The July 24 Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Chateau Vin Wine & Spirit Bar is planning a grand opening in late August at 220 South 31st Avenue, Unit 3108, in Midtown Crossing. The locally owned business will offer more than 100 wines plus “artisanal spirits, innovative cocktails and global flavors.” Chateau Vin will feature contemporary décor, cozy seating areas and an outdoor patio.

Lemon Tree Cafe has reopened at 7614 Main Street in Ralston following a fire on March 6. The family-owned, breakfast-and-brunch spot has added menu items. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Mill Coffee & Tea will open a second Omaha location in early 2027 at 222 South 15th Street, inside the former Starbucks space in The Duo’s north tower. The Lincoln-based coffee shop opened its first Omaha location in 2023 at 3105 Leavenworth Street in Midtown.

Flora Café, a Mexican brunch restaurant, opened earlier this month at 1009 Farnam Street along the south side of Gene Leahy Hall. Taking over the former Matsu Sushi space, the restaurant serves authentic Mexican brunch and features an outdoor patio. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

As previously reported, Arkansas-based coffee chain, 7 Brew Coffee, is entering the market with locations in Fremont, Omaha (182nd & West Maple Road) and Council Bluffs. Next week, the Council Bluffs City Council will review a resolution for the development plan of the location at 2901 West Broadway, formally a U.S. Bank location. The existing bank building will be demolished. Plans show a coffee kiosk building with drive-thru and a separate storage and cooling building. The store will be drive-thru only.

Riddle’s Jewelry is planning to open two additional Omaha area locations by the end of this year. The Rapid City, S.D.-based retailer has more than 60 stores in 10 states. The current Westroads Mall location will remain open. A second location at Shadow Lake Towne Center is anticipated to open soon after Labor Day across from Victoria’s Secret, adjacent to the amphitheater. The third location will be at Village Pointe, next to Claire’s, and is anticipated to open by November.

An event venue known as “The Scene” is planning to open this fall in the former Urban Outfitters location at 745 North 14th Street in the Builder’s District. The 2-story, 8,500 sq. ft. North Downtown space is between Rally Coffee and Slowdown live music venue. Urban Outfitters moved to 17255 Davenport Street in Village Pointe five years ago, leaving the space vacant ever since.

VASA Fitness will soon open at 909 Fort Crook Road in the former No Frills space near Southroads Mall in Bellevue. The Utah-based gym chain opened its first Nebraska locations in 2024, including one at 14445 West Center Road in Omaha and another in Lincoln.

Westlake Ace Hardware opened its relocated store earlier this week in Westgate Plaza southeast of 84th & Hascall Street. The hardware store moved from 8425 West Center Road in Canfield’s Plaza. The 16,000 sq. ft. Westgate store was previously occupied by Tom Kelly’s Bowling Pro shop, a bakery and a barber shop. Westlake Ace Hardware has eight Omaha-area locations.

Rally Coffee Co. closed its Gretna location at 17878 Oakmont Drive on July 15. The shop opened in February just northeast of 180th & Highway 370 in the same retail strip as Net Par. Rally will focus on its downtown location at 749 North 14th Street and expanding its roasting division.

The “Restaurant & Retail Updates” section is sponsored by Anderson Convenience Market, featuring Quality AMOCO Fuels and serving Omaha since 1952, and proud to announce the return of Quality Amoco Fuels. Look for changes this Summer at Anderson Convenience Market – 8 Omaha area locations!

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

LinkedIn Ranks Omaha Among Nation’s Fastest Growing Cities for Jobs & Talent

LinkedIn has released its inaugural report, “Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 Fastest-Growing U.S. Metros for Jobs and New Talent.” Omaha made the list, coming in at #10.

LinkedIn analyzed its labor market data to identify 25 emerging metro areas where hiring is accelerating, job postings are surging and talent migration is reshaping local economies.

The top three cities were Grand Rapids, Mich.; Boise, Idaho; and Harrisburg, Pa. In addition to #10 Omaha, other metro areas in our region to make the list were #11 Kansas City; #15 Colorado Springs. Here’s the top 10:

1. Grand Rapids, Mich.
2. Boise, Idaho
3. Harrisburg, Pa.
4. Albany, N.Y.
5. Milwaukee
6. Portland, Maine
7. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
8. Hartford, Conn.
9. Nashville, Tenn.
10. Omaha
11. Kansas City
12. Wilmington, N.C.
13. Richmond, Va.
14. Indianapolis
15. Colorado Springs
16. Sacramento, Calif.
17. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C.
18. Austin, Texas
19. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
20. Portland, Ore.
21. Fayetteville, Ark.
22. Reno, Nev.
23. San Antonio
24. Fort Wayne, Ind.
25. Pensacola, Fla.

