Partners for Progress Civic Engagement Forum Report

Transcription

1 Round 1 Regional Features/Strengths Table 1 Peru State College Good schools education Natural and man made beauty Small towns & communities Recreational opportunities Quality of life Cooper Nuc. Station Tourism Medical facilities Missouri River People Variety of jobs short travel time Central U.S. location Cultural (arts) community Safe area friendly Table 2 Lied Lodge, Arbor Orchard Work ethic (rural) Cultural, historical, and educational venues & tourism Agriculture industry economy Education post-secondary (Peru State & SCC) Physical environment (river) & location Brownville, NE Missouri River Transportation system (highways) rails & Location Mid-America location Low crime rate Table 3 Positive attitude of people Pride/commitment to community Passionate, caring people Tourism Small communities/low crime Access to I29 & I 80 Location, proximity to major cities Education/quality/affordable Low unemployment People willing to help when needed Good place to raise a family Strong support of communities from radio stations Natural beauty of area Located in a 4 state corner Lots of opportunities Work ethic

2 Table 4 Agriculture/productive land; medium/large employers (industrial diverse); good schools - Public/private/PSC Rural location/low crime rate, beautiful area draws tourism, NPPD, OPPD, TSC1, Peru State College, strong public sector Rail infrastructure, major interstate connections, water ways Strong leadership in each county that care about future success, Historic region, Fiber communications, cultural diverse (Native American, Amish), Economic diversity, supportive services, low unemployment Energy Mecca (wind, coal, nuclear, oil) niobium, topography Table 5 Lower cost of living, strong work ethic, lots of jobs for size of region, good education systems for youth, People willing to work for a change and growth Most of region financially stable/cost of living Proximity to metro areas/network service resources, natural setting, close to other states Colleges nearby/education, small town values Transportation routes available, population density, large agriculture econ Healthcare good for small communities/tourism Table 6 Topography/geography, history/tourism Entertainment/recreation Small town lifestyle/ag lifestyle, agriculture, ag based life Local college, PSC, CNS, Tecumseh State prison, education SE NE people, low crime rate Hospitals. Healthcare

3 Table 7 Educational Post-secondary (Peru State & SCC) People, Friendly, Work ethic (rural) Cultural, historical significance and educational venues & tourism: Steamboat trace, Arbor Day, Lied Lodge, Applejack festival, Neb City, Brownville events Economic Potential Agriculture industry economy, good farming Beautiful physical Environment (river) and location Rural initiatives Missouri River Transportation system (highways) Rails & location Mid-America location Low crime rate Strong financial institutions Cooper nuclear station Strong communities Cohesive partnership Table 8 Safe environment to live in Quality of life Peru State College/ Education system Motivated workforce Local media presence Cultural opportunities- Brownville/school Rich in history Cooperation among residents Spiritual opportunity Missouri River - geographical features Outdoor recreation Service resources Local industries for jobs Production ag livestock/crops Report Out Top Regional Features Voting Special Features Summary Count Educational Systems - Peru State College 33 History & Tourism 19 Quality of Life 17 Agricultural/Production Livestock/crops 15 Transportation Routes 10 Work Ethic 10 Outdoor recreation & parks 10 Motivated leadership within each county 7 Cultural Area 7 Energy Mecca 6

4 Financially stable - cost of living 6 Centrally located nationally 6 Events/arts/historical 5 Water 4 Small Town Lifestyle 4 Healthcare opportunities 3 Safety and low crime 3 Public Power Districts 3 Economic Diversity 2 Physical Environment 2 People-friendly 1 Variety of Jobs 1 Services/Resources - Ext Senca 0 State Correctional 0 Local Media presence 0 Pride & Commitment to community 0 Economic Potential 0 Spiritual Opportunities 0

5 Round 2 Regional Challenges Table 1 Keep young people at home Aging population Not enough skilled workforce Lack of well paying jobs Transfer of wealth (farms & biz) Lack of employment opportunities Lack of communication broadband Lack of entrepreneurship training Lack of support for business start-ups Shopt at home loyalty Housing Infrastructure needs updated Water quality/quantity Lack of entertainment Hard to convince people to change Table 2 Job shortage - community amenities Decrease in population (aging), school closures Economic diversity, work ethic Increasing poverty/low income, lack of skilled workforce Brain drain, diversity, community involvement Attracting and retaining young families, city/county tax shortfall Cell phone service, fiber optics Lack of health care services High real estate taxes Housing Transfer of wealth Low philanthropic (i.e., Kiewit)

