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VOLUME 52, No. 44
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OCTOBER 23, 2026
Open for Business STATE CHAMBER CEO TALKS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
DOING BUSINESS IN NEBRASKA WHERE WE STAND
BUSINESS LEADERS WEIGH IN ON STATE OF STATE FOR BUSINESS AS POLLS DISAGREE
Nebraskans have never thought of themselves as middling in anything: Part of the state’s culture is to do things well and do them right or not at all. However, middle is precisely the right word for the state in the eyes of national polls comparing states on their business climate. To be precise, it is one poll and it is one
When a Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry board member called Joseph Young this spring to gauge his interest in leading the organization, Young wasn’t sure about the timing. He was in Florida, working for AgAmerica Lending and as a managing partner of Blue Tide Ventures. It turned out, the moment was right. Young, a fourth-generation Lincolnite and Lincoln Southeast graduate, took the helm of the Nebraska Chamber in mid-July. It’s a homecoming of sorts: He served as the chamber’s executive vice president from 2015 to 2018. His career also includes time as a legislative assistant to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, where he helped pass the Business Innovation Act in 2011; and in policy leadership for the Greater Omaha Chamber. In his first 70 days, Young visited 22 communities across Nebraska. He has said he found a thirst for a cohesive statewide economic development strategy. Days before this interview, Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order creating a working group to build one. Young spoke with MBJ about coming home, regional growth and why he believes Nebraska needs one rulebook for big development.
NEBRASKA ON PAGE 08
YOUNG ON PAGE 06
BY DWAIN HEBDA
INSIDE: MANUFACTURING STARTS ON Page 14
• FACTORY JOBS HOLD STEADY • AUTOMATION NEEDS WORKERS • A GOAL FOR EVERY GAME
Business Journal Established in 1975
VOLUME 52, No. 44 OCTOBER 23, 2026
No Limits for Nebraska
Publisher / CEO Andrea “Andee” Hoig
RICKETTS SAYS COLLABORATION IS NEBRASKA’S EDGE
Executive Editor Daisy Hutzell-Rodman
PHOTO AND STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
Editorial & Digital Content Coordinator Anna Blumenthal
Before the first fireside chat began at Tech Nebraska’s 2026 Tech Summit on Oct. 21, the moderator told a story about U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Emily Allen, executive director of Tech Nebraska, facilitated the conversation with Ricketts. She recalled that before the COVID-19 pandemic, while working at Home Instead, she created a pilot program that used video technology to connect older adults with elected officials. Ricketts, then governor, agreed to take part. He was paired with a farmer living in an assisted living facility in Lincoln. After several video calls, Ricketts showed up in person. After he left, Allen said, that farmer told her he couldn’t believe Ricketts would come. TECH NEBRASKA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILY ALLEN AND SEN. PETE RICKETTS “It’s a reminder that technology is ultimately about humans,” Allen said. Ricketts agreed, and he returned to that idea throughout the conversation. constant updating. “Technology is a tool,” he said. “We should all have a philosophy of continuous improvement,” he said. “The things that we did when I was governor … may not be what we need to do Lessons from Ameritrade right now.” Ricketts drew on his years as chief operating officer at Ameritrade, the Ricketts said artificial intelligence may change job roles, and workforce Omaha company that was among the early leaders in online trading. Most preparation will have to become more flexible to keep pace. He pointed to customers interacted with Norfolk, Nebraska, as an example. He said Mike Flood, then a state senator and the company through its now a congressman, worked with the city of Norfolk to involve local businesses website and called only in a program that pairs scholarships with internships and jobs in downtown about once a year, he said. Norfolk. He reminded employees that customers had a relationship with the company, He also highlighted Northeast Community College’s iHub in Norfolk, an not with a web server. innovation hub for fabrication, workforce training and youth STEM education. “In fact, that one time a person calls is an opportunity to reinforce People of all ages can come there to learn new skills, Ricketts said, “whether that relationship personally,” he said, adding “It’s not technology for you’re a young person or whether you’re, you know, like me, Social Security technology’s sake.” eligible.” Ameritrade also showed that geography doesn’t limit ambition, he said. The financial services industry was centered in New York City, yet a company Beyond Omaha and Lincoln in the middle of the country became a dominant player. Ricketts said communities outside the metro areas can share in tech’s “There’s not really any limits on what we can do here as a state,” he said. opportunities, but they have to be intentional about it.
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One big small town
Dedicated to Robert G. “Bob” Hoig (1932-2019) Founder Zane D. Randall (1925-2006) Co-founder LeAnne M. Iwan (1932-1986) First News Editor The Midlands Business Journal (ISSN 0194-4525) is published weekly by MBJ Inc. and is available for $2.00 per individual copy, $99 per year (print + digital) or $60 (digital only). Editorial offices are 8709 F St. #113, Omaha, NE 68127. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Midlands Business Journal, 8709 F St. #113, Omaha, NE 68127. All submissions to the Midlands Business Journal become the property of the Midlands Business Journal and will not be returned. ADVERTISING 402-330-1760 or sales@mbj.com Written permission must be obtained from Midlands Business Journal and MBJ Inc., to post any of our stories or other published materials on a website. Under no circumstances, because of spamming potential and other issues, will permission be granted to transmit our stories by email.
Allen said Tech Nebraska views technology not as a standalone industry but as part of nearly every sector, from agriculture to health care. Ricketts noted that technology facilitates all of the state’s top industries: agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, insurance and transportation. He said one of Nebraska’s strengths is that it is a relatively small state where people collaborate. “Nebraska is kind of one big small town,” he said, noting “we can sell what we do here on the Silicon Prairie.” He said Nebraska should think of itself as a challenger brand when companies consider where to expand. That means having business-friendly policies and welcoming communities, because “Workforce is the first thing companies ask about.”
He described driving down the interstate a couple of weeks earlier and spotting a drone spraying a field, and noted precision agriculture can now tailor water, fertilizer and herbicides “down to the square foot.” He also cited a renewable natural gas project at the Adams Land & Cattle Co. feedlot outside Broken Bow. When fully built out, he said, it will supply about 20,000 homes. Innovation like that depends on infrastructure, including broadband, he said. On energy, Ricketts said companies considering Nebraska during his time as governor often cited the state’s low utility rates. He credited Javier Fernandez, president and CEO of Omaha Public Power District, with focusing on meeting the business community’s electricity needs and being flexible in how the utility does so.
What we build next
Allen closed by asking Ricketts what Nebraska can do to strengthen its competitiveness and improve residents’ lives. As governor, Ricketts said, his administration tried to create a talent pipeline “At the end of the day, it is about people making those decisions,” he said. that took students from middle school through college, but those efforts need “Everybody in the state’s got to feel like they are a part of what’s going on.”
Building the pipeline
— The Publisher
Page 3 • October 23, 2026
Omaha Goes All In
EVENT HIGHLIGHT
CHAMBER, CITY UNVEIL TALENT PUSH AT POWER CONFERENCE BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY MADISON KIELTY The Greater Omaha Chamber and the City of Omaha launched All In Omaha at the POWER Conference on Oct. 8, inviting employers of every size to help attract, develop and keep talent in the region. Participating employers sign a public acknowledgment and commit to three pillars. All In on Jobs encourages companies to consider Omaha for new and open roles and to review pay with recruitment and retention in mind. All In on Careers and Development asks them to make advancement paths clear, offer mentorship and training and connect with students and emerging talent. All In on Promoting Omaha calls on employers to weave the region’s story into recruiting, hiring and onboarding. The Greater Omaha Chamber and city will back participants with labor market data, talent programming, internship resources and customizable recruitment materials, with recommended actions scaled to each organization’s size. “All In Omaha asks businesses to look locally for growth, invest in their people and take an active role in telling our region’s story,” Heath Mello, president and CEO of the chamber, said in a release about the conference. In that same release, Mayor John Ewing Jr. tied the effort to quality of life. “Omaha’s future depends on people seeing the opportunity to build a good life here,” he said. The announcement fit the conference’s focus. POWER stands for people, opportunities, workforce, excellence and retention, and each word anchored a breakout track at CHI Health Center Omaha. Andrea Hollingsworth, author of “The Compassion Advantage: How Top Leaders Build More Humanizing Workplaces,” opened the day with her research on compassionate leadership. Damus Smith, creator of the LPI Method, closed with his “Leadership That Sticks” keynote. Local experts led the breakouts, including JE Dunn Construction on skilled-trades pipelines, Dr. Sheritta Strong of the University of Nebraska Medical Center on well-being and retention, and a City of Omaha panel on its small-business programs. A LinkedIn-sponsored vendor marketplace showcased local businesses, and the POWER Awards honored chamber members investing in their people and workplace culture.
ANDREA HOLLINGSWORTH
DAMUS SMITH SPEAKS TO THE AUDIENCE
DELL NARED JR.
ATTENDEES ASK QUESTIONS
ANDREA HOLLINGSWORTH
DAMUS SMITH
THE VENDOR MARKETPLACE WAS A POPULAR SPOT
HEATH MELLO ADDRESSES THE CROWD
ATTENDEES OF THE KEYNOTE SESSION
Page 4 • October 23, 2026
SPEAKER CHRIS SOUND
MBJ BUSINESS INSIDER
A weekly recap of current, relevant and breaking business news in the area
TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Send your business news to editor@mbj.com
Lindsay invests $90 million in plant
Lindsay Corp. is investing $90 million to heavily modernize its manufacturing facility in Nebraska, implementing advanced automated robotic assembly lines. The major agricultural equipment manufacturer aims to reduce waste, improve worker safety and increase efficiency for building center pivots. The upgrades also include a brand new 60,000-square-foot hot-dip galvanizing facility set to open this December.
Cannabis disagreements
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is facing intense tension and clashes with advocates regarding the direction of the regulatory agency. Although a vast majority of Nebraska voters chose to legalize medical cannabis and establish the regulatory board during the 2024 elections, disagreements persist between public advocates and the appointed commissioners over how the state program should be structured.
Farm-data ownership enacted
Nebraska is taking a leading role in the national rightto-repair movement by establishing a pioneering farm-data ownership law. This new legislation secures specific data rights for local farmers, covering both raw and aggregated machine information generated by modern agricultural equipment. The law grants producers the legal right to sue technology companies or entities that violate their data privacy.
Crop yield report stirs debate
A massive, unexpected jump in Nebraska corn yield estimates reported in the USDA’s October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report has sparked widespread controversy. The sudden data surge caused corn futures to tumble by approximately 5%. Local farmers and agricultural economists are openly questioning the validity of the sampling data behind the sharp federal production increase.
Affordable housing expands in Lincoln
The Foxtail Meadows development in southwest Lincoln has officially added 26 additional units of affordable housing to its complex. State and local leaders gathered to highlight the project, which specifically aims to provide stable and affordable residential options for refugees settling in the area. The expansion highlights ongoing citywide efforts to improve housing accessibility for vulnerable populations.
Sports center expands
The Bison Indoor Sports Center in Lincoln has announced an expansion project to accommodate its growing athletic programs and community recreational events. Along with physical facility upgrades, local business coordinators have launched a holiday passport shopping stop initiative. This combined effort is designed to drive consumer traffic toward regional businesses and enhance community engagement during the upcoming seasonal rush.
Gift business expands range
Lincoln-based e-commerce gift company Sincerely, Me Gifts is scaling up its production capabilities at its local warehouse facility. The customized corporate and event
gifting business specializes in manufacturing and assembling tailored gift boxes for weddings, holidays and major corporate events. The company continues to experience strong demand for its personalized cosmetic assortments, housewarming products and customized party swag.
Iowa harvest delayed by rain
According to the latest regional crop progress report, excessive wet weather across southwest Iowa has significantly restricted local farmers from accessing their fields. Persistent rain has delayed the seasonal corn and soybean harvest, causing overall crop conditions to dip slightly. Agricultural producers are hoping for consecutive dry, sunny days to catch up on their autumn farming operations.
are adjusting to temporary traffic detours, but city managers emphasize the long-term infrastructure improvements will drastically enhance local logistics and commerce.
Avenue One retail expands
A fresh retail analysis highlights how the Avenue One commercial development project is rapidly accelerating economic growth across West Omaha. Commercial real estate specialists noted that the local landscape is evolving quickly as residential demographics shift further west. The multi-phase development leverages this expanding consumer baseline to attract a premium mix of national retailers, corporate offices and lifestyle businesses to the region.
Omaha networking hub grows
Casino staff plants trees
More than two dozen local casino employees volunteered their time to plant 45 trees in the historic Trolley Park neighborhood of Council Bluffs, Iowa. This community greening project is part of a broader corporate-sponsored economic and environmental push to restore the local urban canopy. The initiative aims to add 4,000 trees across the city to effectively mitigate urban heat zones.
The Elite Referral Network has officially expanded its business networking opportunities across the Omaha metro area. The corporate alliance group kicked off its autumn schedule by partnering with the Collective for Hope to host a collaborative ribbon-cutting ceremony. Local business owners and startup founders are utilizing these newly launched platforms to establish strategic partnerships, share regional market insights and expand corporate supply lines.
Omaha makeover hits $1 billion
State to recoup $19,000 from Lincoln
A fresh commercial development report indicates that Omaha’s downtown and midtown areas are experiencing a historic transformation. Driven by the upcoming streetcar transit line, active infrastructure investments have already crossed the $1 billion threshold. Major local projects fueling this massive urban makeover include the new $500 million Mercantile mixed-use complex and the landmark $443 million Mutual of Omaha office tower.
AA cuts Lincoln flight route
American Airlines has officially announced a reduction in regional service, confirming it will cut its direct flight route between Lincoln and Chicago. Local transit coordinators and regional airport authorities are evaluating the economic impact the route cancellation may have on business travelers across southeast Nebraska. The airline industry continues to adjust flight schedules based on changing corporate travel demands and resource allocations across national hubs.
Fort Street project begins
City infrastructure planners in Omaha have launched a major multimillion-dollar roadway project to completely widen Fort Street. The construction zone spans from 120th Street to the entrance of Tranquility Park. The project will transition the busy corridor into a comprehensive four-lane divided roadway. Upgrades feature modern storm sewers, new pedestrian sidewalks, street lighting and a multiuse recreational trail, with completion targeted for late next year.
Avenue B overhaul underway
Contractors have commenced a massive capital improvement project on Avenue B in Council Bluffs, spanning from Eighth to 13th streets. Local public works teams are executing extensive roadway reconstruction alongside critical upgrades to the regional sanitary sewer system and neighborhood utility lines. Area businesses Page 5 • October 23, 2026
The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has launched an official effort to recoup $19,000 from the city of Lincoln. The state legal action is tied to ongoing administrative cost disagreements between local municipal offices and the state department. State authorities finalized their updated financial recovery filing to formally process the municipal revenue discrepancy.
