Hassebrook Releases Plan for Rural Economic Development

Chuck Hassebrook

The day after the primary election, Chuck Hassebrook, Democratic nominee for Governor, has released his plan for rural economic development.

Hassebrook’s plan for rural economic development includes beefing up the state’s support for small businesses and beginning farmers and ranchers, renewable energy development, job training, and community development.

“I’ve spent my entire career dedicated to strengthening the small town and rural way of life. I’m proud today to share with you my plan to create economic opportunity in small town and rural Nebraska,” Hassebrook stated.

Hassebrook spent 36 years at the Center for Rural Affairs, 17 of those years as the Executive Director, and helped 10,000 small businesses in Nebraska with loans and planning, training, and technical assistance.

Hassebrook says that he sees “many of the same issues that plague rural Nebraska in our urban communities as well. The bottom line is that to allow our communities to continue growing, the state has to make some changes to its policies and become more of a partner in economic development. As Governor, I’ll lead the charge, and move Nebraska forward.”

Steve Buttress of Kearney, who previously served as the Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development under then Governor Ben Nelson supports the plan, and says that “Chuck’s plan will deliver, it will make a difference, and it will build a better economy. It’s a blueprint that will work across the state, small town and large, Omaha to Scottsbluff.”

·         Foster small business development and new farm and ranch enterprises

o   Expand the Small Business and Beginning Farmer and Rancher tax credit

o   Increase small business training and technical assistance

o   Create a centralized website and hotline for Nebraska entrepreneurs

o   Remove the anti-small business regulatory bias

·         Improve and expand job training programs

o   Create a partnership between learning institutions and employers

o   Encourage dual credit classes for high school students

o   Expand state funded apprenticeships in workforce shortage areas

·         Support wind development, Nebraska’s corn ethanol industry, and develop a strategy for next generation biofuels

o   Develop Nebraska’s world class wind resource by creating a state production tax credit and building transmission lines

o   Champion Nebraska ethanol by expanding our local markets and keeping our state at the forefront of next generation biofuels.

·         Create a new partnership between the state of Nebraska and small towns to foster community development

o   Community grants

o   Loan forgiveness for rural health professionals

o   Planning and technical assistance to small towns and rural communities

o   Protect and more effectively leverage state funds for workforce housing