Grow Omaha
Stories

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents today approved the second design phase for Project Health, a transformational academic health care facility that will be based on the Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The project, the first phase of the larger Project NExT initiative, will serve as a state-of-the-art clinical learning center to educate and train future health care providers, conduct cutting-edge research and expand access to clinical trials. “As we look ahead, Project Health will not only transform our medical campus – it will help shape the future of health care for Nebraska,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold. “The visible progress already underway is a powerful reminder of the momentum we’ve built – and will continue to build – as we work to deliver on our bold vision for the state.” The regent action authorizes construction of the shell and core of the facility. This work amounts to about...

The Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District is celebrating the completion of Beltline Trail entrance at 1421 Military Avenue. The trailhead ribbon cutting ceremony took place last week. The trailhead helps revive the intersection of Hamilton Street & Military Avenue. The Beltline Trail is located along abandoned railroad right-of-way and has been under construction for several years with additional phases still underway. In the last few months, Grow Omaha has reported several new development projects spurred by the Beltline Trail including a 28-townhome development at 40th & Franklin Street led by Holy Name Housing Corporation, redevelopment of the Johnson Sash and Door building next to the trailhead and a future inCommon Housing Development project north of the trailhead. Last week there was an announcement regarding the Johnson Sash and Door Building. Ooh De Lally is a non-profit restaurant with a special mission of helping previously incarcerated persons transition...

The Greater Omaha Chamber, in partnership with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research, released the 2025 “Barometer Report” —an economic scorecard that measures how the Greater Omaha region stacks up against 22 peer and competitor metros in the race for jobs, talent, investment, and long-term prosperity. The “Barometer Report” draws on 50 data points across nine indexes to provide a snapshot view of how Greater Omaha fares against these 22 peer and competitor metros. While Greater Omaha demonstrates real and substantial strengths, the report shows the region’s overall competitiveness ranking in the bottom quarter of metro comparisons. "Results of the 2025 ‘Barometer Report’ show that Greater Omaha fits in well with the mid-sized metropolitan areas of the Industrial Midwest and Plains regions. The Omaha metro is found to have numerous strengths including higher education attainment, labor force participation and the quality of life, but also areas of weakness...

Creighton University announced yesterday "Fly Together," a nearly $300 million initiative to reshape a 12-block corridor on the east side of its campus. The transformative project will merge the campus with the $650 million Builders District, a 10-block urban development anchored by the Kiewit Corporation’s headquarters. Fly Together is an entirely donor-funded project bolstered by a $100 million gift from the Heider Family Foundation, the largest gift in university history.  Fly Together encompasses 11 new or upgraded facilities and outdoor spaces. Included in the plans are a new student fitness center, upgrades to the Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center, a sports performance center for Creighton student-athletes, improvements to current athletics buildings, new team facilities for baseball and softball, and more improvements to existing space on the campus. The investment is a clear statement from Creighton’s leadership on its ambitions to continue competing at the national level...

The Greater Omaha Chamber has launched a business resiliency fund to support targeted small businesses during streetcar construction. The Midtown Small Business Resiliency Fund will distribute about $1 million, to qualifying businesses that have been most significantly impacted by utilities work to date and will be affected once rail construction begins. Funds for distribution were given to the chamber by a donor for the chamber to distribute. The first distributions started in mid-August and are intended for businesses most severely impacted in the corridor west of Turner Boulevard on Farnam Street. “The Greater Omaha Chamber is proud to launch the Midtown Small Business Resiliency Fund,” said Heath Mello, president & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. “At the donor’s request, the Chamber will serve as administrator of this fund, which will provide critical support to businesses west of Turner Boulevard along Farnam Street. This fund was created after listening closely to small...

The Spin Lofts development in Council Bluffs has been named the winner of the Iowa Finance Authority’s (IFA) Innovation in Housing Pitch Competition. The recognition paves the way for the project to receive up to $10 million in federal housing tax credits over the next decade. Led by Arch Icon Development Corporation in partnership with Lutheran Family Services, Spin Lofts will transform a long-vacant, city-owned lot into more than 40 mixed-income rental homes, including units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. “This award demonstrates what can happen when public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners come together around a shared vision,” said Courtney Harter, housing programs manager for the City of Council Bluffs. “Spin Lofts has been years in the making, and this recognition validates the hard work and perseverance of everyone involved. Most importantly, it moves us closer to providing quality, affordable housing for the people who need it most.” The...