MRO faces resource risks
A new 10-year reliability assessment from North American Electric Reliability Corp. highlights serious long-term energy resource challenges for regional operators. The Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), which oversees power grid stability across Nebraska and portions of Iowa, faces elevated resource adequacy risks through 2035. The challenges are heavily driven by escalating industrial demands and regional data center expansions.
Deshler earns state award
The City of Deshler has officially secured its recertification in the State of Nebraska’s Leadership Certified Community program. Administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the designation recognizes the community’s targeted local capital planning. Deshler municipal leaders were praised for driving regional business growth by successfully securing essential public and private funding commitments to construct updated workforce housing complexes and dedicated childcare centers.
A CLOSER LOOK
Open for Business
STATE CHAMBER CEO TALKS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT YOUNG FROM PAGE 01
MBJ: Walk me through the moment that coming back to Nebraska became a yes. Joseph Young: (A board member and I) had a couple of conversations, and he said, “Just talk to (wife) Michaela about it.” We thought, you know what, maybe it is a good time to do this. Our kids are both in college, so we’re empty nesters. This is a great job. I love the organization. I love the state of Nebraska. It became pretty apparent early on in those discussions that if they were going to offer it to me, I would take it. MBJ: You started your career as a legislative assistant for a Texas congressman. What did Washington teach you about how policy gets made that you could not have learned in Lincoln? Young: In Congress, those issues are national. There’s 435 members of (the House), 100 members of the Senate, and every district has different parts of it that care about different issues. The way they operate in Washington is very different from the way they act in the Unicameral, because there’s a leadership system but no party leadership system in Nebraska. It gave me this view of what kind of power leadership has. MBJ: You called your policy job at the Greater Omaha Chamber the hardest one that you’ve ever had, with 15-hour days, constant fires. What’s one fire from those years that taught you something that you still use? Young: Those fires really stemmed anywhere from Commission of Industrial Relations reform, which I was not the lead on, actually — that was kind of above my pay grade — to things like a liquor license that someone was trying to get in the Old Market. We had to work with the City Council and the mayor at the time, Jean Stothert. Every policy scrape teaches you something. It’s such a wideranging list of policy issues that you’re dealing with at a chamber of commerce that you kind of become a jack of all trades, so to speak. Every policy issue that I’ve ever had to deal with has taught me something new. MBJ: On LinkedIn, a former colleague said you bring quality skepticism to challenge common perceptions. What’s a common perception about Nebraska business right now that you think is wrong? Young: The elephant in the room would be that data centers in Nebraska are not good developments for the state or for a county that they’re in. I think that is absolutely the wrong attitude to have about data centers. The tax revenue that is generated by some of these really large investments is absolutely critical to the growth of the state. The folks that build the data centers and use them are, by and large, very good community partners. MBJ: You’ve led government relations for several different places. You’ve been on the road now with this job in smaller towns like Schuyler, Nebraska. Where do the business interests of Omaha and greater Nebraska split? When they do, how do you decide where the state chamber is going? Young: I would say that has never happened. Their interests are almost entirely 100% aligned. We like to talk about here that economic development, job creation and investment is not a zero-sum game. When Schuyler or Scottsbluff or Hastings gets an economic development win, it’s good for Omaha, too. MBJ: Omaha and Lincoln both keep growing to the west. We’ve now got the new AgWorks Corridor along the I-80 stretch between them. Is the region ready for all this traffic? Young: The short answer is yes, absolutely ready. The corridor, I believe, goes all the way to Seward. What it does for the state of Nebraska is it combines resources. When you have the Lincoln and Omaha chambers using their
Page 6 • October 23, 2026
MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHY PLUNKETT
I hope there’s so much (job) growth, by the way, that there’s a bunch of (traffic) congestion. Ultimately, that’s going to be a good problem to have. — JOSEPH YOUNG PRESIDENT AND CEO NEBRASKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY combined resources to go out and get projects, or to enhance the ones that are already here, it’s an absolute win. MBJ: From your seat in the statewide chamber, what’s the benefit to doing that over growing Lincoln to the east and infilling, so that it almost becomes more like a Twin Cities situation? Young: It’s not just the corridor that we need to get figured out. Site development all around the state of Nebraska is one of the economic development priorities for the entire state. Sometimes you don’t even get to a conversation about tax incentives with a company if they don’t feel like we can provide the physical site for them. We’ve had a lot of discussions with the governor’s office. He just put into his executive order that site readiness is going to be a high priority moving forward for the Department of Economic Development, and for chambers of commerce and economic developers around the state. MBJ: You have said that Nebraska is missing a cohesive economic development strategy. Who should really own that strategy? Young: That’s kind of a million-dollar question. We believe we have a unique role here because we are the statewide voice for business. But I’m not sure that you can just point to one entity to own that. We will put together, as a team — government, the three chambers and the statewide network of chambers — one cohesive strategy that we can all work from. MBJ: The governor’s new Data Center Task Force could recommend county zoning guidelines to the Legislature in 2027, and you have said that the Go Big (Future initiative) is looking at that same question. Where should that line fall between what the state sets and what the counties and cities can decide on their own? Young: I think it would be helpful for counties across the state to have one set of guidelines. It’s more conducive for growth, and it’s easier and better for companies when they’re looking at the entire state of Nebraska for development. One of the things we can’t have is Nebraska not being open for business, especially to external partners, but also to those businesses already existing in Nebraska. We’ve got to have a growth mindset. MBJ: What are you hearing most from the naysayers? Young: They are very bullish on data centers, for the most part, but they also are concerned about things like housing developments: Where are we going to put any new people that move into our community, or, frankly, people who are already there? They want to make sure there are opportunities and availability of childcare, and that it’s affordable to a certain extent. MBJ: Childcare is a huge concern, and I’ve heard a couple of talks about childcare being an economic driver. What does Nebraska have to do to up the ante on getting childcare affordable and increased to help the economic drivers? Young: It’s a great question that we’re still trying to figure out. Through our Six Regions, One Nebraska strategy, there are a couple of navigators, we call them, with literally boots on the ground, trying to make sure there are opportunities for more availability. The affordability piece is a lot harder. It’s going to be top of mind for the foreseeable future. It’s critical that if both parents in the household want to work, they can. A lot of times, only one parent can because they can’t afford or find childcare.
MBJ: When talking about rural Nebraska, what do you think when you think about jobs and availability and just locality of jobs? Young: Nebraska is not necessarily, especially in rural Nebraska, a bikeable state. We’ve got a lot of folks who live an hour away from a lot of our large employers around the state. For the most part, people in greater Nebraska can get to their places of business, and sometimes they carpool.
QUICK FIVE What’s one thing you’re really missing about Florida? “The ocean. That’s one thing we can’t locate in Nebraska.” What music is on your phone right now? “I love Fleetwood Mac and Coldplay. Mostly ’80s stuff.” Best book on leadership, in your opinion? “Probably ‘Good to Great,’ by Jim Collins.” One idea the political science major in you is geeking out about right now? “How we site and zone in Nebraska, and how the 93 counties work that. It’s such an important policy issue, and the politics involved in it are going to be very, very interesting.” What’s your game-day routine for Husker football? “It depends on what time the game’s at, but my wife and I like to get down there a little early. We get to the stadium usually about 45 minutes to an hour early. We don’t want to miss any flyovers or the national anthem.”
Page 7 • October 23, 2026
Daisy Hutzell-Rodman is the executive editor of Midlands Business Journal E: daisy@mbj.com P: 402-915-7551
FOCUS SECTION
Where We Stand
DOING BUSINESS IN NEBRASKA
BUSINESS LEADERS WEIGH IN ON STATE OF STATE FOR BUSINESS AS POLLS DISAGREE
I’d give the state multiple grades: probably a B in terms of private business … probably about a C-ish for the legislature and probably a D at best for the executive level. — JIM REIFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEBRASKA ENTERPRISE FUND
NEBRASKA FROM PAGE 01
RYAN MCINTOSH
NEBRASKA STATE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
mark below dead center. CNBC’s Top States for Business ranked the Cornhusker State 26th, a steep drop from last year’s 15th ranking. For those graphing the metric, Nebraska rebounded from 2024’s ranking of 24th, which was in the same neighborhood as 2026. The biggest culprits for the drop year over year were on the basis of technology and innovation, down 13 spots and graded D-minus; the economy, down seven spots and graded C; and infrastructure, down six spots and graded D-plus. The sky isn’t entirely falling; CNBC still rated Nebraska top 10 for business friendliness and quality of life, and other polls have also taken a kinder view of the state. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best States” ranking placed Nebraska No. 5 overall and third in the country for infrastructure, showing how widely polling methodology can swing results, even on the same data point. For instance, where the state took it on the chin from CNBC for technology, it was lauded as No. 5 in ag tech by Business Facilities magazine and 10th for food processing. Chief Executive magazine, meanwhile, largely agreed with CNBC’s overall assessment, ranking the state 29th overall in its 2026 Best & Worst States for Business survey. Perhaps not surprisingly, state government departments are quick to latch onto polls such as U.S. News & World Report’s over negative news like CNBC. “We are open for business in Nebraska, and this can be
We have a lot to be proud of but at the top of our list is being
seen throughout the state,” said Brennan Hallock, spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. “The recent U.S. News and World Report ranked Nebraska No. 5 in the nation overall, No. 3 in infrastructure, No. 3 in employment and No. 8 in fiscal stability.” Hallock also went on to tout the quarterly Index of State Economic Momentum published by State Policy Reports in early October. That report ranked Nebraska first in personal income growth, in the top 10 in economic momentum growth and unemployment rate, and top 20 in population growth and labor force growth. “Our elite ranking is no surprise,” said Gov. Jim Pillen in a release announcing the Index rankings. “We have fought for a historically conservative budget, improved our state tax code and bolstered the business climate in our state. Nebraskans keep more of their hard-earned money and have seen higher personal income growth than anywhere else in the country.”
Differing views
Others in the business community aren’t quite so bullish on the state of the state when it comes to business climate, however. Jim Reiff, executive director of the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, sharply disagreed with the opinion that Nebraska was currently a destination of choice for outside companies or conducive to growing native ones.
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Page 8 • October 23, 2026
Shovel ready sites and infrastructure have been issues for Nebraska for quite some time. — DAN CURRAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEBRASKA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA
“I’d give the state multiple grades: probably a B in terms of private business and what they’re doing,” he said. “Then, probably about a C-ish for the legislature and probably a D at best for the executive level. The reason for that low grade is our economic development team has been decreased significantly. I’m hearing from recruiters that they’re hearing from companies they don’t want to come to Nebraska right now.” Dan Curran, executive director of the Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, rated the state a B-minus overall for business climate, citing labor shortages and economic instability. As for infrastructure, he said it was a familiar and persistent problem. “Shovel ready sites and infrastructure have been issues for Nebraska for quite some time,” he said. “Getting parcels of land under control, site preparation and infrastructure development, take time and good planning. There’s a lot of areas in the state that require infrastructure upgrades or redevelopment to be competitive. “Funding is always an issue as developing sites is expensive. The states that do this best have multiple revenue sources and solid planning from multiple jurisdictions and organizations. Nebraska’s economic development leaders are working with the Pillen Administration to create some opportunities for site development.”
Solving the infrastructure problem may well come down to creative solutions forged at the municipal or county level versus waiting for the state to figure it out, Reiff said. “I’m a member of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association and that’s one way that economic developers around the state are working together,” he said. “They all talk, they all work together and at the end of the day, they still have to look out for their own communities but there’s a lot of sharing going on.”
Legislative wins
Ryan McIntosh, Nebraska state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, graded the state a B-plus, saying the Unicameral had done a good job of addressing certain issues surrounding business competitiveness. “The Nebraska legislature delivered real wins for small businesses this year, and owners still feel good about the health of their own businesses,” he said. “Twenty-seven senators, over half the body, earned a 100% NFIB voting record this last biennium for supporting reforms to minimum wage, paid sick leave and workers’ compensation. “On Main Street, that means more predictable labor costs. Future minimum wage CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Page 9 • October 23, 2026
FOCUS SECTION
Where We Stand
DOING BUSINESS IN NEBRASKA
BUSINESS LEADERS WEIGH IN ON STATE OF STATE FOR BUSINESS AS POLLS DISAGREE
We are open for business in Nebraska, and this can be seen throughout the state. — BRENNAN HALLOCK SPOKESPERSON NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE
increases are now capped at 1.75% a year instead of floating with inflation, and employers customers and so the business owner might need some liquidity. The credit union can look can pay a youth and training wage to bring young workers on. Additionally, individual and at that and see if the line of credit makes sense or perhaps make adjustments to the terms corporate income tax top rates will move to 3.99% starting January 1, 2027, which will of a loan.” provide additional relief and more capital for reinvestment in growing businesses.” Curran said national and international trends show there’s plenty of opportunity to be McIntosh said there is still plenty to be done, saying he wouldn’t give a grade of A as had with the right leadership and vision. long as certain tax issues go unaddressed. “I think the desire to bring back more manufacturing to the U.S. is a great idea. “The state remains a top 10 state for property tax burden, keeps an inheritance tax that only Communities are stronger when there’s good manufacturing jobs at the core of their five states still have, and Main Street employers struggle to find workers,” he said. “Nationally, economies,” he said. “I hope there’s policy developed that helps incentivize manufacturers small business optimism slipped to 97.9 in September, just under its 52-year average, and to invest in opportunities to grow and diversify their products. uncertainty is well above normal. Nebraska owners are feeling that same caution.” “We also need to incentivize research and innovation so that the U.S. continues to Hallock said state government, behind the leadership of Gov. Pillen, has leaned into the be the global leader in technology and product development. Especially as it applies to labor issue in particular. agriculture and food production technologies, Nebraska has the outstanding companies “We are open for business in Nebraska, and this can be seen throughout the state,” he and universities that can change the world.” MBJ_OCT23_Centris Omaha Growth.qxp_Layout 1 10/14/26 11:08 AM Page 1 said. “Workforce initiatives like the Presidential Scholars Program, Elite 11 Veterinarian Program and the Nebraska Office of Registered Apprenticeships are connecting young Nebraskans to the great careers in the state. In addition, communities are working together to grow the economy through programs such as 6 Regions, One Nebraska. This collaborative approach is firing on all cylinders.”