The biggest market to make the list is San Antonio with a metro population of nearly 2.8 million. Omaha’s 1 million population puts it in the middle of the pack. Some of the metros on the list – Myrtle Beach, Wilmington and Fort Wayne – have fewer than 400,000 people.

“Nearly half (46%) of U.S. workers now live far from where they grew up, with many citing career growth as a driving force,” the LinkedIn report stated. “But that doesn’t mean you have to move to a large city to find opportunity. In today’s economy, companies are expanding beyond big-city headquarters to tap into more affordable markets and deep talent pools — and workers are following.”

Here’s what the LinkedIn article had to say about Omaha:

Why Omaha is on the rise: High-flying growth in finance and insurance is boosting the local economy, while a rise in small business activity is opening more doors for local entrepreneurs.

Top industries hiring: Financial Services, Healthcare, Professional Services

Top employers: Nebraska Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Mutual of Omaha

Average income: $75,030

Average home listing price: $487,045

Local hotspots: In Omaha, “work hard, play hard” rings true — both universities and local bars are top destinations.

Omaha’s average income and home listing price compared favorably to other cities on the list. Omaha’s average income of $75,030 ranked #9. Fayetteville ($89,095), Reno ($81,360) and Austin ($80,470) were the three highest. The three with the lowest average incomes were Myrtle Beach ($54,210); Greenville-Spartanburg ($55,745) and Pensacola ($56,940).

Omaha’s average home listing price of $487,045 was one of the most affordable on the list. The lowest was Fort Wayne at just under $386,000. The most expensive housing market on the list was Reno with an average listing price of nearly $1.09 million.

As more companies expand outside of legacy/primary markets, these 25 cities are likely to see continued population growth, housing demand and competition for talent.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

What’s going on at 14th & Dodge? A city block that was once home to Union Pacific’s corporate headquarters building is being converted into a temporary laydown yard to support streetcar construction. The block is bounded by 14th, Dodge and 15th streets as well as Capitol Avenue. Union Pacific’s headquarters building occupied the site for many decades until the railroad’s current HQ building opened in 2004. Shortly after that time, the old headquarters was torn down to make way for a proposed 32-story condominium tower that failed to materialize. The land has been vacant ever since.

A laydown yard is used to store heavy equipment and construction materials during major projects. The south side of the block will be a laydown for Hawkins Construction, which is handling utility work on the eastern portion of the streetcar route. The northern half of the block will be a laydown for Kiewit, which is handling the actual track construction. The streetcar is scheduled to open in 2028, at which time, the site will presumably be redeveloped or used for some other purpose.

A 55+ senior living project is planned for a 2.85-acre lot southwest of 192nd & Adams Street in the Falling Waters subdivision. According to city council documents, the project will consist of an 88-unit apartment building. The city council is currently reviewing an amendment to the mixed-use district development agreement to allow the project to reduce the required parking space from two spaces per unit to one space per unit. The planning department recommends approval.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has added Omaha’s proposed VA hospital project to its Five-Year Development plan. “The Omaha VA hospital will turn 75 years old this year, and it’s clear it must be replaced to meet the standard of care our veterans need and deserve,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). The Five-Year Plan is a key step before a new hospital is built. Other cities making list were Atlanta; Manchester, N.H.; New York City; Nashville; Philadelphia; Raleigh-Durham; and Washington, D.C.

The $1.5 billion Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is nearly done. The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that the estimated completion of construction work that affects traffic will be this November. The project started in 2008 and has completely rebuilt 18 miles of interstate, 14 exits/interchanges and 32 bridges. The final part of the stretch of construction is occurring on the east side of the city near the Mall of the Bluffs.

Early-stage construction has started on the southwest corner of 72nd & Farnam Street, a block south of Omaha’s future flagship library. That’s where a $44 million, 5-story, mixed-use building will soon rise. Developed by Chip James of Lockwood Development, the building will have 176 apartment units plus ground-level retail space that will host a Williamsburg Pizza restaurant and a Jimmy John’s sub-sandwich shop. Once Jimmy John’s opens in the new building, the existing, free-standing Jimmy John’s building will be demolished.

