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Economic Development Archive

Mayor Jim Suttle and the Empowerment Network Gain Business and Community and Support for Summer Employment

April 26, 2012
Economic Development, Featured, In The Community, Public Safety
Mayor Jim Suttle and Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network Answered Questions About the Step-Up Omaha Summer Jobs Program

Mayor Jim Suttle and Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network Answered Questions About the Step-Up Omaha Summer Jobs Program

April 23rd, 2012 — Mayor Suttle and the Empowerment Network announced today that the response from Omaha’s business and philanthropic community to help match $300,000 the City contributed to Step Up jobs program with an additional $600,000 has been excellent.

“We are pleased to report that we have raised $400,000 toward our goal,” said Mayor Jim Suttle. “This city’s community partners understand the importance of getting our young people trained for valuable workplace experiences during the summer months and beyond. It’s how we curb violence in our community and how we provide kids hope for a productive and prosperous future.”

“The businesses and foundations that have chosen to support the Summer Training Employment Pathway and Urban Pipeline, the “StepUp” program, will provide a structured alternative to negative activity on the streets and deters young people from the temptation of gangs and guns,” said Willie Barney, President of the Empowerment Network. “We are pleased with the businesses and philanthropists who have Stepped-Up on behalf of the young people in our city and our future work force. Their financial contributions will pay for training, work experience and eventually full-time jobs that will benefit our youth and make a huge difference in their lives now and in the future.”

More than 20 companies have made cash or job contributions totally $400,000 in the last month. They include; American National Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lindsay Manufacturing, Woodmen of the World, ConAgra Foods, Pinnacle Bank, AT&T, Coventry, UPS, Omaha Steaks , Cox Communications, Wells Fargo Bank, Physicians Mutual, Security National Bank, American Harvest, Max I Walker, three foundations and a number of non-profits. There are also proposals pending.

“We are hoping more businesses and community leaders will consider investing so we can reach close to a million dollars and provide employment opportunities for 500-700 young people in Omaha,” said Mayor Suttle. “Our City is dependent on the success of our young people and we must make sure they are given every chance to gain the skills necessary for a successful career, particularly in areas of high unemployment.”

MAYOR SUTTLE ANNOUNCES NEW WALMART SUPERCENTER AT 50th and AMES

April 9, 2012
Announcements, Economic Development, Featured, In The Community
Mayor Suttle, along with Jim Canney of Walmart, David Brown of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, State Senator Brenda Council, Councilman Ben Gray and others, announce the new Walmart Supercenter to be built at 50th & Ames

Mayor Suttle, along with Jim Canney of Walmart, David Brown of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, State Senator Brenda Council, Councilman Ben Gray and others, announce the new Walmart Supercenter to be built at 50th & Ames

April, 9, 2012 — Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle was joined this morning by public officials, community and neighborhood organizations, business representatives, as well as the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in welcoming Walmart representatives and their plans for a new full-service store at 50th and Ames. The new Walmart will feature fresh, affordable food and general merchandise under one roof. It will not only create a shopping destination, but will also have a positive economic impact on the entire North Omaha community. If approved by the City Council, doors are expected to open for this store by late Fall and create approximately 275 new jobs.

“We are excited that Walmart is opening a new store in North Omaha,” said Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle. “It fills a tremendous retail and grocery need in addition to providing new employment opportunities in an area of our community where the demand for all of these needs is great.”

The store will be approximately 184,000 square feet, including an outdoor garden center, and feature everyday household items, electronics, apparel and a pharmacy, as well as a full line of groceries with fresh produce, meat and dairy products, a bakery and deli. The new Walmart will be a part of the shopping center on the northwest corner of 50th & Ames Streets. The new Walmart will replace the old Baker’s Supermarket and the existing Family Dollar Store.

“Our store is perfect for this community by providing a one-stop shopping destination where Omaha customers can find familiar brands and fresh and affordable food choices at a great value,” said Jim Canney, regional general manager for Walmart stores in Omaha. “We look forward to providing job opportunities and career choices, from seniors looking for supplemental income to young people wanting to gain work experience to associates looking to build a career.