Looking ahead
Challenges aside, the drive for many Nebraskans to start or grow their own business remains strong in the state. “Our Business Development Centers are busy with clients, and new business start-ups are up,” Curran said. “Our Innovation Team has also been very busy. These items speak to optimism in the business community.” Brandon Luetkenhaus, president and CEO of the Nebraska Credit Union League, said the interest in starting a business is also up among members of the league’s institutions. “When credit unions work with small businesses, oftentimes they’re small businesses looking for liquidity of some sort, whether it be a loan or a line of credit. It’s a lot of money to that member, but it may not be a lot to another financial institution,” he said. “Oftentimes, these people are coming to credit unions, really as a lifeline to either help their business thrive or in some cases even survive or to start their new business.” Luetkenhaus said this scenario represents new opportunities for the industry, not only as lenders, but as business advisers. “One of the things credit unions are really good at is assisting their members by looking at their situation because every situation’s different,” he said. “A small business might come in and they might be experiencing a situation where there’s a lag in payment from
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Page 10 • October 23, 2026
FEATURE
Coolest Thing Final Four
COOLEST THING MADE IN NE
FLOUR, POPCORN, HOMES AND IV FLUIDS VIE FOR STATE TITLE BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED A grain mill that prints its packaging on a 1950s letterpress, a popcorn maker that ships railcars to Mexico, a modular home builder and a veterinary IV fluid manufacturer remain in the running for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska title. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance host the fifth annual bracket-style contest, with Pinnacle Bank as presenting sponsor. Public votes cut a field of 16 to eight, then to four: Family Built Homes of Gering, Grand Republic Milling Co. of Gering, Nova-Tech Inc. of Grand Island and Popcorn County USA of North Loup. Final-round voting ran through Oct. 18 at nemanufacturingalliance.com. The chamber will name the winner Oct. 29 at its Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where finalists will display their products. Past winners include a Case IH combine series built in Grand Island, Valley Irrigation’s center pivot, Rocket Mobility’s all-terrain tracked wheelchair and a Kawasaki subway car made in Lincoln for New York City. “Nebraska makes some incredible products, and the people who make them deserve to be celebrated,” Joseph Young, president and CEO of the Nebraska Chamber, said in a statement. “The Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska lets us have some fun while telling a much bigger story: Nebraska manufacturers are innovative, competitive and making products that have an impact far beyond our state.” Manufacturing employs more than 100,000 Nebraskans.
Family Built Homes, Gering
Visitors to Family Built Homes’ plant often expect to see bare shells. Instead, they find homes with finished interiors. “What surprises most people is how much of the home is completed before it ever leaves our facility,” said Nip Fillingham, manager at Family Built Homes. Cabinets, countertops, flooring, plumbing and electrical systems all go in at the plant. Rising construction costs, labor shortages and long build timelines have pushed more
buyers toward modular homes, Fillingham said. Customers also value the quality control of building in a climate-controlled space and the chance to customize floor plans. “As awareness of modern modular homes has increased, we’ve seen more people consider them a primary option rather than an alternative to traditional construction,” Fillingham said. Gering gives the company a skilled workforce and keeps transportation costs competitive for many customers. Recruiting and keeping skilled workers remains a challenge as demand grows, Fillingham said, but the company’s western Nebraska base has helped it build a dedicated team.
Grand Republic Milling Co., Gering
Reginald Preston, CEO and chief operating officer of Grand Republic Milling, comes from five generations of farmers and ranchers in the Hull community of Scotts Bluff and Banner counties. The family founded the mill in 2023, after Preston retired from the U.S. Navy’s submarine force and moved home. The mill grinds whole wheat kernels between stones rather than separating the bran, germ and endosperm, so the flour keeps the oils from the germ. “That’s where the fresh-baked aroma out of the oven and the fresh taste in every bite come from,” Preston said. Even the company’s sifted flour retains some bran, along with its vitamins, minerals and fiber. The family grows its small grains on a regenerative farm with minimal soil disturbance and chemical use. The Panhandle’s climate shapes the final product. “Our advantage is our challenge,” Preston said. “The Panhandle’s semiarid climate means lower yields, but that same low rainfall pushes wheat to produce higher protein and stronger flavor.” Grocery stores across the Panhandle, eastern Wyoming and Fort Collins, Colorado, stock the flour, and bakeries and restaurants use it, some exclusively. The company ships nationwide through online orders and plans to expand into baking and other fresh, local foods based in Scottsbluff. A seven-person team of family members and employees handles farming, milling,
FAMILY BUILT HOMES
Page 12 • October 23, 2026
MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL GRAND REPUBLIC MILLING CO.
sales and packaging. The company prints that packaging on a 1950s Heidelberg Windmill letterpress, a fitting touch for a mill that makes flour the way millers did in the 1880s.
Nova-Tech Inc., Grand Island
Nova-Tech makes IV fluids that rehydrate dehydrated animals, much as hospitals treat people. “All animals rely on IV fluids for rehydration,” said Teresa Grabowski, president and co-owner. Pet owners or veterinarians administer the fluids, depending on the severity of the case. A new container closure system, IV bags in 500-milliliter, 1-liter and 5-liter sizes, has driven recent growth, Grabowski said. Large animal health distributors carry the products across the United States and Canada. Grabowski said the company takes pride in its place in Grand Island’s business community. Its product stands apart, she said, but Nova-Tech shares the agricultural focus of many Grand Island businesses.
Popcorn County USA, North Loup
Popcorn County USA has made popcorn in North Loup since 1979. Today the company, privately owned by William Brush, ships to 28 countries, including Ireland, Italy, Vietnam, the Philippines and Iceland. Railcars carry its popcorn to Mexico, and container ships carry it to other continents. Contracted Nebraska growers raise the popcorn on irrigated acres, and the company selects hybrids each year to meet customer needs. Its buyers include theaters, distributors, schools and popcorn shops. The company also sells salt and PopStar, its buttery sunflower popping oil, so customers can bundle orders and save on freight. “Our customers like that we are a ‘one-stop shop’ for all their popcorn needs,” said Mandy Goodrich, office and human resources manager. A new automated processing plant now bags products more efficiently. The company’s own rail access lets railcars pull right up to its dock, and its central location speeds shipments to both coasts. North Loup’s size brings challenges too. Some freight carriers serve the area only on certain days, and the remote location makes hiring hard. The company has recruited in larger cities to draw applicants for its 11-person staff. Popcorn County USA also supplies all the popcorn, oil and salt for North Loup’s Popcorn Days. The festival has run every year since 1902, and the company calls it Nebraska’s longest continuously running festival. POPCORN COUNTY USA
Page 13 • October 23, 2026
NOVA-TECH ALL PRODUCT
FOCUS SECTION
Factory Jobs Hold Steady
MANUFACTURING
MANUFACTURING LOSSES INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC BY TIM TRUDELL
I think that, again, there’s a temptation sometimes to overreact and think that something’s fundamentally wrong with Nebraska because of the closure of Tyson’s plant, but that was Tyson-specific. But, overall, Nebraska has the infrastructure, the leadership to move ahead. There are many states that just don’t have what Nebraska has. — ERNIE GOSS, PH.D. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY HEIDER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Thousands of food processing workers lost their jobs as plants across Nebraska laid off workers or shut down this year. The largest hit came in Lexington, where about 3,200 people lost their jobs when Tyson Foods Inc. closed its plant in January. WK Kellogg Co. cut 450 jobs when it closed its Omaha plant in August after nearly 80 years of operation. The company announced the closure in August 2024 as part of a supply chain modernization plan that included investing $390 million in technology and equipment at its remaining plants. Skylark Meats closed its Omaha meat-processing plant Aug. 25, eliminating 218 jobs. Food processing was the primary manufacturing segment to experience setbacks in Nebraska, said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Economic Inquiry and a professor of economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business. Food processing companies accounted for about 7,000 job losses regionally over the past year, with Nebraska experiencing the most, Goss said.
Flat job growth
Creighton University publishes the Mid-America Business Conditions Index, an economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas. Nebraska trailed the region in manufacturing jobs, while Minnesota, Kansas and North Dakota posted modest gains, Goss said. “Manufacturing job growth has been very slow over the last couple of years,” he said. “In
fact, until very recently, jobs had been lost in manufacturing, and we’ve seen a recent upturn in manufacturing jobs in the region, but not in Nebraska.” While manufacturing hiring may have slowed, it remains a key element of Nebraska’s economy. Manufacturing adds almost $22 billion to the state’s economy, accounting for 12% of its gross domestic product, said Josie Gatti Schafer, director of the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. About 10% of Nebraska workers have jobs related to the manufacturing industry, the thirdbiggest industry in the state, she said.
Manufacturing misconceptions
People often don’t associate food processing with manufacturing, though that’s exactly what it is, Schafer said. “Manufacturing is taking raw input and turning it into something totally different,” she said. “We think of big machines and putting together cars, like everyone has that Michigan idea of manufacturing. It does not need to look like that.” Nebraska’s manufacturing output also looks smaller because of what the state makes, Schafer said. “What you can sell a can of soup for is very different than what you can sell a car for, and is very different from what you can sell a computer processor microchip for,” she said. “And so the value of our manufacturing industry may actually be a little bit smaller, because of the
MORE THAN 225 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 2025 NEBRASKA MANUFACTURING SUMMIT ON OCT. 6, 2025
Page 14 • October 23, 2026
nature of our manufacturing industry being so concentrated in food-related products.” Manufacturing employment has remained stable despite losses at Tyson and Kellogg, Schafer said. Nebraska’s unemployment rate was 2.9% in September, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor. “We certainly hear about plant closures and things like that,” Schafer said. “And 3,000 people to the town of Lexington is a huge deal. To the statewide numbers of manufacturing, it doesn’t necessarily matter. It’s not nothing, but it’s not showing up as a big change in the size of manufacturing over time. I would say it hasn’t grown a ton. It’s just been a steady part of the whole system.”
Lexington challenges
In Lexington, a city of 10,000, the loss of about 3,200 jobs meant some families were uprooted to move to other cities, as parents took jobs with other meatpacking plants, warehouses or other employers. While some older employees retired, the majority of former Tyson employees sought work elsewhere, Goss said. Closing the Tyson plant, which opened in 1990, made economic sense for the company because of its age, Goss said. “It wasn’t as efficient as the new plant in North Platte,” said Goss, who conducted an economic impact study for the North Platte plant in 2021. Sustainable Beef in North Platte hired about 400 former Tyson employees. The $400 million food processing facility is automated, handling about 1,800 head of cattle daily. Another 120 Tyson employees relocated to work at the Dakota City Tyson plant, according to United Food & Commercial Workers Local 222, which represents hourly workers there. Others have moved away from Lexington or are expected to relocate, Goss said. While the Tyson plant closing affected the state’s manufacturing economy, Nebraska looks to recover, Goss said. Lexington will also likely recruit new companies to relocate there, he said. “I think that, again, there’s a temptation sometimes to overreact and think that something’s fundamentally wrong with Nebraska because of the closure of Tyson’s plant, but that was Tyson-specific,” he said. “But, overall, Nebraska has the infrastructure, the leadership to move ahead. There are many states that just don’t have what Nebraska has.”
Growth in other areas
While food processing has experienced a setback in Nebraska, manufacturing as a whole remains consistent, with some areas, such as machinery and chemical manufacturing tied to agriculture, experiencing growth, said Alec Gorynski, senior vice president of economic
development at the Greater Omaha Chamber. The area supports about 42,000 manufacturing jobs, an 8% increase over the past five years, he said. Manufacturing is among the five largest employment sectors in the metro, Gorynski said. Manufacturing GDP in the area has grown from about $5 billion in 2016 to more than $8 billion today, Gorynski said. Greater Omaha accounts for 775 manufacturing facilities, about 40% of the 1,900 manufacturers statewide, he said. “For us, manufacturing is a major source of employment, wages, investment and economic growth,” Gorynski said. Manufacturing increasingly drives economic growth across the region, he said. “Supporting the growth of companies already operating here is our first priority, and nearly every manufacturer we engage with is considering some form of growth,” he said.
New business attractiveness
Manufacturing also plays a key role in attracting new businesses to the metro, Gorynski said. “Roughly nine out of every 10 prospective companies currently engaging with our economic development team are manufacturing-related,” he said. Douglas and Sarpy counties lead the metro with 452 and 106 facilities, respectively, reflecting their status as the two largest counties, Gorynski said. But other counties also flex manufacturing strength, he said. Across the metro, there are about 7.4 manufacturing establishments for every 10,000 residents, Gorynski said. “When you look at manufacturing establishments relative to population, however, some of the region’s smaller counties have an even greater concentration,” he said. Dodge County has about 14.7 establishments per 10,000 residents, nearly twice the regional rate, he said. Washington County has about 13.1, about 77% above the regional rate, while Harrison County in western Iowa has about 10.3, about 38% above the regional rate. “Different communities bring different assets to the table, including available land, transportation access, workforce, utilities and proximity to suppliers and customers,” Gorynski said. As manufacturing grows, so does the need for electricity, he said. Companies are investing heavily in technology, automation and equipment, so communities increasingly must be ready with the sites, infrastructure, workforce and utility capacity necessary to support that investment, Gorynski said. “A few years ago, the power requirements attached to many projects were considerably smaller,” Gorynski said. “Today, it is increasingly common to see manufacturing projects seeking dozens of megawatts of capacity.”
CNH INDUSTRIAL’S AF SERIES COMBINE WAS THE 2025 COOLEST THING MADE IN NEBRASKA. MEMBERS OF ITS TEAM WERE ON HAND FOR THE CELEBRATION AT THE 2025 NEBRASKA MANUFACTURING SUMMIT
Page 15 • October 23, 2026
FOCUS SECTION
MANUFACTURING
Automation Needs Workers PILOT HELPS MANUFACTURERS LEARN AUTOMATION
BY TIM TRUDELL
ALEC GORYNSKI
THE GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER
TAMMY GREEN
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ELIZABETH MOREL UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
Four Nebraska manufacturers will spend three months learning how automation could help their businesses. The Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NMEP), which operates through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is running the pilot program, said Elizabeth Morel, the partnership’s director. “We believe that technology is the way we continue to be competitive companies,” said Morel, who has more than two decades of experience in the manufacturing industry. The partnership’s programs have focused on automation, technology integration and modernization.
Pilot program
About 60 companies showed interest in NMEP webinars, and they had until Oct. 16 to apply for the pilot program, Morel said. NMEP officials, along with industry sponsors, will spend three months working with the selected manufacturers, she said. The sponsors are the Heartland Robotics Cluster, Rensenhouse, SolidWorks and GoEngineer. The program has two paths, with two companies chosen for each. The first path, Manufacturing Productivity and Overall Equipment Effectiveness Assessments, measures equipment performance, identifies hidden capacity and establishes data-driven improvement opportunities. Each manufacturer will choose a piece of equipment, and NMEP will temporarily install monitoring hardware and software that tracks when the equipment goes offline. “Envision a train,” Morel said. “You want that train right on the tracks, delivering cargo 24/7, 365. And if it can’t be running because there’s a mechanical problem or your engineer didn’t show up, you want to have line of sight on that data, and the same is true with equipment that our manufacturers use in their facilities.” “We’re going to work hand in hand with them ... so that they have real-time data on what’s eating their lunch,” she said. The second path, Digital Twin and Virtual Factory Projects, uses simulation technology to model production changes, test automation concepts and reduce implementation risk before capital investment, she said. “Instead of having to install a 100-ton machine ... we’re basically going to be building a software model of a piece of equipment or a production line, so that the manufacturer can easily simulate changes they might want to do,” Morel said.
YOUR NEXT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ISN’T ON THE PRODUCTION LINE.