The base of a future tower crane is now in place downtown along the east side of 16th Street between Douglas and Farnam streets. The site was once home to the old Park Fair Mall. Crews demolished the former mall earlier this year to make way for a 12-story building that will include seven levels of parking (open to the public) and five multi-family floors with 150 apartments. The building will also have 12,500 sq. ft. of street-level retail space and will feature a rooftop swimming pool.

The building will be attached to the old Central Park Plaza twin towers. Altogether, the three buildings form “The Duo,” a massive project by NuStyle Development. Each of the twin towers will also have retail space on 15th Street. Sullivan’s Steakhouse will continue to operate in the south tower. The former Starbucks space in the north tower will house The Mill Coffee & Tea, opening early 2027.

Council Bluffs continues to make progress on the East Manawa Phase 1 project. This phase includes 40 single-family homes for households making 80 percent or less of the area median income. Turn the Paige Homes is the developer. The city council will review a resolution to approve Sudbeck Homes as the builder for Phase 1. There were seven submittals in response to the Request for Proposals. Sudbeck Homes was chosen based on its experience building single-family home projects at scale and its ability to complete the project within the city’s stated guidelines.

Steelhouse Omaha plans to convert its existing outdoor space into an outdoor venue. Currently, the performance venue has concrete patio on the southwest corner of the building. Based on a building permit, the $92,000 project consists of three decks, two shipping containers, outdoor seating, turf and landscaping.

City Nerd, a 357,000-subscriber YouTube channel, ranked Omaha as the fourth most affordable city for low-income residents. Host Ray Delahanty analyzed the central cities in every metro area over 1 million and determined the housing cost burden for a person earning 25 percent of a city’s median income, while renting a property at 25 percent of a city’s median rental rate. Omaha’s 25-percentile income is $39,103, with a 25th-percentile rent of $1,147 for a housing burden of 35 percent. The only major cities more affordable than Omaha are Raleigh, Charlotte and Fort Worth.

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The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Omaha-based Union Pacific is in early-stage talks to acquire Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern Railway. In a press release today, Union Pacific confirmed that the two railroads “are engaged in advanced discussions regarding a potential business combination. There can be no assurances as to whether an agreement for a transaction will be reached or as to the terms of any such transaction.”

Union Pacific has a market value of around $140 billion, while Norfolk Southern is valued at about $60 billion. If such a deal were to occur, after making it through extensive regulatory scrutiny, it would create the first coast-to-coast railroad in U.S. history.

In a separate press release today, Union Pacific reported 2025 second quarter net income of $1.9 billion, or $3.15 per diluted share. Results compare to 2024 second quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.74 per diluted share.

Frontier Airlines plans to launch nonstop flights from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this fall. The nonstop service will operate twice per week beginning October 10. With the new route, Frontier will join Delta Airlines, which offers five nonstops per day from Omaha to Atlanta. Currently, Frontier offers nonstops from Omaha to Denver (year-round) and Orlando (seasonal).

Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides has opened two additional attractions this summer. Shipwreck Chutes are 35-foot-tall, twin water slides that pump 750 gallons of water per minute. These Caribbean-themed slides create “unpredictable moments of acceleration and weightlessness before an exhilarating drop into the splash pool below.” The Sprayway is a splash pad with 31 spraying elements, including ground spouts, spray trees and arched water features. Fun-Plex is located at 7003 Q Street.

Omaha Public Power District reported that its customers pay some of the lowest electrical rates in the country. Based on 2023 data, customers pay 15.8 percent below the regional average and 27.4 percent below the national average. For residential customers, rates were 14 percent below the regional and 24.9 percent below national. Industrial users paid 11.6 percent below the regional and 13.6 percent below the national average. Commercial rates were particularly low with rate below 22.2 percent of the regional and 32.9 percent of the national average.

Poarch Chiropractic will host a ribbon cutting August 7 at its clinic at 10208 South 168th Avenue near 168th & Cornhusker Road. The practice offers holistic care including manual and extremity adjustments, activator methods, needle-less acupuncture and digital X-rays.

