Hastings provides a solid economic base where business and industry of every size and scope have a great chance to start, expand and thrive. With two quality colleges in town – Hastings College and Central Community College – Hastings enjoys a talented and highly educated workforce. The size of the city enables workers to become involved in committees and organizations that can have a direct and noticeable impact upon quality of life for everyone.
Community leaders, and organizations like the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), Business Improvement District and Community Redevelopment Authority are actively involved in creating the best possible environment for business and industry. The city features three developed industrial parks, a $650 million-dollar power plant and a multi-million-dollar incentive program through Hastings Utilities to foster economic development projects. Ongoing efforts also ensure adequate housing is available for local talent. HEDC began the development of North Park Commons in 2017, a 93-acre mixed use development. North Park Commons will bring workforce housing options to market including single-family homes, apartments and townhomes.
Although Hastings and Adams County have primarily an agricultural base, Hastings boasts one of the strongest manufacturing sectors found in any county in the state of Nebraska. Manufacturing is the very heart of the Hastings economy, accounting for approximately 16.5 percent of private industry employment and more than 20 percent of private industry wages. However, the key to any successful economy is diversification. Hastings has a thriving medical community, a strong business sector and an educational base that is unparalleled in communities of similar size.
Since 1882, Hastings has been the home of Hastings College, a private, four-year, liberal arts institution enrolling more than 1,000 students. There is no finer place than Hastings to raise a family, build a business or further your education. Many of the best and brightest students from area high schools choose to attend Hastings College, and many of our alumni remain in Hastings after they graduate. Local alumni include physicians, teachers, accountants, business managers and other professionals.
Central Community College provides many local/regional businesses with a pipeline to continual, customizable training. The college also has developed courses tailored to meet the specific needs of local businesses and industries and has offered training on campus or in the workplace. Most recently, the college broke ground on a $10 million manufacturing expansion at their Hastings campus.
Central Community College is proud of the fact that 87 percent of its graduates stay in the 25-county service area and 100 percent who were employed full-time remain in Nebraska. Over the years, a trained and educated workforce has proven to be a cornerstone of success for companies in Hastings.