‘Secret powerhouse’
Manufacturing contributes about $22 billion to Nebraska’s economy, or 12% of its gross domestic product, so it’s important that companies embrace automation for their future, Morel said. The figure reflects 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. “It’s like this secret powerhouse in the state of Nebraska,” she said. “Manufacturing is a multiplier industry. So when we have strong manufacturing, there are all these great companies that (spring up) around these manufacturing facilities that create even more jobs.” While NMEP introduces Nebraska companies to automation, Eaton is embracing automation to expand its switchgear production to meet the growing needs of data centers. The company will use automation to rapidly create custom-made switchgear at a new 370,000-square-foot plant in Bellevue. With plans to hire more than 200 additional workers, the more than $30 million facility should open in 2027. Data centers require an extensive physical supply chain, so demand is increasing for the companies that manufacture those products, said Alec Gorynski, senior vice president of economic development for the Greater Omaha Chamber.
Education path
As companies embrace automation, they’re finding the need for more skilled workers, said Tammy Green, executive director of statewide workforce initiatives at Metropolitan Community College. “Because of skilled workers’ shortage, (businesses are) starting to basically redo their entire plants to have robots and automation running a lot of their production facilities,” Green said. “What’s interesting about it is they’re finding that the need for skilled workers is becoming more prevalent.” Metro has seen an increase in enrollment for its industrial trades, Green said. Most classes have waiting lists, so the school is working to add classes, she said. The community college has partnered with companies and high schools to create programs that help prepare people to work in manufacturing. High school students can earn certificates or complete a year’s worth of credits toward Metro before high school graduation, Green said. She continued, “Maybe the starting point is, ‘What do you want to do?’ And then let’s figure out how to get you there. So, healthcare, IT, the skilled trades, all of those, people can enter into the workforce relatively early on.”
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hbecpa.com | 402.423.4343 Page 16 • October 23, 2026
FOCUS SECTION
A Goal for Every Game
MANUFACTURING
LINCOLN SPORTS EQUIPMENT MAKER STARTED IN A GARAGE BY TIM TRUDELL
If you go to the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Devaney (Sports Center), that’s our product there, made right here in Lincoln, with those brands on it. — J.C. STILES BISON INC. When Nick Cusick and Elmer Wessel made their first tooling cut in 1974 for Kawasaki Motors, the first customer of their Industrial Machine Specialties venture, they had no idea what the future held. Today, Lincoln-based Bison Inc. is a $30 million corporation. Cusick and Wessel, high school friends, started Industrial Machine Specialties in the garage of Wessel’s parents. They worked on piecemeal projects in the early days. Life as they knew it changed in 1985, when they invested in their first sports venture, creating a hard-plastic baseball caddy. Wessel was coaching a Little League baseball team and thought there had to be a better way to store bats during games than in a duffel bag, said J.C. Stiles, Bison Inc.’s chief operating officer.
Bison brand born
The baseball caddy, which could be stored in the trunk of a vehicle, then hung on the backstop at baseball or softball games, led to the Bison brand, Stiles said. “They couldn’t really sell it under Industrial Machine (Specialties). Who wants to buy an industrial (product)?” he said. “So that’s when they came up with the brand. It’s kind of tough, kind of regional, kind of fit the market they wanted to try and get. So the Bison brand came from selling this baseball caddy.” The caddy, the company’s inspiration, is no longer sold by Bison, Stiles said. As Bison Inc. grew during the 1980s and 1990s, the company produced and sold high school, community league and recreational basketball goals, volleyball net systems, soccer goals and football goalposts. It also now produces net systems for badminton and pickleball.
College supplier
Bison’s growth took off in 2006, when it bought Schelde North America (SNA), which made college volleyball net systems. Bison began supplying sports equipment for college programs across the country, Stiles said. Customers continue to see the SNA brand on the equipment
instead of Bison, he said. “If you go to the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Devaney (Sports Center), that’s our product there, made right here in Lincoln, with those brands on it,” he said. In 2013, Bison completed its second major purchase, acquiring Institutional Products of Indiana, rebranded as IPI by Bison. The deal added ceiling-mounted basketball equipment, letting Bison supply a gym’s entire basketball setup, from the rim to the ceiling. “Sorry for the pun, it allowed us to vertically integrate, because we always made the rim and now this took us all the way to the ceiling,” Stiles said. Bison’s primary clients are distributors, Stiles said. The company doesn’t sell directly to any athletic program, he said.
Centralized plant
As Bison’s production increased, the co-founders realized the company had outgrown its space, Stiles said. At one point, Bison used 16 buildings around Lincoln, he said. Bison moved its operations to a 147,000-square-foot facility in south Lincoln in 2025, while keeping office space south of the Haymarket. The plant has about 100 employees. Wessel, who died of cancer in 2019, didn’t live to see the move. The manufacturing plant combines automation with some manual labor, Stiles said. “It’s not a manual lathe or a manual drill press anymore,” Stiles said. “But some of the newer, more modern robotics, we just have not been able to fit on our product line.” Given the type of equipment Bison makes, Stiles said he doesn’t foresee a fully automated plant. Some work, such as certain welding, still requires manual labor, he said. But an automated welder can handle other jobs, producing 200 pieces an hour, Stiles said. “It saves hours of work, plus we can use a lower-skilled worker, because they don’t need to be a welder to load the unit,” he said.
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BUSINESS NEWS
Investing in Agriculture CLAAS UNVEILS $10M RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BY ANNA BLUMENTHAL CLAAS unveiled its new research and development (R&D) center Oct. 8 at its North American headquarters in Omaha. The $10 million, 44,800-square-foot facility will serve as a hub for the manufacturer’s North American testing and analysis, bringing engineers closer to the farmers, crops and field conditions that help shape future CLAAS equipment and technology. The facility represents the continued investment by German-based CLAAS in the future of North American agriculture. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen joined CLAAS employees, community leaders and guests for a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event marked the only opportunity for the public to get a look inside the facility. “You are all here one time in your life,” said CLAAS CEO Jan-Hendrik Mohr. “Beginning tomorrow, everything which is done here will be absolutely top secret. Top secret, because it is technology for tomorrow.” The CLAAS campus at 8401 S. 132nd St. employs more than 250 people and comprises the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly plant, CLAAS Training Academy and the new R&D center. Mohr described the center as a key element of the company’s multiyear, $100 million investment and growth strategy for North America. The center features two levels of office space, expanded instrumentation, logistics and equipment areas, a heated indoor wash bay and enhanced physical and electronic security. These capabilities enable CLAAS teams to collect field data, analyze results and refine machine performance more efficiently. Pillen noted that investments in advanced agricultural machinery technology by companies such as CLAAS are making a lasting impact by helping ensure future generations can be fed. “This is a significant investment — not for next quarter, or next year, but for generations to
come,” Pillen said. While much of CLAAS' testing will take place on farms throughout the country under various soil, weather and crop conditions, the test results will be analyzed by engineers in the new facility. The facility also provides 25% more capacity than CLAAS’ temporary off-site R&D location and supports high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs across the region. Farmers today face a combination of severe financial strain, labor shortages and environmental pressures. Leaders at the ribbon cutting emphasized how the new facility, along with the partnership between Germany and the United States in supporting companies like CLAAS, will help aid these challenges. Peter Poete, counselor for agricultural affairs at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., emphasized that Germany is the third-largest foreign direct investor in the United States, with more than $700 billion invested so far. “Farmers everywhere face the same challenges,” Poete said. “They have to produce more food with fewer resources, adapting to climate change and using digital tools and data to make every acre more productive. So no country can tackle this alone. We need research, partnerships and places like this one, where innovators, engineers and farmers work really side by side.” Founded in 1913, family-owned CLAAS is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and is widely regarded as the world market leader in forage harvesters. “Today’s manufacturing industry is increasingly driven by sophisticated engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, precision technology and data analytics,” said Joseph Young, president and CEO of the Nebraska Chamber. “The equipment being developed here will help farmers become more productive, more efficient and better prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
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CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR ANNUAL MEETING AWARD WINNERS With gratitude, we congratulate our 2026 Citizens of the Year and our Corporate Campaign Award winners who were recognized at United Way of the Midlands’ Annual Meeting. It takes a caring community coming together to help our neighbors in need, and we are grateful for our corporate partners and individuals whose exceptional commitment and care strengthen our community.
2026 Citizens of the Year – The Hamann Family
Since 1972, this award has been presented yearly to citizens on behalf of their efforts for United Way and other philanthropic work in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro.
Corporate Partners of the Year 100-299 EMPLOYEES
UNDER 100 EMPLOYEES
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
NEW BUSINESS PARTNER
300-799 EMPLOYEES
LEADERSHIP GIVING
To learn more about United Way of the Midlands and how you can get involved, go to: UnitedWayMidlands.org
Page 19 • October 23, 2026
800+ EMPLOYEES
FEATURE
AgWorks Allows for Growth
AG WORKS
OMAHA, LINCOLN CHAMBERS UNITE TO TARGET MARKETS
When you take a corridor approach, you combine all the workforce, talent, research and other business assets that exist in that entire region, and it really strengthens the value proposition that you’re making to companies. — JASON BALL PRESIDENT LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
JOSH DEMERS
CO-FOUNDER DARO
BY TIM TRUDELL
HEATH MELLO
CEO THE GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER
one coordinated economic development effort, while creating new opportunities for local businesses.”
Lincoln-based DARO works with swine producers across the Midwest to detect viruses before they spread through a herd, causing an outbreak that can force producers to cull some or all of their pigs. It’s one of many agriculture-based companies in the state that stand to benefit from the AgWorks Corridor initiative. DARO leaders welcomed news of the initiative, in which the Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce have joined forces to market and expand the region’s agriculture industry. In early October, CLAAS, an ag equipment company, unveiled its $10 million research and development center off Interstate 80 at 132nd Street and Giles Road. “The biggest thing for a startup, especially if you know the stage that we’re at, is just awareness and trust,” said Josh DeMers, co-founder and chief operating officer of DARO, which was founded in 2023. “(To have the chambers) get the word out is huge for us, because that is another stamp of approval.”
One competitive identity
LARRY MILLER
COO PHIBRO ANIMAL HEALTH CORP.
LAUREN OBERMIER
THE LINCOLN CHAMBER
Select Greater Omaha, the economic development marketing arm of the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, a collaboration between the city of Lincoln and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, launched the AgWorks Corridor in early July. The effort connects 11 counties across eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa into one region for agricultural growth. This joint economic development and marketing initiative focuses on animal health, ag-tech, agricultural equipment manufacturing, industrial bioprocessing and food processing, said Heath Mello, chief executive officer of the Greater Omaha Chamber. AgWorks brings the region’s companies, workforce, research institutions, infrastructure and production capacity together under one competitive identity, he said. The goal is to turn agriculture, one of the region’s greatest strengths, into opportunities for investment, job creation, innovation and long-term economic growth, Mello said. Each organization previously marketed agriculture on its own; together, they can promote a larger region without additional funding, he said. Companies already operating in the corridor, such as DARO, can work with the chambers to help recruit talent, strengthen supply chains, adopt new agricultural technologies, connect with research resources and expand operations, Mello said. The initiative also aims to recruit new suppliers and companies that fill gaps within the regional ecosystem, he said. “AgWorks gives us a stronger national platform to tell that complete (ecosystem) story,” Mello said. “We can present the full capacity of the Omaha-Lincoln corridor to companies and site selectors through Page 20 • October 23, 2026
More joint efforts planned
AgWorks is the first of several planned joint programs between the chambers, said Jason Ball, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. After studying economic development corridors in other parts of the country, including the Research Triangle in North Carolina and the Greater Des Moines Partnership region, Omaha and Lincoln leaders embraced a corridor model, Ball said. Until now, Lincoln and Omaha hadn’t launched such a program together, Ball said. He knows the model from the San Antonio-Austin corridor, having worked in economic development in Round Rock, Texas, before moving to Lincoln. “There’s been some different priorities set at the state, and I think Lincoln and Omaha really felt like it is incumbent upon our programs to really move aggressively in some different directions, to work together on making economic development pitches a little bit more cohesively,” Ball said. “When you take a corridor approach, you combine all the workforce, talent, research and other business assets that exist in that entire region, and it really strengthens the value proposition that you’re making to companies.” DeMers said the AgWorks Corridor gives the region something it lacked: a branded hub that markets its ag industry. The closest thing before was The Combine, a technology incubator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he said. “If you look at other markets, such as Kansas City with Animal Health Corridor or what North Dakota has been able to do with Grand Farm, there’s a specific hub and now somebody is marketing and trying to pull businesses in and create this cohesive group,” DeMers said.
Established players
Phibro Animal Health Corp. is among the established animal health companies already operating in the corridor. Phibro runs two manufacturing facilities in Omaha, a vaccine plant and a mineral nutrition premix plant, along with its U.S. distribution center, said Larry Miller, chief operating officer. “Nebraska is a business-friendly, common sense state,” Miller said. “It’s in the heart of the country and in the heart of our key customers in agriculture.” The region sits at the junction of Interstates 80 and 29, in the middle of production agriculture, and is home to several of the industry’s leading animal health companies, Miller said. Those include Zoetis in Lincoln, Merck Animal Health in Elkhorn and Huvepharma.
MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL Huvepharma’s U.S. research and development hub is in Lincoln. Agriculture has an underappreciated story to tell about precision and efficiency, Miller said. “The world is not getting any bigger in terms of growing crops and area for raising livestock,” he said. “The only way we can accommodate that is to become efficient. We’re proud to be a part of that, helping animals perform better and using the ground more efficiently.”
A unified front
As the organizations planned the corridor, they didn’t want to compete directly with other regional corridors, such as the Animal Health Corridor in the Kansas City area, said Lauren Obermier, director of development with the Lincoln Chamber. “I think it became a bigger project than we had anticipated, but I think it’ll pay off,” she said. AgWorks is new, but Omaha and Lincoln business leaders working together isn’t. The two economies already function as one connected region, Mello said. “AgWorks puts a name, a shared strategy and a stronger story behind that existing reality, so we can elevate our already-competitive national profile,” he said. People, products, research, supply chains and investment move through the corridor every day, yet Omaha and Lincoln have historically been marketed as separate markets divided by the Platte River, Mello said. That understates the scale of what the chambers offer, he said. The AgWorks Corridor includes more than 700 companies and 37,000 employees across the agricultural sector, a concentration 66% higher than the national average, Mello said. “Combining those assets creates a stronger case for investment and gives companies more opportunities to find customers, partners, talent, research capabilities and suppliers close to their operations,” he said.
Distinct identities, shared strength
AgWorks lets each community keep its identity while competing on the corridor’s combined strength, Mello said. “Together, we present a much larger workforce, a deeper network of suppliers, more research and educational assets and a broader portfolio of sites and infrastructure,” Mello said.
