One of my first challenges after becoming District 42’s State Senator was to adjust to its new boundaries following redistricting. In the wake of the 2020 Census, District 42 was significantly expanded beyond just Lincoln County and now includes all of McPherson, Hooker, Thomas, and Logan Counties to the north and much of Perkins County to the west. Each of these counties and the communities within them is unique, but in talking with community leaders it is clear that District 42 wants to grow. My question for you is, “How can the state support local growth?”

I believe the first step is identifying what the current residents are asking for. Stapleton is a great example of a community taking local priorities in stride. It has invested in starting a cooperative grocery store, renovating its community center, and applying for an Environmental Trust grant to build a recycling center. A cooperative grocery store may not work in every community. Renovating a community center is foolhardy if the center won’t be used by local groups. Solutions for growth take community buy-in to succeed. By pinpointing what the community members are asking for and willing to invest in, Stapleton is improving for the future.

The next step is recognizing what investments can most efficiently lead to further development. Continuing with the prior example, Stapleton is considering investments in affordable housing. Because of Stapleton’s proximity to North Platte, it is poised to capitalize on regional job growth if it can provide affordable housing and attractive services to newcomers. Although job growth within Stapleton is certainly an additional goal, by thinking regionally and in relation to nearby community efforts, Stapleton can “get the most bang for their buck” by building up the community population and then following with business-attracting initiatives. Conversely, another community may need to focus on recruiting certain types of businesses and jobs before turning to affordable housing solutions. The local community is best poised to identify and strategize avenues for growth based on its unique circumstances.

Finally, we need to provide State support for investments that are foundational or common to the state. Connectivity, both through broadband and cellular networks, is one item that has become foundational for everyday life. I believe the Legislature needs to take a more holistic approach to connect all Nebraskans now. For example, LB1024 (2022) allocated $40 million to building fiber infrastructure for second class cities and villages within the Third Congressional District. However, communities must have at least 300 people to be considered a village. McPherson and Thomas Counties both have unincorporated communities as their county seats. Despite providing important government services for their counties, these communities are not eligible for LB1024 broadband funding. Furthermore, it may take many years to connect fiber to every farm and ranch in the state. We need to invest in fiber and other Internet solutions in order to bridge the gap, so all Nebraskans can have access to broadband now.

Similarly, affordable housing is a common concern throughout Nebraska. The Legislature has supported programs to build new housing and renovate existing housing. These programs are important to lower the cost of development and construction and have provided opportunities for communities to expand housing opportunities. As interest rates and building costs continue to out-pace wages in many areas, are there other solutions? We have not fully explored what role modular housing and high-quality mobile homes can play in solving our housing crises. The Legislature needs to know what programs will be utilized by communities to achieve growth.

I am now focusing my attention on meeting with the various governing bodies within District 42 to better understand their visions for the future and what state resources they need to fulfill those visions. District 42 is very fortunate to have many residents who volunteer their time and talents in public service. Elected officials, business operators, and community leaders in your area have been great resources, but I need your input too. If you see a problem you believe the Legislature can help solve, please reach out to me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. My door is always open!

As I have stated many times before, quality air service is critical to growing our region. I am pleased to have served several years on the North Platte Airport Authority before I was appointed to the Legislature in February 2022, and continue to watch the Authority’s progress as they advocate for sustainable air service for District 42.

I ran for the Authority in November 2012 because our air service as clearly not meeting expectations. At the time, the airport was served by Great Lakes Airlines who was flying 19-passenger turboprop aircraft. There were far too many cancelled flights and late flights, which caused the public to lose confidence in the airline as a reliable alternative to driving.

From 2013-2017, enplanements (boardings) fluctuated between 3,000 to 4,300 as the Authority worked to find a better alternative. After Pen Air briefly replaced Great Lake Airlines, we were finally able to get SkyWest Airlines to provide 50-passenger regional jet service in late 2017. In 2018, total enplanements jumped to nearly 13,000 and continued to grow to almost 16,000 in 2019. Once the pandemic hit in 2020, enplanements fell just over 50%, but were still well above earlier levels and enplanements rebounded to 13,500 in 2021. Unfortunately, in February 2022, the Authority was notified that SkyWest intended to terminate their service North Platte, Kearney, and Scottsbluff due to pilot shortages.