6 Table 3 Lack of employment opportunities Crime rate Low population Lack of housing Distance between Lincoln & Omaha for delivery of goods/services Community & rural infrastructure to be updated (roads, etc.) Difficult in recruiting employees due to low population Decline of small businesses Tax structure (real estate tax too high) Availability of services (restaurants, retail, etc) Student loan debt impacts enrollment Community events need to be updated/refreshed Lack of regional awareness (available events, tourism, etc.) Religion and language (differences in awareness) Table 4 Coordinating efforts, increase/improve communication, cooperation between groups, communities, organizations Availability of workforce/low unemployment, weather, shopping local, road construction, declining roads, aging infrastructure Educate work force/training for skilled jobs, keeping good jobs that require education Poverty, lack of diversification in jobs, housing, keeping youth at home Infrastructure Table 5 Retaining younger generation workforce, attracting outside talent Shortage of skilled labor force Quality of infrastructure - roads, building age, water/sewer Continued migration out of people Career Advancement, business retention Success planning Youth development/leadership Quality of 2nd job/income spouse Affordable quality housing Low wages Public transportation Tax base

7 Table 6 Career exploration for next generation, skill gap, Vocational training, Industrial development, job opportunities Bringing new businesses, retain businesses Aging population, losing population, retain/sustain business, retain youth Revitalize downtowns Drug deterrents Ag economy Lack of state aid to schools Large industry to bring families/youth Difficulty filling jobs Table 7 Availability of high paying technical jobs Availability of conveniences, entertainment, shopping Technically trained workforce Draw to keep young people in area after graduation Capitalizing on midwest location and X-roads of BN & UP East-West highway access (limited) Outmigration of people Capitalizing on Mo-basin recreation Project funding Getting industries to locate in our area Keeping young people Gaining new businesses Enforcing code laws Retaining correctional employees Maintaining infrastructure (roads) Declining housing stock Again population Workforce training for existing businesses

8 Table 8 Dependable volunteers Adequate job training for needs Keeping city & rural areas physically clean Retain youth Lack of people Cost of ag land Easy escape to metro areas Lack of business needs perceptions i.e., jobs, Real estate tax Low commodity prices Unproductive citizens, Youth/children & system of management/social services Population loss/retention Attracting new businesses/employers to area Attracting & retaining youth Transfer of wealth Lifestyle out of vogue perception Technical/vocational jobs not being sold for their value:, Housing opportunity Report Out Top Regional Challenges Voting Top Regional Challenges Summary Count Keeping Youth/ Availability of workforce/lack of skilled workers 23 Shortage of quality jobs 19 Attracting and retaining young families 14 Retaining business or bringing in new businesses 12 Lack of housing choices 10 Availability of services (entertainment, restaurants, & retail) 10 Maintaining infrastructure 9 Lack of Business Development startups 9 Cell phone & fiber optics 8 Outmigration 7 Adequate training of workforce 6 Transfer of wealth 5 Poverty 4 Aging Population 4 Drug Use 4 Real Estate Taxes & Ag land costs 4 Skill gaps 3 Low population 2 Growing crime rate 2 Succession Planning 2 Lack of regional awareness of events/tourism 2 Job diversity (wage, salary, occupation) 2 Lack of 2nd job income (spousal) 2

9 Lack of career advancement and wages 1 Population retention due to Metro creep 1 Community events updated and/or refreshed 1 Lack of coordination between groups/communities 1 Capitalization on midwest location and crossroads of BN & UP railroads 1 Lack of public transportation 0 Tax shortage on city/county government 0 Report Out Top Regional Challenges Voting