Each chamber pursues investments that ultimately benefit the other, Obermier said. After learning about an opportunity presented only to the Greater Omaha Chamber, the Lincoln Chamber offered to pitch ideas, which expanded the potential investment, she said. “The mutual recognition is that when Omaha wins a major investment project, it’s going to benefit Lincoln’s economy, and when Lincoln wins a major investment opportunity, that is going to benefit Omaha’s economy,” Ball said. “And, setting those aside, if we get something closer to Ashland, Waverly or Gretna, all of those things help both economies. And everybody has been very clear-eyed about that from day one.”
Nebraska story
Working together helps the Omaha and Lincoln areas, home to more than 1 million people combined, fend off competition from organizations in Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas and parts of Oklahoma, Ball said. It’s more than a numbers game, he said. “The primary focus with this is how we tell Nebraska’s story in a more compelling way, and so this is a marketing approach, which all these other corridors are doing,” he said. Presenting a united front is key to business recruitment and regional growth, Ball said. “The perspective that everybody’s going to win in this, no matter specifically where the project lands, is essential to making sure large initiatives like this work,” he said. “And because everyone has that perspective, including our volunteer leadership and program funders, this is going to produce results.” What started as a recruitment tool has grown into more than that, Obermier said. “It’s also a great marketing tool for businesses already in the region,” she said. “To connect the dots of what’s already here, I’m hoping that we can help grow and expand local businesses, and have them think of what’s here in their backyard, and kind of connect with those resources, as well.” The AgWorks Corridor has a fan in DeMers. The chambers’ joint effort introduces DARO representatives to potential clients and helps with promotion, he said. “We see it as something that is extremely beneficial for the industry and for DARO, as we continue to grow,” DeMers said.
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Page 21 • October 23, 2026
2026 Winner
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SERIES
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Make Open Enrollment Work COMMUNICATING CLEARLY, ENGAGING EMPLOYEES, AND GIVING YOUR HRIS THE TIME IT NEEDS BY CARA KIRSCH, CEO AND FOUNDER, THE KIRSCH GROUP Open enrollment is where your benefits strategy meets reality. You can build the smartest plan in the world, but if your employees do not understand it, do not value it, or do not enroll thoughtfully, much of that work is lost. The difference between a smooth enrollment and a chaotic one almost always comes down to preparation. Start early and start with a plan for how you will communicate. For most employees, benefits are confusing and a little intimidating. They receive a stack of materials, skim the parts that seem relevant, and choose the same options they had last year out of habit. That is a missed opportunity for them and for you. The goal of enrollment is not just to collect elections. It is to help people make good decisions about their health and their money. Think about how your workforce actually takes in information, and meet them there. A single email and a dense benefits guide are no longer enough. Consider a mix of approaches: short videos that explain key changes, live or virtual meetings where employees can ask questions, one-page summaries that compare plan options side by side, and text or app-based reminders for those who never open email. If you have employees who speak different languages or work different shifts, make sure your communication reaches them too. The best strategy is one your people can understand. Focus your messaging on what changed and what matters most. If the formulary shifted, if a network changed, if you added a new plan option or a wellness benefit, say so clearly and explain what it means for them. Do not bury the important news in fine print. Employees who feel informed make better choices and ask better questions, and they are far less likely to be frustrated later when they use the plan. Engagement also means giving people a reason to pay attention. Highlight the benefits they may be overlooking, such as telehealth, mental health support, preventive care, or financial wellness tools. Many employees do not use what they already have simply because no one told them it was there. Open enrollment is your chance to change that. Now for the part that quietly derails more enrollments than anything else: your HRIS setup. Whatever system you use to manage enrollment, it needs time to be configured, tested, and verified before employees ever log in. Plan rates have to be loaded correctly. Eligibility rules have to be set. Carrier connections and payroll deductions have to be mapped and checked. None of this should happen the night before enrollment opens. Give your HRIS setup a real timeline, and build in room to test it. Run through the enrollment experience yourself before you ask employees to. Confirm that the right plans appear, that the costs calculate correctly, and that the data will flow cleanly to your carriers and your payroll. A small error in setup can mean wrong deductions, missing coverage, or enrollment that has to be redone, and those problems are far harder to fix after the fact than before. Loop in your broker and your HRIS or technology partner early, so everyone is working from the same timeline. When you put it together, a strong open enrollment has three parts: first, you communicate clearly and through more than one channel; second, you engage employees by focusing on what matters to them and reminding them of what they may be missing; and third, you protect
CARA KIRSCH, CEO AND FOUNDER, THE KIRSCH GROUP the whole process with an HRIS setup that is ready well before the doors open. Done well, open enrollment is more than an administrative deadline. It is the moment your strategy becomes real for every employee, and it sets the tone for how they experience their benefits all year. In January, once the season is behind us, we will look at how to review what worked and carry those lessons into the year ahead.
Cara A. Kirsch, CEO & Founder PO Box 540522 Omaha, NE 68154 Phone: 402-979-3670 Email: ckirsch@kirschgroupins.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carakirsch/ www.kirschgroupinsurance.com
Page 22 • October 23, 2026
Finding a Unicorn
MIDLANDS LEADERS
GABI KEATON SUPPORTS NEBRASKA ENTREPRENEURS BY ANNA BLUMENTHAL Midlands Leaders is a weekly section showcasing individuals who are making an impact in the community through their professional and volunteer endeavors. To nominate someone for this section, email news@mbj.com with the individual’s name, position, company and email. Gabrielle “Gabi” Keaton helps businesses grow and supports entrepreneurs as they turn ideas into thriving companies. As an investment associate at Burlington Capital and portfolio director at Proven Ventures, she works to build a sustainable venture ecosystem in Nebraska. Keaton has never caught the entrepreneurial bug herself, but she enjoys working with founders who have what she calls an “innate quality” for bringing products to market. “I’m not totally like that, but I enjoy being around that energy and being able to support that energy,” Keaton said.
Rising at Burlington
Born and raised in the Omaha metro, Keaton earned a degree in finance, and one in business intelligence and analytics, from Creighton University. She chose finance out of curiosity about the business world and because the field applies across industries. At Creighton, she was part of the management team for the Creighton University Student Portfolio Fund. She started at Burlington as a front-desk administrator during her freshman year, drawn by the company’s proximity to campus and the chance to learn from CEO Lisa Roskens, whom she had long admired. Over the past eight years, Keaton has advanced through roles as an intern and financial analyst to her current position. She spends most of her time with Burlington Brands, a division that partners with business owners and operators in the consumer packaged goods industry to provide operational support, financial expertise, strategic planning and industry connections. “It’s an interesting market because there’s not a lot of funds, especially on the venture side, that typically supports CPG because the growth that it takes is very different than any other kind of market or industry,” Keaton said. “We have a handful of companies that are like ‘I want to grow my company. I’ve gotten it to a good point.’ These are family-run businesses, owner-operators, people that are really entirely good at their craft.”
Stumbling into entrepreneurship
Keaton entered the entrepreneurship world during her internship, working with Pam Finn, at the time Burlington’s president of business development, who was exploring new opportunities for the company. Erica Wassinger and Nathan Preheim approached Burlington with an idea for Proven Ventures, a venture capital firm and debt-equity fund they co-founded. Now part of Burlington’s family of funds, Proven Ventures invests in scalable, revenue-generating early- and growthstage companies. The firm differs from traditional venture capital firms through its debt-equity financing model and its focus on helping founders retain ownership and control. “It was kind of like OK, this is a match made in heaven,” Keaton said. “Burlington had never done venture in its truest sense of going after unicorns and that whole model. This was more like, OK, we care, we will invest in businesses that we believe are building valuable things and are sustainable.” After graduation, Keaton became an analyst at Proven Ventures. Overcoming impostor syndrome was one of her biggest early-career challenges, she said. For young professionals in positions of responsibility, it is important to remember they earned their place, she said. “When you get put at the table, basically, and you are kind of like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m at the table. What are we doing?’ You’ve got to just believe that you are prepared,” Keaton said. Early in her career, Keaton valued hands-on experience with founders and mentorship from accomplished women. They include Finn, now an angel investor and Burlington Capital board member; Mary Blaney, Burlington Capital’s chief financial officer; and Wassinger. “I feel incredibly honored because I have been able to get entirely another education on what it’s like to start something,” she said.
Nebraska as a hub
Boston and Silicon Valley are traditional venture capital hubs, but Nebraska also has bright people developing exciting ideas, Keaton said. The state has private capital for angel and fund investing, though on a smaller scale. “We just don’t personally have $20 million sitting around to throw at a concept to grow it until the margins work,” Keaton said. “We are operating around here on a smaller budget.” Proven Ventures has $1 million to invest in Nebraska businesses, according to its website. The firm invests
Page 23 • October 23, 2026
GABI KEATON
$250,000 to $500,000 in revenue-generating Nebraska companies ready to scale. Keaton looks for founders with solid go-to-market strategies. As artificial intelligence makes products cheaper to build, businesses need other ways to stand out, she said. “We’re not really competing on technology anymore,” Keaton said. “We’re competing on your inroads to the customers, your moat, your ability to sell.” She said she likes founders who come from the industry in which they’re building their company or product, as they typically bring more industry knowledge and experience. Keaton volunteers as a judge for student venture competitions at Creighton and the University of NebraskaLincoln, where she enjoys seeing young entrepreneurs’ excitement, advising them on growth and connecting them with the right people. She encourages aspiring founders to consider Nebraska. “I think we have great venture ecosystem support,” Keaton said. “I think people should really consider it. I think it’s a great place to build a business and a great place to live.”
A “Good Life” for Vets
BUSINESS NEWS
NEW CAMPAIGN CONNECTS FORMER MILITARY WITH STATE JOBS On Oct. 13, Gov. Jim Pillen was joined by leaders and representatives from several state agencies and post-secondary institutions to highlight a new, multi-agency initiative to bring discharging U.S. Armed Forces service members and their families to Nebraska. The “Good Life is Calling Veterans” initiative is run by the Nebraska Commission on Military and Veteran Affairs in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA), Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL), Nebraska Department of Education, and the Nebraska Military Department. Additional partners include post-secondary institutions with NDVA’s “Veteran & Active Duty Supportive” designation. “What makes Nebraska great is the people, and I want to commend the Commission on Military and Veteran Affairs and each of our state agencies which are making sure we are telling that story to our nation’s service members and veterans,” Pillen said. “We want all of America’s veterans and their families to know Nebraska is here to support them with our benefits, great quality of life, and meaningful job opportunities. When they leave the military, we want their next stop to be Nebraska so they can join us in enjoying the Good Life.” The initial phase of the “Good Life is Calling Veterans” campaign involves a series of emails sent to U.S. service members who have recently been, or soon will be, discharged from service to encourage them and their families to put down roots in Nebraska and connect them with jobs in the state. Since July 2026, over 85,000 U.S. service members have been contacted with emails covering Nebraska veteran benefits, the state’s high quality-of-life scores, low cost of living and extensive educational opportunities across Nebraska. “No other state is doing veteran and military outreach quite like this,” NDVA Director John Hilgert said. “The sheer number of service members and veterans we’re reaching, combined with the public servants at multiple state agencies ready to give them one-on-one attention with a real person rather than simply pointing them to a webpage or chatbot, makes this unique. When you add the upcoming career fairs to ensure they know Nebraska has great jobs for them in addition to the quality of life, educational opportunities and other benefits, it’s a win for everyone across the board.” When a veteran requests details about Nebraska or one of the topics covered in the emails, their contact information is sent to the relevant agencies or organizations based on their request so a team member can promptly reach out to answer questions and promote relocating to Nebraska. Each partnering agency is responsible for requests specific to their expertise, with NDVA answering questions on veteran benefits and services, DED providing details on housing opportunities and quality of life in the state, NDOL sharing job opportunities and career resources, Nebraska National Guard recruiters connecting with veterans interested in continuing their military service, and representatives from schools with the “Veteran & Active Duty Supportive Postsecondary Institution” designation sharing education opportunities. “The Good Life is a great place for veterans. We have an unmatched quality of life, veteran-friendly culture, and rewarding professional opportunities,” Nebraska DED Director Maureen Larsen said. “Upon retiring from military service, many veterans are looking to contribute their skills in the civilian workforce. Through our existing Good Life is Calling campaign, State agencies are partnering to aggressively recruit our nation’s finest and their spouses to come to Nebraska.” In addition to the email outreach campaign, the initiative will also include “Operation Good Life” virtual career fairs for recently separated and soon-to-be separating service members and their spouses. The first of the series is set to be held in mid-December in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, with future career fairs focused on other locations throughout the state as well as specific career fields. The online platform will allow participants, even those serving overseas, to easily connect with hundreds of Nebraska-based employers eager to hire from this valuable applicant pool.
GOV. JIM PILLEN SPEAKING “Veterans bring incredible skills and real-world experience to the table, and Nebraska employers are eager to help them put those talents to work,” Nebraska Commissioner of Labor Katie Thurber said. “Through strategic collaboration, the partners involved in this effort are making it easier than ever for veterans across the country to see the opportunities waiting for them here.” Those service members interested in continuing their service rather than jumping into a civilian career or going back to school, can connect with Nebraska National Guard recruiters to discuss enlistment opportunities and benefits. Former service members are ideal candidates for guard service as they already have training and experience to bring immediate readiness to the guard. They can continue in their current military occupational specialty (MOS) or try a new career path. Some of the other benefits offered for enlistees are tuition assistance, student loan repayment, enlistment bonuses, and tax benefits. “The Nebraska Military Department applauds the work that the Nebraska Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs is doing to bring Veterans and their families to Nebraska,” said Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general. “The two strongest desires among returning Veterans is a desire to start their careers and raise their families in Nebraska and a desire to be part of something greater than themselves. By informing these returning veterans about the opportunities that are available in the Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska in general, we are showing them that they can do both. They can still use the training and the skills they have developed during their many years of military service in the Nebraska National Guard while also being able to be part of the “Good Life” in Nebraska where they can build a career and raise a family. It’s really a win-win for all of us.” When service members opt to learn more about education opportunities in Nebraska, representatives from postsecondary institutions with the state’s “Veteran & Active Duty Supportive” designation can connect to provide details on their school, its veteran and military programs, and more. To earn this designation, schools must meet specific criteria, such as offering dedicated support staff for service members and veterans, awarding course credit for military training, providing leave of absence for military service, or meeting other veteran-focused benchmarks. This ensures veterans and service members are connected with schools focused on providing additional tools for their success. More details on the designation, including participating schools, can be found at veterans.nebraska.gov/postsecondary. Funding for the initiative has come from the Veterans Employment Program Fund, which is supported through purchases of the “Support Our Troops” license plate.