Although three airlines made proposals to replace SkyWest, all three options were rightfully rejected by the Authority at their June 6 meeting. The Authority must consider several factors in evaluating acceptable airline service. The airline must offer at least twice a day round trip service to Denver at practical times. The early flight must leave early enough to allow passengers to connect with flights leaving Denver. The last flight back to North Platte must leave Denver late enough to accommodate returning passengers. Additionally, the airline must have baggage handling agreements with the other major airlines to avoid the need to claim and recheck baggage in Denver. And, quality air service means having jet service with enough available seats to accommodate the traveling public on a reliable schedule.

All three initial proposals had capacity and flight times that would have been unworkable. Two airlines only offered service through 9-passenger single engine turboprop aircraft. The third, Ravn Alaska Air, would have used a 50-passenger twin engine turboprop, but required that the route would be shared with Kearney as a two-stop option.

The Authority is hopeful SkyWest will provide an alternative proposal. Some discussion has included a 30-seat regional jet service. The smaller plane can be serviced by one very experienced pilot past their mandatory retirement age paired with a less experienced co-pilot seeking to qualify to fly these aircraft. Not only would this option help North Platte resume quality air service, but it would also start to address the pilot shortage that jeopardizes regional airline growth.

We will see how this proposal develops. In the meantime, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has entered an Order Prohibiting Termination of Service following a request by the Authority in February 2022. I have written a letter to the DOT in my capacity as your State Senator to urge the DOT to extend enforcement of the Order until a suitable replacement service can be found.

I have great confidence in the members of the Airport Authority to take the appropriate steps to keep quality air service at North Platte Regional Airport. We have proven that this service will be utilized if the right airline is in place. Reliable air service will be absolutely necessary if we want to continue growing the region and allowing everyone in District 42 and surrounding areas to be connected in a cost-effective way.

Meanwhile, let’s all do what we can to support the Airport Authority as they find a solution to this problem.

Constituents can reach Senator Mike Jacobson at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. Our door is always open!

I want to continue to discuss the anatomy of “economic development” and how our entire legislative district can benefit from taking a visionary approach to growing great jobs, which in turn, grows our tax base and our communities.

In 2002, I had just ended my term as chairman of the North Platte Area Development Corporation (prior to merging with the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce).  We had just been contacted by Wal-Mart regarding their need for a new Food Distribution Center. Wal-Mart had limited their search to North Platte, Nebraska, and a town in eastern Wyoming.  After reviewing possible sites to locate, Wal-Mart chose their current site, however, we were required to acquire and deed to them the site as part of the proposal to bring them to North Platte.  As chairman of the North Platte Community Development Authority, we worked with the Development Corporation to apply for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to generate the funds to purchase the Wal-Mart Food Distribution Center (DC) site and the adjacent land to the west.

TIF captures the “increase” in property taxes that are generated from the improvements created from the new project.  The projected revenues from this income stream is monetized in to a bond that can be used to cover some of the land and infrastructure costs to build the project.  Once the bond is repaid, or 15-years have passed (whichever comes first), the newly created tax base goes to the taxing authorities from that point forward.  The original tax base always stays in place just as they were.

In the case of the DC project, the $3 million bond was issued on March 2, 2002 and was fully repaid on November 6, 2012.  The initial tax assessed value of the land was approximately $180,000 and was generating $4,000 in annual property taxes.  After the project was built, the tax assessed value rose to just under $19 million increasing the property tax to just over $400,000/year.  The $4,000 continued to go to the taxing authorities, and the balance went to repay the bond.  The gross property tax payment was paid by the DC.

Over the 10-year bond, the property value rose to almost $26 million, taking the annual property tax to just $547,000/year.  Since the bond was repaid in 2012, all of the new tax base has gone to the taxing authorities.  However, in addition to the significant growth in tax base, here are some of the additional benefits of attracting this company to North Platte.