The Greater Omaha Chamber has announced a partnership with the Human Resources Association of the Midlands (HRAM) that will transition HRAM’s long-standing IDEAL Awards to a new format: the POWER Awards. The IDEAL Awards have played a central role in recognizing Omaha-area organizations making meaningful progress in creating inclusive workplace cultures.

The total value of merchandise returned in the United States reached $685 billion in 2024, according to Business Insider. Fifteen percent of that — $103 billion — was fraudulent, meaning the product shouldn’t have qualified for a refund under the retailer’s policies. “Return fraud” ranges from claiming you never got a product and demanding a refund to using a product and then returning it in an unusable/unsellable condition.

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Front Porch Investments and New Visions Homeless Services announced a Request for Proposals from “qualified and mission-aligned real estate developers to lead the development of a transformative, community-centered, affordable or mixed-income housing project” on a currently vacant 4.72-acre site located south of 96th & Cady Avenue. NVHS is in the early stages of developing 46 units of permanent supportive housing for senior veterans on the parcel to the north of this site.

Project Intentional, a local nonprofit which coordinates donation drives and intentional outreach programs, has relaunched after a “purposeful pause” in 2024. To kick off its return, Project Intentional is partnering with Max I. Walker this August on the Coats for Kids campaign—collecting and distributing winter coats to Omaha children at no cost. This collaboration is the first of several planned as Project Intentional resumes programming and broadens its reach. From August 1 through October 31, customers and community members are encouraged to donate new or gently used children’s coats at any of the 10 Max I. Walker Dry Cleaners locations across the metro.

Metropolitan Community College’s 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program, the nation’s largest college-based, re-entry program, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a luncheon and awards ceremony Thursday, July 17, at the Swanson Conference Center on the Fort Omaha Campus. In the past decade, the program has served more than 11,500 people transitioning from incarceration and court-imposed issues through holistic programs and services, including education, workforce training, job placement assistance, peer mentoring, transition support, basic needs fulfillment and more. The program also provides on-site credit and noncredit classes at Nebraska prisons and work-release centers.

Dunham House executive director and U.S. Marine Corps Colonel John Folsom laid out plans on July 15th to construct a permanent national memorial honoring the more than 6,500 U.S. servicemembers who were killed in action or died of wounds in named operations between October 2001 and August 26, 2021. The etched granite memorial is estimated to cost $2.5 million and will sit at the front entrance of Omaha’s Dunham House, the nation’s first long-term residential facility built specifically for combat-wounded veterans who have suffered catastrophic wounds, such as multiple amputations and traumatic brain injuries. Dunham House is scheduled to open next spring.

After opening its new entrance on Douglas Street, the Child Saving Institute has announced that its Early Childhood Education Center on 45th & Dodge Street will now be known as the “A.W. Clark Child Development Center,” named after the organization’s historical founder.

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A Growing Number of Homeowners Are Choosing Not to Be Locked In

By Jill Anderson

If you’re a homeowner planning to move, you’re probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first:

• Is it better to start by finding your next home?
• Or should you sell your current house before you go out looking?

But here’s a little bit of a sneak peek. In many cases today, getting your current home on the market first can put you in a better spot. Here’s why that order tends to work best (and how an agent can help).

The Advantages of Selling First

1. You’ll Unlock Your Home Equity

Selling your current home before you try to buy your next one allows you to access the equity you’ve built up – and based on home-price appreciation over the past few years, that’s no small number.

Data from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) shows the average homeowner is sitting on $302,000 in equity today.

And once you sell, you can use that equity to pay for the down payment on your next house (and maybe even more). You could even have enough to buy your next house in cash. That’s a big deal, and it could make your next move a whole lot easier on your wallet.

2. You Won’t Be Juggling Two Mortgages

Trying to buy before you sell means you could wind up holding two mortgages, even if just for a few months. That can get expensive, fast – especially if there are unexpected repairs or delays. Selling first removes that stress and helps you move forward without the financial strain. As Ramsey Solutions says:

“It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.”

3. You’ll Be in a Stronger Position When You Make an Offer

Sellers love a clean, simple offer. If you’ve already sold your house, you don’t need to make your offer contingent on that sale – and that can help you stand out. Your agent can position your offer to be as strong as possible, so you have the best shot at getting the home you want.

This can be a big advantage in competitive markets where sellers prefer buyers with fewer strings attached.