Brookfield Properties, the owner of Omaha’s Westroads Mall, has officially sold the former Younker’s building to Dillard’s. The sale closed September 5th. Dillard’s plans to completely gut the long-vacant anchor space on the mall’s west end and build a 32,000 sq. ft. addition. After the expansion and renovation, the 2-story department store will total 207,800 sq. ft. A new entry will be included as part of the addition. Because the construction project will be so extensive, the Westroads Dillard’s won’t open until 2027. Dillard’s plans to relocate its Oak View Mall department store into the Westroads space. Dillard’s has a history of using closed stores as clearance centers, but no public announcement has yet been made. As part of the project, the former Granite City Food & Brewery building will likely be demolished to make way for additional parking. “Dillard’s coming in is a game-changer for our mall,” said Ryan Conlon, general manager at Westroads. “They’re a very successful...

Child Saving Institute and Children’s Square U.S.A. have announced a merger that unites two non-profit institutions with a shared history of more 275 years. The merger is expected to expand support for children and families across the Omaha metro area. Child Saving Institute is wrapping up a major expansion of its facility at Saddle Creek Road & Dodge Street. The combined organization will operate under the name Child Saving Institute. Services will remain uninterrupted, and the people and programs that families rely on will continue to walk alongside them—now with even more support behind them, according to a press release. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Children's Square, an organization that shares our commitment to providing the tools to improve the lives of children and families,” said Jaymes Sime, president and CEO of Child Saving Institute. “Together, we will honor our rich legacies and create new opportunities to make a meaningful difference in our communities.”...

Two national firms issued high bond ratings for the city of Omaha this week. S&P Global Ratings assigned its AA+ long-term rating after reviewing millions of dollars in city bonds. Moody’s Ratings gave Omaha an Aa2 score. Both called Omaha’s economic outlook “stable,” according to a press release from the City of Omaha Mayor’s Office. Mayor John Ewing said the city is entering an exciting new area of growth, evident in its changing skyline and numerous economic development projects. “Omaha’s financial house is in order,” Ewing said. “This is a city that has planned carefully, budgeted appropriately and pays its bills. I am confident that Omaha’s economic outlook is strong.” The organizations made their ratings based on the city’s $37.6 million general obligation bonds, Series 2025A, $57.4 million lease revenue bonds, Series 2025C, and $7.5 million lease revenue bonds, Series 2025D. In making its determination, S&P cited the following reasons: Omaha’s position as a premier...

New research by Compare The Market has revealed the best cities in the world for socializing. Omaha ranks 20th in the United States. The study analyzed factors such as inclusiveness ratings, the number of meet-up groups and social hubs, and the popularity of friendship apps. “Social hubs” include pubs and coffee shops. Omaha has 16 meetup events per 100,000 people, which makes the city great for meeting new friends. In Omaha, there are 15 bars and coffee shops per 100,000 people. Omahans make 212.41 online searches for friendship apps, for every 100,000 people. Minneapolis tops the list as the most social city in the United States, excelling in meet-up group availability and ranking second for friendship app searches. It is also one of the most social cities globally. After Minneapolis, the rest of the top five included #2 Atlanta, #3 Portland, #4 Las Vegas and #5 Seattle. Other top-20 cities in our region included #10 Denver, #13 Colorado Springs and #18 Milwaukee. "Moving to a new...

The City of Omaha announced that it will move forward on the repair of a downtown sinkhole after recent rainstorms created conditions necessitating a faster fix to a problem that emerged last winter. Back in January, a garbage truck entered the alley between Farnam and Harney streets along the west side of 16th Street. The truck fell through the pavement and into a void between two residential buildings, the Regis and Farnam 1600. The collapse damaged an Omaha Public Power District duct line and a city sewer. A duct line is a subsurface pathway that protects underground cables. The alley has been inaccessible from 16th Street since the accident. The fix is complicated, involving multiple parties and multiple steps. Summer rainfall changed the sequencing of the repairs and created more urgency. OPPD will begin repairing its duct line on September 8. The project will last through late November. The repair work will mean disruptions along a stretch of 17th Street and the full alley...