Today, the company employs over 600 workers who travel from up to a 75 mile radius of North Platte to work a schedule that they choose.  The average hourly worker makes just over $47,000 annually plus incentives and benefits.  Their annual payroll exceeds $35 million per year.  There are over 240 trucks arriving inbound seven days per week, and approximately 190 trucks out bound.  The center serves stores in a 10-state area.

As an added benefit, the DC regularly has loads of perishable food that does not meet the DC specifications.  This could be “close dated” products, or products with slight imperfections.  These products are rejected for retail sale, but donated to the Heartland Food Bank and the area food pantries including the Salvation Army.  The dog and cat food products are donated to the Humane Society.  Any food that does not meet quality standards is discarded.

In addition to the direct employment generated by the DC, there has been significant new business generated from the DC project.  The funding not only allowed for the purchase of the property where the DC is currently located, but also provide funding to purchase the adjacent land west that became the new “Twin Rivers Industrial Park”, and install some of the public infrastructure.  This development has led to the new UPS facility, the new Miller/Coors warehouse facility, and the creation of several new attractive warehouse buildings that can be available for immediate use by a new company wanting to locate to this area.  A second truck stop located in the SE quadrant of the Newberry and I-80, and the addition of the Inland Truck Parts repair center just north of the DC are also benefits of the DC development.  These new businesses would not have happened without the DC locating in North Platte.

Another benefit of the DC, is their job structure.  Hourly employees can literally create their own work schedule to accommodate their lifestyle.  If you are farmer or rancher looking for a second job that fits around your schedule, you can work days or nights, one day, or 7 days.  You can also work on a seasonal basis.  These types of job features help bring and keep quality workers to District 42 and allow them the space to raise families or support other businesses in our communities.

The DC is another example of a business that has made their home in North Platte, but has had a significant impact throughout the region.  Continuing this growth will help reverse the out-migration of our population base, grow our schools, improve our retail offerings, and strengthen our tax bases.

Constituents can reach Senator Mike Jacobson at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. Our door is always open!

As a farm kid and current farmer, I can tell you there is a special feeling every farmer and rancher has when they are out in nature. More than just enjoying the wide-open spaces, farmers and ranchers work with nature to produce essential food for families across the globe. I think many small business owners have a similar feeling about the communities where they open their businesses. Starting a business is more than just supply and demand. It is also investing in the needs and people of a community and being part of growing economic opportunities.

Julie and I moved to North Platte over 28 years ago with two small children. I had spent the previous 10 years managing the Correspondent Banking Division for the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) in Lincoln, a sister bank to North Platte National Bank. In my role at NBC, I traveled the state visiting other banks and larger agricultural borrowers. It was a great way to learn more about the unique attributes of the Sandhills and how truly special they are to our state.

At the time of my arrival, North Platte National was in the beginning stages of building a new building (now home to Wells Fargo) to accommodate their growth in the heart of downtown. NBC was also expanding to Bridgeport, Alliance, Hyannis, Mullen, and Valentine. It was during that time that I became very active in economic development. I wanted to see the towns where my customers lived and work continue to grow and thrive.

On the heels of the most recent census, a refocusing on economic development is more important than ever before. District 42 communities, and those elsewhere in Western Nebraska, need to find ways to slow and reverse the migration we have seen to Nebraska’s urban areas. Economic development will require strong leadership in each community, and a collaboration between neighboring communities to support regional development. By growing our local economies, we can attract additional opportunities throughout the region.

Growth begets more growth. By growing high paying jobs with good benefits, we cause more homes to be built, add more children to our schools, and more retail activity. If we want to attract more restaurants and stores, we need more people with higher average incomes and potential to continue growing. In turn, more retail stores bring more shoppers to market and, just as importantly, keeps more shopping dollars in our market.

Sometimes it is hard to know where to start in these cycles. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? How do we grow our local economies to attract more businesses without the businesses to support more population?

The first step is supporting community services that can also attract more population. North Platte has the potential to become a strong regional trade center. Because of its proximity to I-80 and Highway 83, North Platte is easy to access and draws people from a 100-mile radius for the goods and services that residents throughout the region needed without competing with Kearney. A strong regional trade center has strong health care facilities, great schools, available retirement housing, quality recreational facilities, and reliable air service.