One Thing to Keep in Mind

With anything in life, there are tradeoffs. As you weigh your options, consider this potential drawback, too:

1. You May Need a Place to Stay (Temporarily)

Once your house sells, you may need a short-term rental or to stay with family until you can move into your next home. Your agent can help you negotiate things like a post-closing occupancy (renting the home from the buyer for a set period) or flexible closing dates to help smooth out that transition as much as possible.

But the best way to determine what’s best for you and your specific situation? Talk to a trusted local agent.

Bottom Line

In many cases, selling first doesn’t just give you clarity, it gives you options. It helps you buy with more confidence, more financial power and less pressure.

If you’re ready to make a move, but you’re not sure where to begin, let’s talk. We can walk through your potential equity, your timing and your local market conditions so you can decide what’s right for you.

Grow Omaha Residential is developed and sponsored by Jill Anderson, President Residential Sales, NP Dodge Real Estate 402.255.5099 or jill.anderson@npdodge.com.

We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

The Omaha Supernovas are elevating their partnership with Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center for the 2026 season. Project Harmony will once again serve as the presenting sponsor of the Rising Stars Kids Club, which experienced a 300-percent increase in membership from 2024 to 2025. Kids Club members received complimentary tickets to five Supernovas home matches during the 2025 season in an effort to expand reach and accessibility of volleyball in the region.

New for 2026, Project Harmony will spearhead the franchise’s first-ever Blue Out Night, which will take place on an April home match at the CHI Health Center. With support from Kiewit, Blue Out Night will shine a spotlight on National Child Abuse Prevention Month, observed each April.

Former Bluejays Ryan Kalkbrenner and Jamiya Neal started off their NBA careers strong, helping the Charlotte Hornets win the NBA Summer League championship on Sunday. The feat foreshadows a bright future in the Queen City, as the trophy is the first-ever in the Hornets’ history. Charlotte has never won a Southeast Division, Eastern Conference or NBA title.

Ryan Kalkbrenner shined all Summer League, giving Hornets fans a glimpse of the talent and winning plays that he will bring to their young roster. Kalkbrenner averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds over six games and posted a game-high 15 points and nine rebounds when it mattered most on Sunday. Jamiya Neal did not play in Sunday’s championship game and will look to prove the value he can bring in training camp.

Creighton volleyball senior Ava Martin was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) National Player of the Year Watch List on Tuesday. According to Creighton Assistant Athletic Director Rob Anderson, Martin’s 56 aces last season placed her second in the Big East and were the second-most in Creighton single-season history. Martin is one of 30 players on the list and the only Big East player revealed on Tuesday. Ten players are revealed each day through today, Thursday, July 24.

Union Omaha defeated Texoma FC in a group stage match of the USL Cup Wednesday night, 3-1. The final game of group stage play will be this Saturday, when the Owls welcome El Paso Locomotive FC. After group stage play, a draw will set matchups for the single-elimination knockout rounds, which begin three weeks later. The USL Jägermeister Cup will conclude with the Final on the weekend of Oct. 4.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are behind 0-2 in a series at the Syracuse Mets, falling 3-4 Tuesday and 4-8 Wednesday. The Storm Chasers have the opportunity to climb back tonight at 5:35 p.m. Omaha will return to Werner Park next week for a series against the Louisville Bats.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha Storm Chasers at Syracuse Mets | July 22 – July 27 | 5:35 p.m. Tonight
• Union Omaha vs. El Paso Locomotive FC | Saturday, July 26 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Louisville Bats | July 29 – August 3

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Humanities Nebraska has announced a new style of programs in its Speakers Bureau: audience participation workshops. Five topics — one particularly designed for children — will be led by seasoned presenters in music, creative writing and history. The five workshops are: “Connecting to Folk Music” with David Seay, “Creative Writing on the Plains” with former state poet Twyla M. Hansen, “Feathers & Verses Writing Workshop” with Bill Clemente, “Tell a Story, Write a Poem” with former state poet Matt Mason, and “Community Oral History Projects: An Interactive Workshop” with Mary Kay Quinlan.

The Omaha Chamber Music Society (OCMS) and KVNO are holding the Good Vibrations Used Instrument Drive on Saturday, August 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the UNO Bell Tower. Good Vibrations provides quality refurbished instruments—free of charge—to students and immigrants in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. The program collects gently used instruments from community members, professionally restores them, and distributes them to students through educators and partner organizations.