Page 24 • October 23, 2026
AFP Nebraska Honors 12
BUSINESS NEWS
CELEBRATION SET FOR NOV. 16 AT TENASKA CENTER Omaha, Nebraska — The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Nebraska Chapter is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Chapter and National Philanthropy Day Awards. The honorees will be recognized during the annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, 1115 Dodge St. Tickets are on sale, and can be bought individually for $75 or as tables of eight at http://afpnebraska.org/2026_ National_Philanthropy_Day_Awards. Nominating nonprofit organizations interested in purchasing a table of eight may receive a $100 discount using the registration code NominateNPD. National Philanthropy Day is an opportunity to celebrate the generosity, leadership and commitment of individuals, families, businesses, foundations and nonprofit organizations whose contributions strengthen communities throughout Nebraska. The annual celebration recognizes those who demonstrate an extraordinary dedication to philanthropy, volunteerism, fundraising and community service. This year’s event will bring together philanthropic leaders, nonprofit professionals, business partners and community members for a morning of recognition, connection and appreciation.
2026 AFP Nebraska Chapter Award Recipients
Each honoree will receive a specially created award by Nebraska artist David Manzanares, celebrating both the recipient’s achievements and the artistic talent within the local community. Recipients will also have an opportunity to share brief remarks reflecting on their philanthropic journeys, followed by commemorative photographs. More than an awards ceremony, National Philanthropy Day serves as a reminder that philanthropy extends beyond financial contributions. Through acts of service, mentorship, leadership, advocacy and generosity, individuals and organizations help create stronger, more connected communities.
Event Details
Event: 2026 AFP Nebraska National Philanthropy Day Celebration Date: Monday, Nov. 16, 2026 Time: 9-11:30 a.m. Location: Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement Address: 1115 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68102 Program: 9-10 a.m., social hour and brunch; 10-11:30 a.m., awards celebration
The AFP Nebraska Chapter Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and professional achievement in fundraising and philanthropy. • Emerging Fundraiser: Hamza Haqqi, Ed.D. Crossword by Myles Mellor • AFP Nebraska Fundraising Hall of Fame: LuAnn Davis Across 1. Big map book • Outstanding Fundraiser: Kimara Snipes
2026 National Philanthropy Day Award Recipients
The National Philanthropy Day Awards recognize individuals, families, businesses, foundations and organizations whose generosity and service have made a meaningful difference across Nebraska. • Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy: Rhonda Seacrest • Outstanding Philanthropist: Ron Gartlan • Outstanding Family Foundation: Don C. Scott Family Foundation • Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist: Tenaska • Outstanding Emerging Philanthropists: Shikhar & Kristin Saxena Family Foundation • Outstanding Responsive Philanthropists: Fraternal Order of the Eagles – Nebraska • Outstanding Community Foundation: Greater Grand Island Community Foundation • Outstanding Students in Philanthropy: Operation Others • Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Anne Hubbard
A Morning Celebrating Philanthropy and Community Leadership
The celebration will begin with a social hour and brunch from 9-10 a.m., followed by the formal awards ceremony from 10-11:30 a.m. Sandy Spady will serve as emcee, introducing each award recipient and highlighting the contributions that earned them this recognition. The program will also feature a proclamation of Philanthropy Month by Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., recognizing the importance of charitable giving, volunteerism and community partnerships in strengthening Omaha and communities throughout Nebraska. John Levy, president of the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation, will deliver the keynote address, offering his perspective on thoughtful philanthropy, leadership and the lasting impact of giving back.
6. Roosevelt or Kennedy first name 9. Ice cream flavor at the Coneflower Creamery, Vanilla ____ 13. “The Sound of Music” name 14. Rowing equipment 15. Alabama civil rights city 16. Old way of copying 17. __ school 18. Custom-made dental restoration 19. Quiet residential neighborhood in north east Omaha, 2 words 22. Weight units, abbreviated 23. “__ She Lovely” Wonder song 24. Major Omaha school district, abbr. 27. McGregor who played ObiWan 29. Neater 34. Scotch whiskey 36. Pleasing 38. Tiny bit 39. Demolished 40. Meat Omaha has always been famous for 41. Behind on payments, 2 words 43. Balanced 44. Breakfast option 45. Caesar’s words to Brutus, 2 words 48. Spoil 49. Number two politically, slang 51. “Brokeback Mountain” director Lee 53. One of the attractions at the Henry Doorly zoo, 3 words 59. Remove, in a way 60. “...man ___ mouse?”, 2 words 61. Put on 64. Glower 65. Piece of mail, briefly 66. Musical exercise 67. Party organizer
68. Slalom path 69. Authority on card games Down 1. Cash machine, abbr. 2. Prefix with angular 3. Gentle one 4. Sneak ___, 2 words 5. Mooch 6. Hiker’s map, briefly 7. What every public company provides shareholders, 2 words 8. Liquor sediment 9. Modify temporarily 10. Fashion monthly 11. Make ___ of, 2 words
Page 25 • October 23, 2026
12. Negative votes 15. Combat flying 20. Pilothouse abbreviation 21. Bet in the poker game 24. Relating to electrical resistance 25. Patriot co-signer, Thomas 26. Indian plucked instrument 28. Great report card 30. Little touches, as of paint 31. Steel joist, 2 words 32. Makarova of tennis 33. Send elsewhere 35. Richard of “Chicago” 37. Take it easy 39. Like some apartments
42. Wreak havoc 46. Water source 47. Detach, as rope 50. French for school 52. Berkshire Hathaway company 53. Small shrub in the garden 54. Look ___ (study) 55. Transcript stats, abbr. 56. Paper showing qualification, for short 57. Candy maker 58. Medical imaging technique 62. Right angled letter 63. Low grade
BUSINESS NEWS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
SIRE Acquires Ord Plant
DJ Bradley
ANNUAL CAPACITY IS NOW 230 MILLION GALLONS
EQUITABLE BANK PROMOTES DJ BRADLEY TO VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMERCIAL LENDING (Omaha, NE) Tom Gdowski, President and CEO of Equitable Bank, along with Doug Nodgaard, Community Bank President, are pleased to announce the promotion of DJ Bradley to Vice President of Commercial Lending at its Elkhorn branch.
Council Bluffs, Iowa — Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy LLC (SIRE), a farmer-owned ethanol producer, announced it has acquired GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC, a subsidiary of Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Pilot). GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC owns and operates an approximately 70million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Ord, Nebraska. The acquisition is a direct step in SIRE’s stated growth strategy: expanding its production base, strengthening its scale and creating new opportunities for value-added agriculture by acquiring high-quality assets with strong operating track records, reliable feedstock supply and access to diverse markets. Upon closing, SIRE’s combined production capacity grew to approximately 230 million gallons of ethanol per year across two plants in Iowa and Nebraska. “Our strategy is simple and disciplined: grow by investing in Council Bluffs and acquiring quality assets that make SIRE stronger for our members, our farmers and our customers,” said Eric Fobes, president and CEO of SIRE. “The Ord plant fits that standard. It is a well-maintained facility with an experienced team, located in the heart of one of the most productive corn regions in the country. We see it as a strong complement to our Council Bluffs operation, and we’re excited to welcome the Ord employees to the SIRE team.” The Ord facility sits in central Nebraska’s corn belt, giving SIRE a second origination region, added scale in marketing ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, and greater operational diversity across its asset base. SIRE plans to retain the plant’s workforce and continue local grain purchasing, maintaining the facility’s role as a key market for area farmers. The transaction closed Oct. 9. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed and remain confidential. SIRE was advised by Omaha-based law firm McGrath North Mullin & Kratz PC LLO.
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Bradley has seventeen years of experience in the banking industry. In his role, he will continue to manage a loan portfolio while also developing new banking relationships and will assist in underwriting and analysis of loan requests. Bradley is a graduate of Elkhorn High School and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha. He and his wife, Kayla, have two daughters whose activities keep them busy. Equitable Bank has been in operation in Nebraska since 1882. A full-service, community bank with branches in Grand Island, North Platte and Omaha, Equitable offers personal, business and Ag loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and financial planning services.
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Baylee D. Newell LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP WELCOMES BAYLEE D. NEWELL Baylee joins LDM’s West Des Moines office as a civil litigation associate after previously serving as a firm law clerk. Raised on a row crop and cattle farm in Anita, Iowa, she earned her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she received the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence in Torts, competed in moot court, and served as Co-President of the Rural Interest Group.
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Grant L. Little LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP WELCOMES GRANT L. LITTLE Grant joins LDM’s Omaha office as a civil litigation associate after previously serving as a firm law clerk. He earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. A Second Team All-American baseball player at Texas Tech, Grant was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft and played professionally in the organization through 2022.
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Peyton D. LaFerla LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP WELCOMES PEYTON D. LAFERLA Peyton joins LDM’s Omaha office as a corporate associate after previously serving as a firm law clerk. His practice focuses on estate and succession planning, corporate governance, and commercial transactions. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law, where he was a Dean’s Scholar and received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Trusts & Estates.
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Hattie R. Shipps LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP WELCOMES HATTIE R. SHIPPS Hattie joins LDM’s Omaha office as a civil litigation associate after previously serving as a firm law clerk. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law, with concentrations in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Health Law. She received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Torts and served as President of the Werner Institute’s student board.
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Crossword puzzles available weekly. Page 26 • October 23, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE Midlands Business Journal Legal Notice Submission Guidelines Please visit https://mbj.column.us/place to submit all legal notices to the Midlands Business Journal. Through this platform, you can submit your notice, receive pricing information, make payment, track your notice, and receive proof of publication. For trade names, submit a copy of the approved Application for Registration of Trade Name from the Secretary of State (must include barcode in upper right-hand corner). Trade names run for one week only. The flat fee for a trade name is $50. As a publisher and not a legal advisor, we print notices exactly as they are submitted. Complimentary reruns are only provided when a notice was rejected or affected due to an MBJ error. All companies submitting notices are responsible for ensuring content meets state requirements and bearing the cost of republishing if the notice is rejected due to misinformation or missing information. Submitters are responsible for filing their notice with the Secretary of State as required by law. The deadline is noon on Monday for notices to start publishing that Friday. Payment must be received prior to publication. Questions? Contact our Legal Department at legals@mbj.com.
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: EVERMARY KIJUMBE YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on 05/07/26, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI26 12098. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of $480.45, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable. The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 11/29/26 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA, Nebraska. Dana Kay Fries #22411 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff services@credit-mgmt.com First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF L. SINGER & ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of L. Singer & Associates, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), have been amended and restated in their entirety and were duly filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on October 15, 2026.Included in the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is an amendment that provides for: (i) each shareholder of the Corporation to surrender all of their presently held shares of common stock and shall receive a combined total of ten (10) shares of Class A Stock and Nine Hundred Ninety (990) shares of Class B Stock in exchange therefore; and (ii) the Corporation’s authorization to issue a total of Ten Thousand(10,000) shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share, of which One Hundred (100) shares are designated as voting common stock (“Class A Stock”) and Nine Hundred Ninety Thousand (990,000) shares are designated as nonvoting common stock (“Class B Stock”). Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP PATRICK M. FLOOD, ATTORNEY 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF TOGETHER WE RISE, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of Together We Rise, Inc., a Nebraska public benefit corporation (the “Corporation”), have been amended and restated by the Member and Directors as of September 10, 2026, and filed with the Secretary of State on September 23, 2026. The Articles of Incorporation have been amended to generally provide as follows: 1. To specify that the Corporation has no members and is governed by a Board of Directors. 2. To specify that the Articles of Incorporation can only be amended by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF DOMESTICATION OF RETENTION WIZARD LLC Retention Wizard LLC has been domesticated from Nebraska to Washington, effective October 1, 2026. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF SKOL GROUP CORPORATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the dissolution of Skol Group Corporation, a Nebraska corporation (Corporation), effective October 1, 2026. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that when all debts and obligations of the Corporation have been fully paid and satisfied and any remaining assets will be distributed in accordance with the Articles of Dissolution. Lars T. Pedersen, as President, is to manage the company’s affairs and distribute any remaining company assets. Parties with claims against the corporation are directed to submit them in writing to the attention of Lars T. Pedersen, 8822 Quest Street, Omaha, NE 68122. All claims against the Corporation will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claims is commenced within five (5) years after the publication of this Notice. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF NCCS PROPERTIES, LLC
NCCS PROPERTIES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), filed its STATEMENT OF DISSOLUTION with the Nebraska Secretary of State on October 2, 2026. Persons with claims against the Company must present such claim to: NCCS Properties, LLC, c/o Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Ste. 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Claims against the Company must include the following information: (i) claimant’s name, address and telephone number during business hours; (ii) any facts which may support the claim; and (iii) any amounts allegedly owed by the Company under the claim. Claims not including this information will not be reviewed. Any claims against the Company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claims is commenced within five (5) years after the date this Notice is last published. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026
NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF CAHOY HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Cahoy Holdings, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 18327 Adams Circle, Omaha, NE 68135. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on October 16, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc. 4907-6991-8425, v. 1 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026
The Orr Law Group, LLC 9375 Burt Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF MIDWEST DRILL SEEDING, LLC Pursuant to the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Midwest Drill Seeding, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company (the “company”), shall be dissolved in accordance with the terms of the statement of dissolution dated September 30th, 2026. The terms thereof are as follows: there are no pending contracts of the company to resolve or assign, no known outstanding debt or liabilities of the company, and the company’s assets, if any, will be divested from the company and distributed to its sole member in accordance with the operating agreement and the aforementioned consent signed by the member. James Thibault will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. There are no assets or liabilities of the company known to exist at this time. A claim against the dissolved company will be barred unless proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within three (3) years of the publication of this notice. Said claims, if any, shall be sent to the company’s attorneys at the above-provided offices within the aforementioned time frame. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GROD CYTOWN INVESTMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GROD CyTown Investment, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Goldenrod RA, Inc., 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KP BEHAVIORAL CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KP Behavioral Consulting, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the designated office is 7513 S. 134th St., Omaha, NE, 68138. The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Kaylee Petsch, 7513 S. 134th St., Omaha, NE, 68138. The general nature of its business is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ANKA VENTURES LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Anka Ventures LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office at 1501 Mike Fahey St., Suite 110-206 The name and public mailing address of the initial agent for service of process of the company is Northwest Registered Agent Service Inc., Lincoln NE, 68510 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 CARLSON & BLAKEMAN, LLP Matthew Wurstner, Attorney 11429 Davenport St. Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF COMMUNITY RESERVOIR PROJECT, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a corporation under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Nebraska Secretary of State on October 16, 2026. The name of the corporation is COMMUNITY RESERVOIR PROJECT, INC. The Corporation is a public benefit corporation and will not have members. The address of the registered office of the corporation is: 11429 Davenport St., Omaha, Nebraska 68154, and the name of the registered agent at that address is Matthew Wurstner. Matthew Wurstner, Incorporator 11429 Davenport St. Omaha, NE 68154 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LK03168, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the organization of LK03168, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is LK03168, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 12910 Pierce Street, Ste. 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68144, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HERCULES 3, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hercules 3, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 and with its initial agent for service of process as Armando Mendoza, 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, LAW OFFICES 8712 WEST DODGE ROAD, SUITE 300 OMAHA, NE 68114-3450 TELEPHONE 402-392-1250 FACSIMILE 402-392-0816 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DRIP BRANDED LLC Drip Branded LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Andrew P. Deaver and 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Daniel J. Waters, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114