All these factors are impacted by population in and around the trade area. Many educational, healthcare, and service-based needs can be shared resources amongst the District. Others can be more readily accessed in North Platte versus traveling to Scottsbluff, Kearney, or Grand Island if properly supported by North Platte and the surrounding communities.

District 42 has many advantages to attract new residents and businesses. We have strong schools (both public and private) that have quality facilities and teachers. We have a new modern hospital staffed with very talented physicians and nursing professionals, including one of the best cancer facilities in the entire state, a new neurosurgery center with truly outstanding staff, and a best-in-class emergency department. Our park systems are very strong and capitalize on the beauty of Western Nebraska. The new owners of the District 177 mall are aggressively creating an entirely new shopping experience that everyone in the region will be proud of. We also are blessed to have Mid-Plains Community College, whose presence reaches throughout the area; the expansion of the Health Science facility will be a welcome addition and another step forward in helping address our nursing shortage.

I am only one of many business owners who has invested in the communities where my customers live and work, but I am proud of the progress that we have made over the past 20 plus years to address these issues. In the coming weeks, I will focus on where we have been with our economic development progress and where we can expect to go in the future.

If you see opportunities for growth or have ideas for how the Nebraska Legislature can further support economic development in rural communities, please reach out to me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. Our door is always open!

As Wayne Gretzky famously said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” Lawmakers often have two tasks: address the problems before us now, and attempt to avoid the problems of tomorrow. One of the greatest challenges facing District 42 and our larger region is the lack of quality affordable housing. Unfortunately, there is not a quick and easy fix, and I want to work with my fellow state senators to create a long-term vision for the future.

As we come out of the pandemic, Nebraska is fortunate to have a strong economic position. However, we are not insulated from the impact of the continuing supply chain shortages, worker shortages and the growing cost of virtually everything as inflation continues at a record pace. Couple this with rising interest rates, and the cost of housing is growing out of reach to new buyers.

Two years ago, a lot and basic three-bedroom home would have cost approximately $275,000 to build in North Platte with an interest rate of approximately 2.75% for a 30-year mortgage. Today, that same home would cost approximately $325,000 and the interest rate would be closer to 5.25%. If a borrower contributed a minimum down payment of 5%, the monthly payment would consist of a monthly principal and interest payment, insurance and real estate taxes. Two years ago, our hypothetical home would have a monthly payment of about $1,719.91. Today, the monthly payment is up to $2,422.56.

Increased monthly payments mean buyers must earn more. For the same home, the annual income necessary to qualify for the loan made a year ago would need to be around $56,571.00. The annual income necessary to qualify for the same house today would be approximately $80,571.00. And the cost of housing is still rising and so are interest rates.

The Legislature passed two bills this year designed to start making new and remodeled housing more affordable. First LB 1069 extended the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act through fiscal year 2026-27 and increased the maximum price for a qualifying grant from $275,000 to $325,000 for new owner-occupied housing and from $200,000 to $250,000 per unit of rental housing. LB 1069 also decreased the match requirement from one to one-half the amount of a workforce housing grant award. This grant program allows political subdivisions and nonprofit development organizations to build out rural housing at lower costs.

Second, I co-sponsored LB 1065 with Sen. Justin Wayne to improve the micro-TIF legislation first introduced by Sen. Mike Groene. The bill allows for property tax rebates for homeowners increasing the value of a home that has been within city limits for more than 60 years through home improvements, including demolition and reconstruction on the same site. The bill also increases the length of time the rebates can be awarded from 10 to 15 years, aligning micro-TIF with the original TIF program. Finally, LB 1065 allows for expedited approval and increases the allowable maximum assessed values.

I am proud to have supported the passage of both LB 1068 and LB 1065. These bills are part of an ongoing conversation needed to address a challenge plaguing Nebraska communities, big and small.