North Dakota playwright Kathleen Coudle-King has written a play to encourage discussion around mental illness in the family and the stigma that is too often associated with it. There’s Something I Must Tell You will be performed at the Omaha Fringe Festival August 7-9 at the University of Nebraska – Omaha Blackbox theater. Festival passes and individual tickets can be purchased in advance by going to 2025 Fringe | Omaha Fringe Fest or at the door.

Omaha Performing Arts has added four new events to the performance calendar:

Blue Violin Candlelight Christmas Extravaganza comes to Scott Hall at the Holland Center on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $36.25 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis comes to the Orpheum Theater on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $61 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes comes to the Holland Center on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $54.25 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg comes to the Orpheum Theater on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.50 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Tickets for these recently added events are available through ticketomaha.com.

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LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Work Relationships – No, we’re not talking about Astronomer/Coldplay relationships; we’re talking about friendships. Forty-three percent of remote workers said they have close friends at work, compared to 69 percent of on-site and hybrid employees, according to The Hustle. Eighty percent of respondents believe that having work friends makes them more engaged and collaborative.

Feeling Valued – Forty-Six percent of employees say their bosses only somewhat or rarely understand their contributions at work, according to a survey of 1,000 workers reported by CNBC. What can you do about it? Employees should speak up and ask for advice, not feedback. Bosses should make the office comfortable for open communication.

Young male college graduates are struggling to break into the entry-level job market. For men aged 22 to 27, the unemployment rate is roughly the same for college- and non-college-educated, according to Yahoo! News.

If you’re not using Artificial Intelligence, you’re falling behind. Want proof? ChatGPT users are submitting more than 2.5 billion prompts each day, according to Axios.

Who’s wasting time at work these days? Older adults now make up nearly a third of all U.S. gamers, with 57 million Americans over age 50 playing regularly, according to Fast Company. Half of those in their sixties and seventies play some form of PC, mobile or console video game every week. Even people in their eighties (36%) are regularly gaming.

SALES

Text messages can be an effective way of prospecting if you use the communication medium properly. Jeb Blount, Jr., of Sales Gravy says text messages are most effective when you send them as part of a prospecting sequence rather than the first or only outreach. Text messages alone convert less than 10 percent of the time.

Blount has some other text-as-prospecting advice:

1. Send a follow-up text after meeting a prospect at a networking event.

2. A trigger event can provide a handy excuse for sending a text to a prospect: “Something like a competitor’s merger, a shift in market demand, sudden or rapid growth/decline of a prospects company.”

3. Look for events in a prospect’s life – i.e. promotions, major accomplishments at a company, work anniversaries, etc. – and send the congrats note via text.

Of all the different parts of a sales professional’s job, nothing more important than direct face time with prospects and customers. But most salespeople send a big part of their day doing tasks that keep them from communicating with prospects. Is it time to delegate non-sales “stuff” away from your salespeople?

“Someone else can call for appointments cheaper or better than a salesperson. They can more easily check on back orders,” says sales expert Dave Kahle. “Someone else can fill out a price quote, write a letter or deliver a sample, cheaper or better than most salespeople.”

WISDOM

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” – Epictetus

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Did you know the Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community-based theatre in the country?

Did you know the City of Gretna has a population of 9,686 and a median household income of $117,553?

Did you know one of the reasons Omaha is building the streetcar is because nearly 50 percent of the land in the heart of the city is devoted to parking, and nearly 50 percent of those parking stalls are vacant at any given time? The streetcar will allow Omaha to convert those empty stalls into money-generating buildings.

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Night Market happening on July 25th: As the sun sets and the warm evening breeze rolls in, Omaha’s original Night Market sets the stage for unforgettable summer nights in scenic Turner Park. Highlights include: A bustling hub of more than 40 local vendors, boutiques and makers, live music and entertainment, outdoor games and activities, including a life-size coloring book, cornhole, Giant Connect 4 and more!

Lagerfest & Ribstock 2025 happening on July 26th: Get ready for a day of mouthwatering BBQ, ice-cold smashable Nebraska Craft Brews, and the 11th Annual Ribstock BBQ Festival, partnered with the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild’s 3rd Annual LagerFest! All proceeds go directly to support these two local non-profits. This is Nebraska’s must-attend summer festival- where great beer, BBQ and good times come together for a great cause. Tickets are limited so grab yours now!

