Community and Economic Development

Report Provides Evidence that Tax Increment Financing Remains a Pivotal Rool for Nebraska’s Continued Economic Development and Community Revitalization

2/28/2025 | UNO CPAR collaborated with the Greater Omaha Chamber to produce a report examining the requirements, activities, and outcomes of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects in Nebraska. TIF is a critical economic development tool that fosters growth and revitalization by leveraging future property tax revenue to fund redevelopment efforts.

Media Mentions:

• First Alert 6 - Commissioned TIF study gives Omaha projects high marks
• Nebraska Examiner - State public incentive and streetcar project fire up Omaha mayoral race
• Omaha World Herald - Omaha's use of TIF complies with state law, says analysis commissioned by Mayor Jean Stothert

Greater Omaha Chamber Survey Reveals 88% of Respondents are Satisfied with Overall Quality of Life in Omaha

9/30/2024 | UNO CPAR collaborated with the Young Professionals Council and CODE (Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity) of the Greater Omaha Chamber to conduct a survey to explore the quality of life and workplace culture in the Greater Omaha region. The focus of the survey derived from previous survey efforts which identified the importance of job opportunities and growth to young professionals’ decisions to move away from the Greater Omaha region. View highlights in the summary and results from all questions, as well as comparisons by age, gender, sexual orientation, and race and ethnicity, in the report.

Media Mentions:

• Omaha World Herald - More transit, lower taxes and housing costs needed to prevent 'brain drain' in Omaha
• KMTV 3 News Now - Young Professionals Survey: 88% are satisfied with overall quality of life in Omaha area
• KETV NewsWatch 7 - 'What they're wanting, what they're needing': The findings from a new survey that looks at young professionals in the metro

Nebraska's Second Congressional District

4/26/2024 | As Nebraska gets closer to its 2024 Primary, KETV Investigates took a closer look at how the state's Second Congressional District has changed since the last presidential election year. "Redistricting is a constitutional requirement that after every census, we try to make voting areas as equal in population as possible so we really live up to the idea of one person, one vote," said Josie Schafer, director of UNO CPAR.

CPAR Partners with UNO Department of Gerontology to Conduct Focus Groups on Digital Equity for Statewide Digital Equity Plan

11/2/2023 | CPAR partnered with faculty in the UNO Department of Gerontology to conduct four focus groups on digital equity for the Nebraska Information Technology Commission to inform the creation of a statewide digital equity plan. Focus groups were conducted with specific covered populations across Nebraska, including older adults, individuals from low-income households, rural residents, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Read the report to learn more. The draft State Digital Opportunities Plan is now available.

CPAR Partners with Do Space Library to Evaluate Tech Pack Program

10/6/2023 | CPAR partnered with the Do Space Library in Omaha to conduct a longitudinal evaluation of its Tech Pack Program. Do Space received funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund from the Federal Communications Commission to conduct the Teck Pack Program in Omaha, Nebraska, between June 30, 2022 to June 29, 2023. As part of the Tech Pack Program, 945 Omaha residents received a computing device and free internet access for one year. Review the report to understand the broad impact of the Tech Pack Program in promoting digital equity for Omaha residents. Learn more about the Tech Pack Program.

Media Mention:

• KETV Newswatch 7 - 'Made their lives easier': UNO researchers evaluate Do Space Tech Pack Program

Faces of Transit in Nebraska Video Series Creating Awareness of Available Services Statewide

10/2/2023 | For many in rural communities, transit is a lifeline. Rural transit agencies connect people to healthcare, work, education, and civic life. As a result, public transportation in Nebraska is vital to the state’s economic prosperity and future. Many agencies in Nebraska are doing new things like starting up new service in an unserved area, building bus barns to house their vehicles, and holding open houses to educate the public about their services. The Faces of Transit in Nebraska video series explores who the agency serves and where they take their passengers, so others understand how the service works. The Nebraska Public Transit team partnered with White Shutter Media to create this video series as part of efforts to grow rural transit options in Nebraska.

2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Data Affirms Young Nebraskans’ Preference for Small Communities

8/7/2023 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has partnered with the Nebraska Community Foundation for four years to produce the Greater Nebraska Youth Survey for the Nebraska Community Foundation. This data has informed projects and partnerships throughout the state. Read the 2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey report.

Media Mentions:

• Omaha World Herald - Nebraska youth survey shows students prefer small towns, don't feel included in community
• KLKN-TV Channel 8 - Nebraska survey reveals majority of rural students want to stay in small towns
  
• Norfolk Daily News - Survey reveals students prefer small towns, desire safety
• Kearney Hub - Nebraska youth survey shows students prefer small towns, don't feel included in community
• The North Platte Telegraph - Greater Nebraska Youth Survey reveals students prefer small towns, desire safety
• The Columbus Telegram - Voices of the future: Survey finds Nebraska youth like smaller communities, want to stay close to home
• 10/11 KOLN Pure Nebraska - 2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Results
• The Columbus Telegram - Invite young Nebraskans to build community with us - editorial from Jeff Yost, president and CEO, Nebraska Community Foundation
• Midwest Messenger - Welcome to our town: Revitalizing rural America
• Nebraska Community Foundation - Five Years of Nebraska Youth Survey Data Reveal Strong Preference for Rural Communities
• 10/11 Now Pure Nebraska - Five years of Nebraska Youth Survey data reveal strong preference for rural communities
• Nebraska Examiner - Survey shows Nebraska rural youths like their small-town living
• Lincoln Journal Star - 'Bright future for greater Nebraska': Survey shows rural students want to stay in state (PDF of article)
• McCook Gazette - Youth Survey shows most prefer to return home — when they can
• North Platte Post - Survey shows Nebraska rural youths like their small-town living
• Lincoln Journal Star - Editorial, 10/16: Rural survey is good news, but also a call to action (PDF of article)
• McCook Gazette - Survey: Invite young people to return home

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Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals Survey of Nebraska Residents and Why They Moved Away

4/17/2023 | Just before the pandemic, CPAR worked with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals to conduct a survey of former residents of Nebraska about why they moved away. Insights for the report have been receiving attention and we wanted to share the report in full. View a recent Lincoln Journal Star editorial about this topic.

Community Survey for Manhattan, Kansas

4/17/2023 | UNO CPAR developed a community survey for Manhattan, Kansas, and assisted with the marketing plan as well as mailing postcards to residents. CPAR will analyze the survey results, develop an online dashboard, provide overtime analyses, and make a presentation of results to the Manhattan City Council. Listen to a news story from WIBW13 about the survey. See past survey results.

Driver Recruitment and Retention Survey for Public Transit Agencies

3/2/2023 | Driver recruitment and retention continues to be a challenge for many transit agencies across Nebraska. In an effort to address this problem, CPAR partnered with the Nebraska Safety Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to conduct a survey of drivers across the state. This project is part of our ongoing partnership with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to support more efficient and effective rural public transit in Nebraska. View the Recruitment and Retention of Nebraska's Transit Drivers report.

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CPAR Director Receives CUMU-Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellowship

2/13/2023 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has been named the 2023 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities–Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellow to explore and explain variations in the economic impact of anchor institutions.

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Nebraska CASA Cost Benefit Analysis

2/2/2023 | CPAR partnered with UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work's Laurel Sariscsany to conduct a cost benefit analysis of the Nebraska CASA association.

Impact of Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Survey Data

12/13/2022 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has partnered with the Nebraska Community Foundation for three years to produce the Nebraska Youth Survey. This data has informed projects and partnerships throughout the state. Check out all the great work from the Nebraska Community Foundation in their 2022 annual report and their 2022 Connect video.