District 42 has many exciting economic development opportunities ahead. Sustainable Beef and the industrial rail park are expected to bring huge job growth, and affordable housing will be essential to support the new labor force. Workers will likely locate within a 50-mile radius of North Platte and communities prepared with affordable housing options will be able to recruit new families.

Now is the time to plan for the 2023 legislative session! If you have ideas to help make housing more affordable in District 42, please reach out. I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your District 42 state senator.

Contact Sen. Mike Jacobson: mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729.

As a life-long farmer, I tend to mark the passing of time in growing seasons. Spring is typically a time for new beginnings, but in the past few years it has been a time of adversity for many Nebraskans. In 2019, our state saw historic flooding that wiped out many a family home and crippled agricultural operations and businesses, big and small, throughout much of Nebraska. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic again brought tragedy for many Nebraskans and forced us to adapt to a new normal.

Now in 2022, devastating wildfires have plagued central and western Nebraska. Just small sparks paired with dry and windy conditions have wreaked havoc on many farms and ranches. Thankfully, it has once again begun to rain. Many people call these rains “million-dollar rains.” However, it seems to me that these may be “billion-dollar rains.”  Our farmers and ranchers are just starting to feel the impact of the disaster. Will wheat farmers be able to take advantage of record prices, or will they be crop-less? Will ranchers have sufficient grassland and crops to feed their cattle herds? Only time will tell, but I’m confident our agricultural community will feel the support of its fellow Nebraskans.

Of course, the destruction would have been much worse without the heroism and incredible bravery of our volunteer and professional firefighters and first responders who literally put their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of others. Our thanks also go out to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, staff of the State Emergency Operations Center and Nebraska Incident Management Team, members serving in the National Guard who provided assistance to local responders, and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Yet again, Nebraska has been blessed with men and women who are willing to answer our calls for help, sometimes to the detriment of their own families and friends. It is hard to fully appreciate their service, and I offer my deepest sympathies to those facing injury and death due to these wildfires. You are forever in our debt.

If you would like to assist with wildfire relief efforts, I encourage you to visit KRVN’s webpage: ruralradio.com/krvn/wildfire-relief.  Producers in need of hay, fencing, or other supplies should visit the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s resource page at: nda.nebraska.gov/disasterresources/index.html.

Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and healthcare workers in District 42 who help keep us safe during the hardest of times.

Constituents can reach Senator Mike Jacobson at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. Our door is always open!

Although the Nebraska Legislature has adjourned the 107th biennium, the Legislative term continues through Jan. 3.

As we move through the summer, I am meeting with groups across the district to better understand their needs and begin drafting legislation for the 108th biennium that begins on Jan. 4.

I plan to continue to write about some of the issues I am seeing and discussing possible solutions.

This week I want to focus on the need for broadband and cell phone connectivity. Take a drive on U.S. Highway 83 to Thedford, or drive Neb. Highway 97 to Mullen, and you will find your cell phone coverage is very limited.

Although all the county seats in District 42 have fiber connections, most of our rural areas are still without high-speed broadband. Go to the eastern half of the state and you find multiple carriers providing high speed internet services at competitive prices.

Broadband services are following the same path that rural electrification once did many years ago. First the larger cities were wired, then the smaller towns, and ultimately the rural areas were connected. The issue always comes down to the cost to get people connected. The technology has improved greatly over the years, and we now can connect people in more remote rural areas by using towers that are connected with fiber.

The tower uses a radio transmitter to connect rural users with the use of a satellite dish. The speed of the connection is much faster than the older technology and the cost is much less than running fiber to each doorstep. The speed is a function of the distance to the tower.

In this past legislative session, I helped pass LB 388 sponsored by Sen. Curt Friesen. The bill is referred to the Broadband Bridge Act. The Broadband Bridge program was created to facilitate and fund the development of broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. The program provides grants of up to $5 million to political subdivisions to be used to install broadband services in areas of the state that lack broadband internet, providing speeds of at least 25 megabits per second for downloading and three megabits per second for uploading.

As precision agriculture continues to demand better connectivity, this type of technology is imperative.
We are also seeing a trend where more and more people are moving out of larger cities in other states to rural areas in the Midwest. Many are young people who are choosing to raise their families in the Midwest where they can access higher quality schools and Midwestern values.

