Dear Friends:
Thank you for your continued involvement in the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in your local communities. The commitment of so many individuals in communities all across the state makes Nebraska the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.
As governor, my vision for the state is to grow Nebraska. To accomplish this, we have been focused on growing our state in four areas: developing our people, cutting red tape, providing tax relief and increasing international trade opportunities.
With one of the lowest unemployment rates and highest workforce participation rates, developing our people is key to helping our communities grow. This is happening through opportunities like the Developing Youth Talent Initiative (DYTI), registered apprenticeships and the Nebraska Department of Labor’s (NDOL) Reemployment Program. The DYTI is a program that connects young Nebraskans in middle school to opportunities in the manufacturing and technology sectors. The NDOL has worked with businesses, educational institutions, and the U.S. Department of Labor to develop Registered Apprenticeship programs across a variety of industries. These programs will help grow Nebraska companies and train the state’s workforce to fill high-demand positions.
We have also developed the first-in-the-nation Reemployment Program at the Department of Labor to connect job seekers with good-paying jobs. Individuals receiving unemployment benefits must now participate in the program, which includes job coaching and creating a resume that is searchable by employers.
My administration is focused on making state government more effective, more efficient and customer-focused by cutting red tape that stifles innovation and slows economic growth. We have been streamlining regulations and service delivery throughout state agencies. Whether it’s air quality permits at the Department of Environmental Quality or nurse licenses at the Division of Public Health, Nebraskans are having an easier time investing in our state and going to work from our efforts to cut red tape.
Another key to helping grow Nebraska is reducing our tax burden and controlling government spending. Working with the legislature, we have cut the rate of growth in state spending by 90 percent. Over the past four years, we have delivered over $840 million in direct tax relief for Nebraska property owners through the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund. I have pledged to work on tax relief each year I am governor, and will continue to propose new tax relief in the coming years.
International trade is also key to growing Nebraska. Over the past few years, I have led international trade missions to Japan twice, China twice, the European Union, Canada and Mexico. We have put a renewed focus on domestic and foreign trade missions, which has resulted in millions of dollars of agreements for purchase of Nebraska commodities as well as expansions in existing manufacturing operations in the Cornhusker State. Meeting personally with investors and trading partners helps bolster new opportunities abroad and create jobs here at home.
In 2017, we created the Nebraska Governor’s Council on International Relations, which the Nebraska State Chamber helped to found. In 2018, we unveiled the Council’s Strategic Plan for International Engagement, a long-term strategy for growing Nebraska’s international investment, trade exports and tourism and business profile.
I appreciate the continued work and advocacy of the Nebraska Chamber at the State Capitol and in communities across Nebraska. Our partnership is critical to growing Nebraska. I look forward to working with each of you to keep our focus on policies that will grow Nebraska now and into the future.
Thank you again for your continued investment to ensure Nebraska remains the best state in the world to live, work and raise a family.
Sincerely,
Pete Ricketts
Governor
State of Nebraska