Walmart jobs are good jobs – offering competitive wages and benefits, and opportunities to build careers. Nearly 75 percent of Walmart’s store management team joined the company as hourly associates. In 2010, more than 146,000 hourly associates in Walmart U.S. stores received promotions, and 55 percent of those associates were women.

“The Greater Omaha Chamber’s business development team has remained in contact with Wal-Mart for a number of years from a number of angles,” said Chamber President and CEO David G. Brown. “We worked with them as they considered various potential sites in North Omaha and we worked with the current property owners on several possible business investment projects. It is so rewarding to see all of the pieces coming together with jobs, significant investment and retail coming to North Omaha.”

Potential job seekers can visit www.walmartstores.com/careers for additional information on Walmart’s career opportunities in the area. The retailer will also create numerous temporary jobs during the store’s construction phase.

As of January 31, 2012, the total number of Walmart associates in Nebraska was 10,631 with the average wage for a regular, full-time hourly associate at $11.87 per hour.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 10,000 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com, and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

Mayor Suttle Challenges Omaha Employers to Hire Youth for Summer Jobs and Beyond

March 1, 2012
Economic Development, Featured, In The Community
Mayor Suttle, Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network, Councilmembers Gray and Gernandt stand with a cadre of supporters of the STEP-UP Program

Mayor Suttle, Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network, Councilmembers Gray and Gernandt stand with a cadre of supporters of the STEP-UP Program

March 1, 2012 – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, the Empowerment Network and more than 20 community partners announced a new Summer Training and Jobs Program called STEP-UP Omaha today. The Mayor’s office along with the Empowerment Network is challenging Omaha businesses and the philanthropic community to match city funding in order to provide employment opportunities for young Omahans, ages 14-24. While Omaha overall experiences a 4.4% unemployment rate, certain pockets of the city have a 25% unemployment rate.

“Employment has been a cornerstone of my efforts to do everything possible to stem violence in our community,” said Mayor Suttle. “We need to make it possible for kids to have the option of a productive future. Employment provides a structured alternative to negative activity on the streets and deters young people from the temptation of gangs and guns.”

The STEP-UP Omaha program (Summer Training Employment Pathway and Urban Pipeline), under the direction of the Empowerment Network, will receive $300,000 from the City of Omaha to be matched equally by local businesses and community partners. The goal is to reach more than $900,000 in combined funding, training and employment options for more than 500 youth this summer.

“The plan includes providing skill training as well as actual work experience for young people in our high unemployment areas,” said Willie Barney, President of the Empowerment Network. “Our City is dependent on the success of our young people, and we must make sure they have every opportunity to gain the skills necessary for a successful career.”

“Blue Cross Blue Shield supported youth summer employment last year and we are committed to partnering with the Empowerment Network, government, business leaders and community partners to expand the initiative moving forward,” said Steve Martin, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. “The program is producing measurable results.”

“We are excited to be a part of the expansion of this jobs program,” said John Kotouc, Executive Chairman of American National Bank. “The Empowerment Network has been effective with this program for the last four years. They have excellent connections to youth in the community and offer great support to employers. The youth participants are respectful and courteous. It’s wonderful to see their horizons expand as they are exposed to new work challenges.”

Starting Thursday, March 1,2012, Mayor Suttle and the Empowerment Network will be calling area businesses and the philanthropic community directly for their support in this citywide effort to employ youth in Omaha this summer and into the future.

Mayor Suttle’s 2012 State of the City Address

February 9, 2012
Economic Development, Featured, Public Safety

State of the City Address
Mayor Jim Suttle
Thursday February 9, 2012 – Gallup University Campus

Good Morning. Thank you for joining me at this beautiful facility on the Gallup University Campus.

Gallup is one of Omaha’s strongest business leaders, helping our economy continue to thrive. My thanks to Jim Krieger for hosting us today. I’d also like to recognize members of the City Council, department heads and other elected officials with us this morning.

Gallup is an Omaha business located on the banks of the Missouri River. It is also a valued employer in our city.

Businesses threatened by flood waters for 104 days weighed heavily on my mind in 2011.

We were in no position to have thousands of people out of work, or lose millions of dollars in business investments vital to our city’s economic development.

