Governor's Column by Dave Heineman

The Nebraska Diplomats

Sept. 28, 2009 Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

I want to highlight an organization that plays an important role in our business recruitment efforts here in Nebraska. The Nebraska Diplomats is the largest economic development organization in Nebraska with more than 375 business and community leaders from across the state.

For more than 40 years, members of the Nebraska Diplomats have worked to grow Nebraska by promoting opportunities for business and industry to locate in our state. Their mission is to help build the state’s economy by supporting the business recruitment efforts of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and working to improve Nebraska’s business climate and competitiveness.

Diplomats have a unique perspective on what our state has to offer. Its members are executives and business leaders who live and work in Nebraska. The current class of Nebraska Diplomats represents nearly 50 communities and Diplomats presidents in recent years have come from Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Crete, Columbus, Grand Island, Aurora, Lincoln, and Omaha. They are leaders of energy and hospitality companies, manufacturers, and transportation and logistics companies to name a few.

Each Diplomats member commits to making contact with several business leaders in other states in an effort to interest new companies in doing business in Nebraska. As business leaders who know firsthand the benefits of doing businesses in Nebraska, they add credibility to the efforts of the professional economic developers who work for the state and local communities. Diplomats also host business prospects and special guests visiting the state and help local leaders prepare for visits from prospective companies.

Through face-to-face meetings and personal connections, Diplomats help expand the number of contacts the State of Nebraska can make in a given year, which is particularly helpful in pursuing opportunities overseas. Many Diplomats represent companies with business interests in international markets. As part of their regular business visits, Diplomats commit some of their time to make connections on behalf of Nebraska.

The Nebraska Diplomats have also been strong supporters of Nebraska’s past trade missions to other countries. The organization sponsored the Reverse Trade Mission which brought 130 professionals from countries around the world here to encourage international companies to explore opportunities for investment in Nebraska. The event was coupled with the Diplomats’ signature annual event, the Passport to Nebraska Weekend.

During one weekend each fall, the Nebraska Diplomats invite guests and prospects from across the country and around the world to visit the state and attend events including roundtable discussions with CEOs and business consultants, tours of Nebraska businesses and communities, as well as a tailgate hosted at the Governor’s Residence followed by a Husker game at Memorial Stadium.

This year many of the special guests attending Passport to Nebraska Weekend were site selection consultants from around the country who scout locations for corporate clients looking to build new data centers, office parks and manufacturing facilities. Nearly a dozen site consultants took part in the event and shared comments such as “a truly first rate itinerary,” that the visit “showed how hard local groups are working to prepare for recruiting,” and “I would love to locate another project in Nebraska.”

While other states have partnerships with business leaders, few have as coordinated effort as the Nebraska Diplomats. Another visitor shared this comment: “We were impressed with the depth of support from the Nebraska Diplomats. It is the most effective organization of its kind we are aware of in the U.S.”

Having business executives and business recruiters work together gives Nebraska an edge in selling our state to prospective companies. I appreciate the outreach efforts of the Nebraska Diplomats. They play an essential role in letting other companies know that Nebraska is the right place to pursue new opportunities.