In most cases, these people are keeping their higher paying jobs and simply working remotely from home. We also have limitless possibilities of improving remote learning in our schools if we have a reliable broadband network for students, either in their local school building or in their homes in remote area.

This can only be possible if we have access to high-speed broadband services.

As your state senator, I will continue to fight to better educate those living in the eastern third of the state that we have needs in this end of the state as well. Additionally, I will continue to advocate to invest more of the state’s resources here, as opposed to always focusing east. Far too many state projects such as the Nebraska State Fair, the Veterans Home, and other state funded projects fail to find their way west. I intend to change that.

It is an honor to represent you and District 42 at the Nebraska Legislature. Please continue to reach out to me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729 regarding the issues you care about.

The 2022 Legislative Session is nearly at the close. Monday was the last day to consider bills on Select File (round two of three) and we started with consideration of three critical bills.

LB773 was Sen. Tom Brewer’s constitutional carry bill and a bill I cosponsored. Sen. Brewer asked that the many proponents not speak during the Select File debate so the “nay-sayers” could voice their opposition to the Second Amendment.

Many opponents advocated for an amendment negotiated with Omaha law enforcement to protect local anti-gun policies in Omaha and increase gun-related penalties. Thank you to the many constituents from District 42 who reached out to express their opposition to the Omaha amendment. I was proud to represent the will of District 42 by voting “no” on the amendment and to cease debate so we could vote on the clean bill. Unfortunately, we fell two votes short of cloture due to absent Senators. Sen. Brewer vowed to bring the bill back next year and I look forward to continuing my support of constitutional carry and the Second Amendment.

Next, the body quickly voted to advance LB876 with no further debate. I had joined with other Senators in discussing the opportunities for economic development that racetracks and casinos would provide for western Nebraska when the bill was debated on Friday. LB876 requires a feasibility study before new racetrack licenses can be issued. Due to laws requiring a certain number of Nebraska-bred races, the horseracing industry needs time to catch up with more race days. The feasibility study in LB876 was a way to keep the process moving forward and a much better alternative to the 5- to 7-year moratorium on new tracks proposed by others.

I am still not completely satisfied with the provisions on LB876 and will continue to work to fast-track North Platte’s proposed project. I think there is a way to grow the racing industry responsibly while shortening the timeline for western Nebraska applications. I have been working closely with the North Platte Chamber and Chickasaw Nation representatives on solutions and will continue to work with them – and my colleagues – on a solution over the interim.

The other key legislation from Monday was LB792, Sen. John Lowe’s bill to appropriate funds for the University of Nebraska Medical Center Rural Health Complex on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. This project will help address healthcare workforce shortages by increasing capacity for student training and opportunities to recruit professionals to remain in rural Nebraska after graduation. The Complex will help provide qualified personnel to work in nursing, behavioral health, assisted living, and other healthcare fields.

On Tuesday, the Unicameral kicked off debate and advancement of the dozens of bills waiting on Final Reading to be passed into law. I was particularly pleased to support advancement of two bills that will help District 42 communities address the severe workforce housing shortage.

LB1065 was another bill I cosponsored and made important improvements to micro-TIF. There are additional changes we need to make micro-TIF more workable, and I hope to perfect the process in the future. There is more work yet to be done, but LB1065 was a step in the right direction.

Efforts to expand and clarify provisions in the Middle-Income Workforce Housing Investment Act and the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act in LB1069 will also increase housing opportunities. I was glad to join with 41 of my colleagues to give the last stamp of approval to this bill introduced and prioritized by Sen. Matt Williams.

Wednesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 20 will mark the final two days of the 2022 Legislative Session. There are still important bills for District 42 awaiting final passage, including the Select File bills advanced on Monday, more funding for the Nebraska Advantage Rural Development Act, changes to expand broadband infrastructure, and reductions of sales and use tax collection fees.

As always, my door is open to constituents, and I would love to hear from you at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729. It is an honor to represent you and District 42 at the Nebraska Legislature.