We were in no position to have our airport closed down for months until flood waters receded and significant repairs could be made.

Nor could we afford a levee break, devastating our economy for many years.

So I am pleased to announce today that the Army Corps of Engineers is committing $15 Million in federal funding to secure our levee system, weakened by a summer of flood waters.

My thanks to Colonel Ruch and the Army Corp of Engineers. Could you and your team please stand up and be recognized?

A strong levee system will allow us to preserve our economic assets, it will allow us to keep our people employed, to continue building our economy, attract businesses to Omaha and
create jobs for our citizens. (more…)

Mayor Suttle Praises Dundee Merchants and Councilman Pete Festersen for Work on Streetscape Project

January 6, 2012
Economic Development, In The Community

January 5, 2012 – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle commended the Dundee Merchants Association and Councilman Pete Festersen today for their efforts to move forward on a $2.5 million dollar streetscape renovation project in Downtown Dundee. “I am proud of the drive and determination by Dundee businesses to continually cultivate and improve their neighborhood,” said Mayor Suttle. “This grassroots streetscape project demonstrates the effectiveness of public-private partnerships and their impact on economic development for the city as a whole.”

The Omaha Planning Board approved a request yesterday by Dundee business representatives for a new business district to expand capital improvements on Underwood Avenue between 49th and 51st as well as another block and a half along 50th street.

This fall, Dundee was named one of nation’s top 10 neighborhoods by the American Planning Association. The Dundee Merchants Association, the Dundee Business Improvement District and the City of Omaha were also awarded a challenge grant to help fund the neighborhood’s streetscape renovation project.

A year and a half ago, community members, merchants and business leaders began working with RDG Design, a local design firm, to develop a conceptual plan for the redevelopment of Dundee’s aging streetscape which revitalizes the intersections deteriorated sidewalks and trees. “The Kiewit Foundation, the Dundee business community, and Councilman Pete Festersen deserve much praise for their collaborative efforts to revitalize this cornerstone of Omaha history,” said Mayor Suttle.

Mayor Suttle Gets Stable Outlook Restored to Omaha’s AAA Bond Rating, Saving Taxpayers Millions

December 8, 2011
Announcements, Economic Development

Dec. 7, 2011 – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and City Finance Director, Pam Spaccarotella’s efforts to remove the negative outlook assigned to the city’s AAA bond rating by Moody’s Investors Service in August, paid off today with the restoration of its stable outlook. The Suttle administration traveled to Chicago in September to make an appeal to the bond rating agency in person, asking Moody’s to restore Omaha’s good standing despite the federal government’s credit rating downgrades.

The City of Omaha’s Finance Department was notified August 4, 2011 that Moody’s Investors Services assigned a negative outlook to the City of Omaha’s AAA rated General Obligation bonds. “This notification was a result of Moody’s announcement that the AAA rating of the U.S. government had been assigned a negative outlook,” said Finance Director, Pam Spaccarotella. “In order to keep Omaha taxpayers from paying $5-6 million in higher interest, we thought it was important to make Moody’s aware of this administration’s strong commitment to responsible financial management. Bond rating companies such as Moody’s and Standard and Poors look at several aspects of how a city manages its finances in determining a city’s credit rating, very much like how your personal credit score is determined. ”

“We cut spending in city government through performance based budgeting and balanced our budget in spite of millions of dollars of cuts in aid from the state and federal government,” said Mayor Suttle. “This year we continued to create efficiencies that greatly improve the administration of vital city services to our citizens, without tax increases and established a plan for building financial reserves. These accomplishments demonstrate that we have the political will to plan for the future while rising above the dependence of outside assistance to keep our community solvent.”

The City of Omaha’s General Obligation bonds were assigned a AAA rating with a negative outlook nearly 4 months ago along with 177 other local governments. Moody’s specifically stated that the outlook was moved to negative with a group of issuers identified as indirectly linked to the U.S. government rating based upon certain shared characteristics. Moody’s further stated that they would continue to evaluate each outlook on a case by case basis. Today Omaha officially restored a stable outlook to its AAA bond rating.

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