Secure & Connect 2025 happening on July 30th: Join others for the 11th annual Secure & Connect Conference, hosted by Prime Secured. It’s a one-day conference with a welcome reception kicking off the event the night before and is designed for professionals in security, IT and business leadership. You can expect a curated lineup for professionals looking to scale, innovate and future-proof their organizations!

Yoga in the Park happening weekly on Sundays: Yoga in the Park offers a weekly outdoor yoga session, sponsored by Methodist Health System and led by certified yoga instructors from Genesis Health Clubs. Yoga styles and instructors will vary from week to week. All skill levels welcome, including beginners!

Leashes at Laurtizen recurring weekly on Mondays: Dogs love going on an adventure! Make your next night out with your four-legged friend an evening garden stroll during Leashes at Lauritzen. These events are enjoyable nights for dogs to walk the trails, meet other dogs, take photos among the flowers and meet other dog lovers. Water will be available at stations throughout the garden.

This section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage, a locally owned, full-service mortgage company helping you with Conventional, VA, FHA and USDA loans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Learn how Eagle Mortgage helps people afford the home of their dreams by clicking HERE!

Bankers Trust, Iowa’s largest independently owned bank, has promoted Samantha Mosser to president effective August 1. Mosser currently serves as Bankers Trust’s Nebraska president and joined the organization in 2022. She will be relocating to the bank’s headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

Security National Bank has hired Michael Sands as senior vice president, Nebraska director of private banking. Sands began his banking career in Kearney and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Tami Lewis-Ahrendt has stepped into the role of CEO for CenterPointe, replacing Topher Hansen, who recently retired after 30 years with the nonprofit healthcare organization.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska has added Lindsay Odvody as vice president and human resources officer. She previously held roles at Carson Group, the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center at UNO and First National Bank of Omaha.

The Greater Omaha Chamber has announced the 50 selected as part of Leadership Omaha Class 48, continuing one of the nation’s longest-running community leadership programs and building on nearly five decades of cohort-based leadership development. See the entire list HERE.

In Memoriam – Edson L. Bridges II, former CEO of Bridges Trust, died July 15th at age 93. He became the second generation to lead Bridges Investment Counsel. He started the first SEC-registered mutual fund, Bridges Investment Fund, in the state of Nebraska, in 1963. Under his leadership, Bridges Trust grew from several million dollars in assets under management to $2 billion in 2017.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is a catalyst and connector, advocating for businesses small and large. Learn, share and grow with more than 12,000 professionals from 3,000 member businesses across Greater Omaha. Click HERE to see our latest events.

During a debate on the federal budget, Herbert Humphery, the late senator from Minnesota, said, “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon it starts to add up.” The same thing can be said for today’s 401(k) program: You just need to change the “B” to a “T.”

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, there are currently 7,843 active 401(k)plans with 90 million participants. The combined value of these plans is $12 trillion dollars. Yes, $12 trillion. That’s almost twice the size of the federal budget, and not a number to be sneezed at.

What is unique about the 401(k) program is that it requires participants to make their own investment decisions. The kicker is that the only options they have to choose from are in a menu of mutual funds prepared by a broker who is compensated by the funds in to the menu.

The $12 trillion of 401(k) assets generates massive investment returns and management fees. The $64,000 question is, who gets which slice of the pie.

The $12 trillion dollars investigated in the 401(k) plans can be broken down into three mutual fund groups. Each containing $4 trillion. Data from Morningstar and the Department of Labor documents show how each group performed during the first six months of 2025.

The first group is in target-dated funds. These funds are a modified version of an asset allocation model. They are split between stocks and bonds, and as the owner ages, the stock-portion amount declines while bond portion increases. Total return for the beginning of 2025 was -.3 percent. That translates into a $12 billion loss and $60 billion in management fees generated.

The second $4 trillion group is actively managed mutual funds. Included in this category are broad market funds but it excludes sector and international funds. Total return was +3.8 percent for a total gain of $152 billion, and $40 billion in management fees.

Last but not least, we have the $4 trillion in index funds. This includes a mix of funds with the majority being the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq. Total return was +7.1 percent for a gain of $284 billion and $8 billion in management fees.

How big was your slice of the 401(k) pie and how much did you contribute to Wall Street’s pie?

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The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

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