+ 100+ 100+ 3 Fairs 3 Employers Employers Career Career Fairs Case Managers Case Managers Employers Employers Career Fairs Career Fairs Job Seekers Job Seekers Case Managers Case Managers Job Seekers Job Seekers new program 2
new program new program new program launches launches launches launches Lincoln Chamber graduates applyied applyied applyied graduates applyied graduatesgraduates for a job in offorCommerce for a job infor a job in a job in Groundbreakings New Members manufacturingProgram manufacturing manufacturingEvents manufacturing
Young Professional of the Year – Karla Frese | Home Care Partners of Nebraska Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Jordan Lambrecht | Pixel Bakery
launches
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Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Program Events
156
New Members
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20+
Case Mana
Grants Awarded to Local Startups • $237,000 mobilized • $4.5 million in follow-on funding
This fall, Chamber president Jason Ball joined Governor Pillen on a weeklong trip to Japan with a focus on nurturing important relationships and building strong partnerships. While in Japan, they were honored to attend several MidwestU.S. Japan Trade Association events, a reception at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and a valuable meeting with Kawasaki’s corporate leadership to continue fostering this important relationship, leading up to the manufacturer’s 50th anniversary in Nebraska. 97
750+ 200+ 750+750+ 750+ 200+200+ 200+10 10
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
CELEBRATE BUSINESS
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Groundbreakings
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Ribbon Cuttings
CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH THE LINCOLN MANUFACTURING COUNCIL
67%
The Lincoln Manufacturing Class (LMC) expanded in 2023 with the introduction of the Manufacturing Skills Certificate, the sequel to our flagship Manufacturing Basics Certificate. This 60-hour, hands-on class for individuals with entry-level manufacturing experience was designed for individuals interested in expanding their competency in manufacturing. The Manufacturing Upskilling Scholarship was also launched to support our employers and past program participants through funding educational opportunities to advance manufacturing careers. In total, 78 participants graduated from the LMC program in 2023.
63 EmployLNK 20+ 100+ Employers A NEW LAUNCHED TOURISM FOR LINCOLN Career Fairs Case Managers Job BRAND Seekers
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new program launches
graduates applyied for a job in manufacturing
The Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau officially became Visit Lincoln, with a vibrant new website and tourism video to tell the story of our incredible community as a part of the rebranding.
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Manufacturing Basics Certifications
graduates from Manufacturing Basics
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LINCOLN Craft Beer Week
750+
200+
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Attendees at Lincoln Startup Week
Events Connecting Lincoln’s Startup Community in 2023
HOSTED LINCOLN CRAFT BEER WEEK
BIG MONTH IN LINCOLN AND THE IMPACT ON LOCAL TOURISM
Lincoln Craft Beer Week returned in October, featuring nine participating venues that provided participants the unique opportunity to learn more about Lincoln’s incredible craft beer scene.
August was a big month for Lincoln with several large and recordbreaking events having a significant impact on our local economy: Guardians of Freedom Airshow – 340,000 attendees Gravel Worlds – 2,000 cyclists, 50 states, 16 countries and 4 continents Zach Bryan Concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena – 14,000 attendees Volleyball Day in Nebraska – World Record 92,003 attendees
Grants Awarded to Local Startups
•RECRUITED $237,000 mobilized LARGE SIGNATURE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO BOLSTER ECONOMY • $4.5 million in follow-on funding
Lincoln proudly hosted a variety of incredible events that positively impacted our local economy, including:
• NSAA State Volleyball and Basketball Tournaments • Gravel Worlds • Family Motor Coach Association
BROKE GROUND ON THE SANDHILLS GLOBAL YOUTH COMPLEX
We became one step closer to playing ball at the Sandhills Global Youth Complex in August with an incredible groundbreaking event. The complex will feature all-turf baseball and softball fields ready to host instructional camps, clinics, and most importantly, youth of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The complex will open in the spring of 2025.
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Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Program Events
156
New Members
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48
Groundbreakings
Ribbon Cuttings
• USA Roller Sports • Sports Car Club of America
We would like to go with the 1st one (ombré) with two updates. • Can you change the USA Roller Sports National Championships wording to red (#CC0033)? • Also, we have an updated USA Roller Sports logo (attached) o Can you replace the current logo with the attached? o If you need it in a different format, let me know
A STRONG YEAR FOR LOCAL TOURISM
$4,225,484.53: Lodging Tax for Fiscal Years 2022 – 2023 (a 7% increase over prior year)
CONVENTION CENTER AND ASSEMBLE LINCOLN
LIN CO L NYO U TH CO M P L E X .CO M
Building a downtown Lincoln convention center is one step closer to reality after numerous developments in 2023, including the passage of turnback tax legislation and the formation of Assemble Lincoln. As a key objective in the Vitality Lincoln strategic plan, the Visit Lincoln team continues to play a vital role in the downtown Lincoln convention center project that will make a significant impact on local tourism and position the team to recruit more events to Lincoln.
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2023
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JOIN US! Membership Makes a Difference. We work hard to provide real benefits for you and your employees, and we hope you will continue to join us in making Lincoln a great place to live, work and play. Membership in the Chamber is an investment in your community and in Lincoln’s future.
We thank you for being an integral part of that future!
Join us! We are here to welcome you.
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