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NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TREEHOUSE LEGACY GROUP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Treehouse Legacy Group, LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 1701 N. 24th Street, Suite 102 Omaha, NE 68110. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Mytrethia Gunter 1701 N. 24th Street, Omaha, NE 68110. The company is member managed. The nature of the Company is Real estate with related investment, print-on-demand products and any other lawful business activities permitted under Nebraska law. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HALO ACADEMY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Halo Academy, LLC, a Nebraska Professional Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 17728 Oakmont Drive, Suite 201, Omaha, Nebraska 68136 and with its initial agent for service of process as Breann L. Sims, 20284 Vanlea Drive, Gretna, Nebraska 68028. The company shall be organized to conduct the practice of aesthetic medicine, all in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF CENTRAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of Central Distributing Company, a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), have been amended and restated in their entirety and were duly filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on October 7, 2026. Included in the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is an amendment that provides for: (i) each shareholder of the Corporation to surrender all of their presently held shares of common stock and shall receive a combined total of ten (10) shares of Class A Stock and Nine Hundred Ninety (990) shares of Class B Stock in exchange therefore; and (ii) the Corporation’s authorization to issue a total of Ten Thousand (10,000) shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share, of which One Hundred (100) shares are designated as voting common stock (“Class A Stock”) and Nine Hundred Ninety Thousand (990,000) shares are designated as nonvoting common stock (“Class B Stock”). Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS, LLC Community Real Estate Solutions, LLC, with its designated office located at 331 Village Pointe Plaza, Omaha, NE 68118, gives notice that it filed a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State on September 30, 2026. The registered agent is Barbara MedberyPrchal and the Registered Office is 3555 Farnam St. Suite 1000, Omaha, NE 68131. The company may engage in any lawful business or commercial activity for which a limited liability company may be organized. Christopher A. Bauer, Organizer First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NIKSEN VENDING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Niksen Vending, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 4029 N. 152nd Cir., Omaha, NE 68116. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Robert Johnson, 4029 N. 152nd Cir., Omaha, NE 68116. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF 72 FARNAM CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the incorporation of 72 Farnam Condominium Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska, as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is 72 Farnam Condominium Association. 2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation. 3. The address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Ste. 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name of the initial registered agent at that office is Benjamin J. Pick. 4. The name and street address of the incorporators are as follows: Lindsay Banks 12910 Pierce Street, Ste. 110 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 5. The Corporation shall have members. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LIFE STRATA DISCOVERY LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Life Strata Discovery LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the initial designated office is 6411 S. 92nd St, Omaha, NE 68127. The name and address of the initial registered agent for service of process is Dana Eugene Bradfield, 6411 S. 92nd St, Omaha, NE 68127. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CBETTIN COACHING LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CBettin Coaching LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office and agent for service of process are located at 15201 Mary St, Omaha, NE 68116. The agent for service of process is Cynthia J Bettin. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GROD VENTURES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GROD Ventures, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Goldenrod RA, Inc., 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 CARLSON & BLAKEMAN, LLP MATTHEW WURSTNER, Attorney 11429 Davenport Street Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MFS MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MFS MANAGEMENT, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 11429 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The Company’s initial registered agent in the State of Nebraska is: MATTHEW WURSTNER, whose address is 11429 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful business and activity, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which are not prohibited by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced with filing its Certificate of Organization on September 29, 2026, and shall have a perpetual period of duration. The Company is a Manager Managed Limited Liability Company. MATTHEW WURSTNER, Organizer First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HERCULES 4, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hercules 4, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 and with its initial agent for service of process as Armando Mendoza, 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COUNCILL BEHAVIORAL BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that COUNCILL BEHAVIORAL BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska as a limited liability company. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1102 Roland Dr., Papillion, Nebraska 68046. The Registered Agent of the Company is Joanne Councill, 1102 Roland Dr., Papillion, Nebraska 68046. The company commenced business on September 10, 2026. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF THE PIXIE CANVAS LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Pixie Canvas LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Designated Office: The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 6710 S. 206th Plaza #208, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. Registered Agent: The name and street and mailing address of the initial agent for service of process is Valerie Sandiford at 6710 S. 206th Plaza#208, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Erin K. Artz, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ODE TO NINNY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is ODE TO NINNY, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 519 S. 85th St., Omaha, NE 68114. The name and address of the registered agent is Calissa Yrkoski, 519 S. 85th St., Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on October 8, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. Erin K. Artz, Legal Counsel. 4913-2488-3415, v. 1 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HOWARD HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Howard Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 205 S. 93rd St., Omaha, NE 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GROD DEVELOPMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GROD Development, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Goldenrod RA, Inc., 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GC PAC SPRINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GC Pac Springs, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Goldenrod RA, Inc., 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HERCULES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hercules, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 and with its initial agent for service of process as Armando Mendoza, 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Daniel J. Waters, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive
Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF H&L COLLECTIVE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is H&L Collective, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 10320 N. 191st Ave., Bennington, NE 68007. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on October 1, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc. 4935-9846-7541, v. 1 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF M3C PARTNERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that M3C Partners, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 3405 N. 140th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is Michael Piti, 3405 N. 140th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GATHERINGS AND LEFTOVERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Gatherings and Leftovers, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the designated office 420 S. 11th St., Suite 303, Omaha, NE, 68102. The registered agent for service of process is Diane M. Watson, whose address is 420 S. 11th St., Suite 303, Omaha, NE, 68102. The general nature of the business to be transacted is any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF TDF, L.L.C. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TDF, L.L.C., a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), filed a Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 30, 2026, with an effective date of October 1, 2026. If you have a claim against the Company, please provide in writing the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date in which your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to 11651 Trumble Loup E, Bellevue, NE 68123. A claim against the Company will be barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five years from the date of your receipt of this notice. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 LINDSEY A. SCHULER, Attorney CROKER HUCK LAW FIRM 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, NE 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AJ VETERINARY SOLUTIONS, LLC The name of the limited liability company is AJ Veterinary Solutions, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 13588 Co. Rd. P18, Blair, NE 68008. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, LLC, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. The company is organized to render the professional service of Veterinary Services. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DELENA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Delena Property Management, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 10040 Regency Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Daniel J. Waters, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF W.A.G EQUITY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is W.A.G Equity, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 3325 S. 206th St., Elkhorn, NE 68022. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on October 6, 2026, and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer.4901-9517-9221, v. 1 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CRESTMONT CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Crestmont Capital Holdings, LLC ( the “Company”)has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7300 Main St, Unit 27162, Ralston, NE 68127. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BLOCK 146 OMAHA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the organization of BLOCK 146 OMAHA, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is BLOCK 146 OMAHA, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 4433 S. 133rd Street, PO
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Box 45430, Omaha, Nebraska 68137, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Gerald S. Reimer, 4433 S. 133rd Street, PO Box 45430, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Phillip T. Sanberg, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF 4912 S 114th STREET, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is 4912 S. 114th Street, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 1311 S. 185th Circle, Omaha, NE 68144. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on October 7, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BLUEGRASS DRIVE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bluegrass Drive, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1935 O Street, Suite 101, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HERCULES 2, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hercules 2, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 and with its initial agent for service of process as Armando Mendoza, 13830 Martha Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, LAW OFFICES 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3450 Telephone 402-392-1250 Facsimile 402-392-0816 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BIG O ENERGY CO. LLC Big O Energy Co. LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 1099-R, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 1099-R, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company 5960 Vandervoot Drive, #100, Lincoln, Nebraska 68516. The Registered Agent of the Company is Jennifer L. Rattner, Ringenberg & Rattner Law, LLC, 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JMS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JMS, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska filed September 8, 2026. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1419 CADY ST,. OMAHA, NE 68110. The registered agent of JMS, LLC IS JERONIMO FAVILA AGUILAR 1419 CADY ST., OMAHA, NE. 68110. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Phillip T. Sanberg, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF MALACHI ROSE COUNSELING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Malachi Rose Counseling, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 6235 N. 75th Street, Omaha, NE 68134. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on September 29, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 CARLSON & BLAKEMAN, LLP MATTHEW WURSTNER, Attorney 11429 Davenport Street Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CC & CO HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CC & CO HOLDINGS, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 11429 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The Company’s initial registered agent in the State of Nebraska is: MATTHEW WURSTNER, whose address is 11429 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful business and activity, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which are not prohibited by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced with filing its Certificate of Organization on September 29, 2026, and shall have a perpetual period of duration. The Company is a Manager Managed Limited Liability Company. MATTHEW WURSTNER, Organizer First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE ERICKSON | SEDERSTROM, P.C. 10330 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF M2J2 HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that M2J2 Holdings LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office located at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., a Limited Liability Organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 CROKER HUCK LAW FIRM ELIZABETH A. SEVCIK, Attorney 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, NE 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LUBE 2, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Lube 2, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 3820 North 90th Street, Omaha, NE 68134. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, LLC, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VDS CONNECT IT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that VDS Connect IT, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 8430 Wirt Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 Walentine O’Toole, LLP, Attorneys 11240 Davenport Street P.O. Box 540125 Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF K&S JOHNSON, LLC K&S Johnson, LLC, with its initial designated office at 10641 S. 191st St., Omaha, NE 68136, gives notice that it filed its Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 28, 2026, and that it has been organized as a Nebraska limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial agent for service of process is David P. Wilson, and his initial mailing address is 11240 Davenport St., Omaha, NE 68154. The company’s period of duration is perpetual, and the general nature of its business is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Kyle Johnson, Sole Member. 4913-8672-5333, v. 1 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 ERICKSON | SEDERSTROM, P.C. 10330 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DROVER RISK ADVISORS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Drover Risk Advisors, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office located at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., a Limited Liability Organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MBT DIGITAL CREATIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MBT Digital Creations, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Its initial designated office is located at 19641 W. Street, Omaha NE 68135. The initial agent for service of process is Patience Glenn, located at 19641 W. Street, Omaha NE 68135. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STAX CURATED LUXURY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that STAX Curated Luxury, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 8116 S 192 Ave, Gretna, NE 68028 and its initial registered agent at Lindsay Kurtzuba, 8116 S 192 Ave, Gretna, NE 68028 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OPERATE WITH CLARITY LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Operate With Clarity LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 4915 N. 140th Street, Omaha, NE 68164. The initial agent for service of process is Mykala Nath, 4915 N. 140th
Street, Omaha, NE 68164. The professional service rendered is Accountancy. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COLUMBUS PROPERTIES II, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Columbus Properties II, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 3449 N. 48th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, Nebraska 68504. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Dvorak Law Group, LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF RSI, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of incorporation of RSI, Inc. under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is RSI, Inc. 2. The number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 1,000 shares of common stock. 3. The name of the initial registered agent is R. Kirk Sharp, and the address of the initial registered office is 14141 Hamilton Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. 4. The name and address of the incorporator is Emily F. Mordhorst, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 5. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the Corporation is any and all lawful business for which a corporation may be incorporated in Nebraska. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 ERICKSON | SEDERSTROM, P.C. 10330 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KAMENROWE HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kamenrowe Holdings, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office located at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., a Limited Liability Organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114. First publication October 23, 2026, final November 6, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FLYOVER COLLECTIVE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Flyover Collective, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street address of the initial designated office is 20284 Wirt St., PO Box 180, Elkhorn, NE 68022. The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Ryan Ahart, 16235 Wood Dr., Omaha, NE 68130. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HARDHAT MEDIA AND ADVERTISING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hardhat Media and Advertising, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Goldenrod RA, Inc., 14606 Branch Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 Walentine O’Toole, LLP, Attorneys 11240 Davenport Street P.O. Box 540125 Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CAPE BUFFALO, LLC Cape Buffalo, LLC, with its initial designated office at 10304 Prairie Rd., Omaha, NE 68134, gives notice that it filed its Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 22, 2026, and that it has been organized as a Nebraska limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial agent for service of process is Jonathan M. Brown, and his initial mailing address is 11240 Davenport St., Omaha, NE 68154. The company’s period of duration is perpetual, and the general nature of its business is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Matthew J. Burbach, Manager Scott Shirk, Manager Jared Clarke, Manager First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 CROKER HUCK LAW FIRM STEVEN G. RANUM, Attorney 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, NE68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3304 L STREET, LLC
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
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The name of the limited liability company is 3304 L Street, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, LLC, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BUSER LLP BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LK0490, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the organization of LK0490, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is LK0490, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 12910 Pierce Street, Ste. 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68144, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF THRESHEN LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Threshen LLC (“the LLC”), has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and office: Justin Kerkman, 524 East Clay Street, O’Neill, Nebraska 68763. The LLC’s designated office is located at 524 East Clay Street, O’Neill, Nebraska 68763. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP Daniel J. Waters, Attorney 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF WALNUT HILL PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Walnut Hill Properties, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 5016 N. 155th Ave., Omaha, NE 68116. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on September 16, 2026 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc. 4935-1032-6227, v. 1 First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 SEAN D. MOYLAN, Attorney 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320 Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JINUP DOBUOL, LLC The name of the Company is Jinup Dobuol, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company engaging in NIL monetization. The initial registered agent is Sean Moylan located at 1010 S. 120th Street, Suite #320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The initial designated office of the Company stated in the Certificate of Organization was 1010 S. 120th Street, Suite #320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. This limited liability company commenced business on September 25, 2026. First publication October 9, 2026, final October 23, 2026 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HOWARD STREET 1210-12, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Howard Street 1210-12, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 1105 Howard Street, Omaha, NE 68102 and with its initial agent for service of process being Michael K. Huffer whose office is located at 9290 West Dodge Road, Suite 302, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of its business is to engage in any lawful business. The company was organized and commenced October 9, 2026, and its period of duration will be perpetual, unless terminated earlier. The affairs of the limited liability company shall be conducted by its Managers until such time as a successor or successors are selected pursuant to the Operating Agreement. Michael K. Huffer, Organizer 9290 West Dodge Road, Suite 302 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026 Jeffrey T. Palzer 3555 Farnam St., Suite 1000 Omaha NE 68131 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DARISCO PROPERTIES II, LLC The name of the Company is DARISCO PROPERTIES II, LLC. The street address of the initial designated office is 8806 N. 155th St., Bennington, NE, 68007. The registered agent is Jeffrey T. Palzer and the registered agent’s address is 3555 Farnam St., Suite 1000, Omaha, NE 68131. The general nature of the Company is property management and investment properties. The Company commenced on October 7, 2026, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such officers as the Members shall determine. First publication October 16, 2026, final October 30, 2026
STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES FOR GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 - PAGE 1 LEGAL NOTICE OF MEASURES TO BE VOTED UPON AT THE GENERAL ELECTION OCCURRING ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 BALLOT TITLE AND TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE BALLOT TITLE AND TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY INITIATIVES PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1 A vote FOR will amend the state constitution to increase the term limit for state legislators from two consecutive four-year terms (eight years) to three consecutive four-year terms (12 years). A vote AGAINST will not amend the Nebraska Constitution, so the current limit of two consecutive four-year terms will remain in effect. State legislators will continue to be ineligible for office in the Legislature for four years after serving two consecutive terms. A constitutional amendment to change the limit on legislative terms from two consecutive terms to three consecutive terms. For Against _________________________ PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION INITIATIVE MEASURE 440 BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR INITIATIVE MEASURE 440 A vote “FOR” will amend the Nebraska Constitution to authorize the enactment of laws to allow persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska. A vote “AGAINST” means the Nebraska Constitution will not be amended in this manner. Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to authorize the enactment of laws allowing persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting
games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska? For Against _________________________ TEXT OF PROPOSED INITIATIVE MEASURE 440 (underscored language indicates added language, strike through indicates language being removed) OBJECT STATEMENT: The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to state that laws may be enacted allowing sports wagers to be placed within the State of Nebraska through an Internet-based platform offered by an authorized gaming operator. TEXT: Article III, section 24, of the Constitution of Nebraska shall be amended as shown: (1) Except as provided in this section, the Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance or any lottery or gift enterprise when the consideration for a chance to participate involves the payment of money for the purchase of property, services, or a chance or admission ticket or requires an expenditure of substantial effort or time. (2) The Legislature may authorize and regulate a state lottery pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and other lotteries, raffles, and gift enterprises which are intended solely as business promotions or the proceeds of which are to be used solely for charitable or community betterment purposes without profit to the promoter of such lotteries, raffles, or gift enterprises. (3)(a) The Legislature may establish a lottery to be operated and regulated by the State of Nebraska. The proceeds of the lottery shall be appropriated by the Legislature for the costs of establishing and maintaining the lottery and for the following purposes, as directed by the Legislature: (i) The first five hundred thousand dollars after the payment of prizes and operating expenses shall be transferred to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund; (ii) Forty-four and onehalf percent of the money remaining after the payment of prizes and operating expenses and the initial transfer to the
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund shall be transferred to the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to be used as provided in the Nebraska Environmental Trust Act; (iii) Forty-four and onehalf percent of the money remaining after the payment of prizes and operating expenses and the initial transfer to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund shall be used for education as the Legislature may direct; (iv) Ten percent of the money remaining after the payment of prizes and operating expenses and the initial transfer to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund shall be transferred to the Nebraska State Fair Board if the most populous city within the county in which the fair is located provides matching funds equivalent to ten percent of the funds available for transfer. Such matching funds may be obtained from the city and any other private or public entity, except that no portion of such matching funds shall be provided by the state. If the Nebraska State Fair ceases operations, ten percent of the money remaining after the payment of prizes and operating expenses and the initial transfer to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund shall be transferred to the General Fund; and (v) One percent of the money remaining after the payment of prizes and operating expenses and the initial transfer to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund shall be transferred to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund. (b) No lottery game shall be conducted as part of the lottery unless the type of game has been approved by a majority of the members of the Legislature. (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (a) the enactment of laws providing for the licensing and regulation of wagering on the results of horseraces, wherever run, either within or outside of the state, by the parimutuel method, when such wagering is conducted by licensees within a licensed racetrack enclosure or (b) the enactment of laws providing for the licensing and regulation of bingo games conducted by nonprofit associations which have been in existence for a period of five years immediately preceding the
application for license, except that bingo games cannot be conducted by agents or lessees of such associations on a percentage basis. (5) This section shall not apply to any law which is enacted contemporaneously with the adoption of this subsection or at any time thereafter and which provides for the licensing, authorization, regulation, or taxation of all forms of games of chance when such games of chance are conducted by authorized gaming operators within a licensed racetrack enclosure, including sports wagering through the Internet if the person placing the sports wager is located within the State of Nebraska at the time the wager is placed. _________________________ PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION INITIATIVE MEASURE 441 BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR INITIATIVE MEASURE 441 A vote “FOR” will enact statutes allowing persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska or the operator’s platform provider, and regulating such sports wagers. A vote “AGAINST” means no such statutes will be enacted. Shall statutes be enacted that: (1) Allow persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska or the operator’s platform provider; and (2) Regulate such sports wagers? For Against _________________________ TEXT OF PROPOSED INITIATIVE MEASURE 441 (underscored language indicates added language, strike through indicates language being removed) OBJECT STATEMENT: The object of this petition is to enact a statute allowing sports wagers to
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be placed within the State of Nebraska through Internet-based platforms offered by an authorized gaming operator, or its contracted platform provider, and regulate such sports wagers. TEXT: AN ACT relating to gaming; to amend section 9-1102, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and sections 9-1103 and 9-1110, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025; to allow an authorized gaming operator or its platform provider to conduct sports wagering by means of an Internetbased platform under the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act; to define and redefine terms; to harmonize provisions; to provide an operative date; to provide severability; and to repeal the original sections. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1. Section 9-1102, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is amended to read: 9-1102 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of Nebraska, including amendments to the Constitution of Nebraska adopted contemporaneously with the enactment of the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act, the operation of games of chance is permitted only by authorized gaming operators within licensed racetrack enclosures as provided in the act, including, but not limited to, the offer of sports wagering through an online sports wagering platform by such authorized gaming operators. Sec. 2. Section 9-1103, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is amended to read: 9-1103 For purposes of the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act: (1) Authorized gaming operator means a person or entity licensed pursuant to the act to operate games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure; (2) Authorized gaming operator license means a license to operate games of chance as an authorized gaming operator at a licensed racetrack enclosure, including operating sports wagering through an online sports wagering platform if the person placing the sports wager is located within the State of Nebraska at
the time the sports wager is placed; (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) of this subdivision, authorized sporting event means a professional sporting event, a collegiate sporting event, an international sporting event, a professional motor race event, a professional sports draft, an individual sports award, an electronic sport, or a simulated game; and (b) Authorized sporting event does not include an instate collegiate sporting event in which an instate collegiate or university team is a participant, a parimutuel wager, a fantasy sports contest, a minor league sporting event, a sporting event at the high school level or below regardless of the age of any individual participant, or any sporting event excluded by the commission; (4) Collegiate sporting event means an athletic event or competition of an intercollegiate sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student athlete are established by a national association for the promotion or regulation of collegiate athletics; (5) Commission means the State Racing and Gaming Commission; (6) Designated sports wagering area means an area, as approved by the commission, in which sports wagering is conducted within a licensed racetrack enclosure; (7) Dollar amount collected means the total dollar amount wagered by players of games of chance less the total dollar amount returned to such players as prizes; (8) Game of chance means any game which has the elements of chance, prize, and consideration, including any wager on a slot machine, table game, counter game, or card game, a keno lottery conducted in accordance with the Nebraska County and City Lottery Act, or sports wagering conducted in accordance with section 9-1110. Game of chance does not include any game the operation of which is prohibited at a casino by federal law; (9) Gaming device means an electronic, mechanical, or other device which plays a game of chance when activated by a player using currency, a token, or other item of
STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES FOR GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 - PAGE 2 value; (10) Gross gaming revenue means the dollar amount collected by an authorized gaming operator from operation of all games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure as computed pursuant to applicable statutes, rules, and regulations less the total of (a) all federal taxes, other than income taxes, imposed on the operation of such games of chance and (b) the amount provided to players by an authorized gaming operator as promotional gaming credits, but only to the extent such promotional gaming credits are redeemed by players to play one or more games of chance being operated by the authorized gaming operator; (11) International sporting event means an international team or individual sporting event governed by an international sports federation or sports governing body, including sporting events governed by the International Olympic Committee and the International Federation of Association Football; (12) Licensed racetrack enclosure has the same meaning as in section 2-1210; (13) Limited gaming device means an electronic gaming device which (a) offers games of chance, (b) does not dispense currency, tokens, or other items of value, and (c) does not have a cash winnings hopper, mechanical or simulated spinning reel, or side handle; (14) Online sports wagering platform means an integrated system of hardware, software, or applications, through which an authorized gaming operator, on its own or through its contracted platform provider, operates, conducts, or offers sports wagering through the Internet to persons located within the State of Nebraska at the time the sports wager is placed; (15) Platform provider means a sports wagering services provider that has a contract with an authorized gaming operator to provide an online sports wagering platform; (16) (14) Prohibited participant means any individual whose participation may undermine the integrity of the wagering or the sporting event or any person who is prohibited from sports wagering for other good cause
shown as determined by the commission, including, but not limited to: (a) Any individual placing a wager as an agent or proxy; (b) any person who is an athlete, a coach, a referee, or a player in any sporting event overseen by the sports governing body of such person based on publicly available information; (c) a person who holds a paid position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence over the participants in a sporting event, including, but not limited to, any coach, manager, handler, or athletic trainer, or a person with access to certain types of exclusive information, on any sporting event overseen by the sports governing body of such person based on publicly available information; or (d) a person identified as prohibited from sports wagering by any list provided by a sports governing body to the commission; (17) (15) Promotional gaming credit means a credit, token, or other item of value provided by an authorized gaming operator or its platform provider to a player for the purpose of enabling the player to play a game of chance; (18) (16) Racing license means a license issued for a licensed racetrack enclosure by the commission; and (19) (17) Sports wagering means the acceptance of wagers on an authorized sporting event by any system of wagering as authorized by the commission. Sports wagering does not include (a) placing a wager on the performance or nonperformance of any individual athlete par ticipating in a single game or match of a collegiate sporting event in which a collegiate team from this state is participating, (b) placing an in-game wager on any game or match of a collegiate sporting event in which a collegiate team from this state is participating, (c) placing a wager on the performance or nonper formance of any individual athlete under eighteen years of age participating in a professional or international sporting event, or (d) placing a wager on the performance of athletes in an individual sporting event excluded by the commission. Sec. 3. Section 9-1110, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is amended to read:
9-1110 (1) The commission may shall permit an authorized gaming operator to conduct sports wagering. Any sports wager shall be placed (a) through an online sports wagering platform by a person who is located within the State of Nebraska at the time the sports wager is placed or (b) in person or at a wagering kiosk in the designated sports wagering area at the licensed racetrack enclosure. A parimutuel wager in accordance with sections 2-1201 to 2-1218 may be placed in the designated sports wagering area at the licensed racetrack enclosure. An individual employed and authorized to accept a sports wager may also accept a parimutuel wager. (2) A floor plan identifying the designated sports wagering area at the licensed racetrack enclosure, including the location of any wagering kiosks, shall be filed with the commission for review and approval. Modification to a previously approved plan must be submitted for approval at least ten days prior to implementation. The area shall not be accessible to persons under twentyone years of age and shall have a sign posted to restrict access. Exceptions to this subsection must be approved in writing by the commission. (3) The authorized gaming operator shall submit controls for approval by the commission, that include the following for operating the designated sports wagering area at the licensed racetrack enclosure: (a) Specific procedures and technology partners to fulfill the requirements set forth by the commission; (b) Other specific controls as designated by the commission; (c) A process to easily and prominently impose limitations or notification for wagering parameters, including, but not limited to, deposits and wagers; and (d) An easy and obvious method for a player to make a complaint and to enable the player to notify the commission if such complaint has not been or cannot be addressed by the sports wagering operator. (4) An authorized gaming operator using a server to host an online sports wagering platform shall use a server that is lo-
cated within the State of Nebraska. An authorized gaming operator may conduct sports wagering through no more than two online sports wagering platforms operated by platform providers. The authorized gaming operator and its platform providers shall submit controls for approval by the commission that fulfill the requirements set forth by the commission for operating an online sports wagering platform. The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for sports wagering through an online sports wagering platform on or before June 1, 2027. (5) (4) The commission shall develop policies and procedures to ensure a prohibited participant is unable to place a sports wager or parimutuel wager. (6) (5) Beginning on the implementation date designated by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to subsection (1) of section 9-1312, prior to the winnings payment of any sports wagering winnings as defined in section 9-1303, an authorized gaming operator or its platform provider shall check the collection system to determine if the winner has a debt or an outstanding state liability as required by the Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act. If such authorized gaming operator or its platform provider determines that the winner is subject to the collection system, the operator shall deduct the amount of debt and outstanding state liability identified in the collection system from the winnings payment and shall remit the net winnings payment of sports wagering winnings, if any, to the winner and the amount deducted to the Department of Revenue to be credited against such debt or outstanding state liability as provided in section 9-1306. Sec. 4. This act becomes operative on January 1, 2027. Sec. 5. If any section or provision of this act is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise void or invalid for any reason, such determination shall not affect the validity of the act as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so determined to be unconstitutional or otherwise void or invalid.
Page 31 • October 23, 2026
Sec. 6. Original section 9-1102, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and sections 9-1103 and 9-1110, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, are repealed. _________________________ PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION INITIATIVE MEASURE 442 BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR INITIATIVE MEASURE 442 A vote “FOR” will amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide: (1) Schools must expressly designate each athletic team or sport as one of the following based on biological sex: (a) Males, men, or boys; (b) females, women, or girls; or (c) coed or mixed; and (2) Athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls shall not be open to students of the male sex. The amendment would apply to all athletic teams or sports sponsored by public schools or postsecondary educational institutions, and private schools or educational institutions whose athletic teams or sports compete against public schools or institutions. A vote “AGAINST” means the Nebraska Constitution will not be amended in this manner. Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to provide: (1) Schools must expressly designate each athletic team or sport as one of the following based on biological sex: (a) Males, men, or boys; (b) females, women, or girls; or (c) coed or mixed; and (2) Athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls shall not be open to students of the male sex? The amendment would apply to all athletic teams or sports sponsored by public schools or postsecondary educational institutions, and private schools or educational institutions whose athletic teams or sports compete against public schools or institutions. For Against _________________________ TEXT OF PROPOSED INITIATIVE MEASURE 442 (underscored language indicates added language, strike through indicates
language being removed) OBJECT STATEMENT: The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to establish constitutional protections for sex-separate athletics to ensure equal access to athletic opportunities for females. TEXT: Article VII of the Constitution of Nebraska shall be amended by adding a new section 16 as shown: Art. VII §16. Equal access to athletic opportunities for females. (1) Schools must expressly designate each athletic team or sport as one of the following based on biological sex: (a) Males, men, or boys; (b) females, women, or girls; or (c) coed or mixed. (2) Athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall not be open to students of the male sex. (3) For purposes of this section, “schools” shall mean interscholastic, intercollegiate, and intramural athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a common school of this state, a public postsecondary educational institution of this state, or any school or institution of learning in this state not owned or exclusively controlled by the state or a political subdivision thereof whose athletic teams or sports compete against a common school or public postsecondary educational institution of this state. (4) This section shall be self-executing, but legislation may be enacted to facilitate its operation. If any part or parts of this section are found to conflict with federal law or the Constitution of the United States, this section shall be implemented to the maximum extent permitted by federal law and the Constitution of the United States. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this section. Respectfully submitted, Robert B. Evnen Secretary of State (Publish three times, weeks of Oct. 11, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25) ZNEZ
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