10 Round 3 Strengths and Challenges based on Data

11 Round 3 Strengths and Challenges based on Data Strengths Have the people graduating from high school # of business launches Manufacturing -- civic minded businesses Increase in Educational Services - What is it? Mining, oil, gas -- opportunities/promising Total population in poverty (down) Low employment- people who want jobs have jobs Population is starting to rebound Multi-culture/different ethnic groups Higher high school graduation rate Demographics - population growth (10-29yrs), increase in diversity Human Capital - higher HS grad rate, assoc degree same as state Labor Force - unemployment better than state average, opportunity for growth in mining Stage 3, Labor costs-competitive, opportunities to grow small businesses High % of young people. Average income is higher than expected on line availability for education Demographics: small increase in minority population Human Capital: available workforce (20-29). Note: a lot of work force commutes out of the region. Growth in well paying jobs (finance, insurance, real estate, Ed. Services) Human Capital: available entry level workforce Demographics: Immigration, growing, experience level Human Capital: education level, ag background, comparable to state Labor force: outmigration Increase in age group Increase in Ethnicity Increasing number of jobs More people looking for jobs Challenges # of out commuters Regional earnings 10% lower than rest of state Skills gap in labor force Universal (down) in sales for establishments, not consistent with # of jobs Projected decrease population Average income lower (refer page 17) Empty businesses/retail/storefronts Updated data/specific data, fewer service businesses Purchasing online (up) retail (down) Half population drives out-of-town for work -- purchase at work location Migration of workers to other cities Wages/not as competitive Higher poverty level Lack of skilled worker/retiring boomers Projected declining/lower population Retention of Industry Getting educators & Industry to work together to educate youth Lack of communication skills/soft employability skills Demographics - leech of prime working age individuals, increase in poverty, aging population Human Capital - out-migration of young people, due to limited educational opportunities, decrease of post-secondary education attainment Labor Force - unemployment rate, commuters spending money where they work, commuting out is commuting in lower wages Going out of region for work Lack of technical education in high school system Lack of vocational education in high school system

12 Lack of quality work force - motivated/trained Population decline/how to grow? Poverty is a challenge Closing of establishments Demographics: population decline, Poverty Human Capital: lower education attainment Labor Force: Page 22 sales (down) jobs (up) Demographics: cultural blending, decrease in working age, language Matching education to skills, exchange of industry knowledge, proper training, seasonal, access to finance & professional services Outmigration, compensation, proximity of schools Poverty Rising/kids in school, lower educational attainment Declining population Lower level of STEM jobs Factory shut-down due to corporate outsourcing

13 Round 4 Opportunities from Strengths

14 Round 4 Opportunities from Strengths Opportunities Expanding Colleges SCC in the region for Vocational training Incorporating career academics in High schools Increased diversity in ethnic workforce Opportunity to grow energy sector (mining, oil, gas) Utilizing the Missouri River -- physical/economical potential Drug Education awareness DARE Moving from poverty to apprenticeships to skilled jobs Employer scholarships, trades & STEM Market analysis of available jobs Identify companies willing to participate Identify youth- mentoring, school partnerships Create opportunities to keep existing workforce in region Increase skillsets of high school students applicable to existing business & industry needs; technology (work w/ SEC) Help businesses prepare for new employees/succession. Existing workforce training businesses pay to help employees further education PSC) Promote Peru State College and region as a whole coordinate effort among region to help students access services/communities in areas - STUDENT HELP AREA Matching Education to skills our employers need (i.e., STEM) Make out commuters a part of our regional workforce Gather wage data from outside the region so we can see if our region's wages are competitive Innovative/new tourism opportunities Recruit state 3 company to the region Housing to meet desires of potential residents Post-secondary education outreach to HS kids Vocational education to match/feed employers Technology Awareness Communications tech Attracting the populace Increase business density jobs Spare time activities Challenge/Strength addressed Poverty, unskilled labor Start discussion with school, business, parents and volunteers Start small, identify performance indicators, identify resources, work with parents People willing to be involved Net migration Address need for skilled labor; new business Aging workforce. Addresses workforce challenges Increase awareness of assets, regional tourism Engages students, could help with keeping students in area after graduation Limited post-secondary options. How do we keep youth in regions & avoid brain drain larger more skilled workforce NPPD gathers data every 25 years new activities that engage youth & spur tourism diversify our employer base lofts/upper level tuition/debt educate counselors and mentors Lack of providers Tell the story counterpart to upper level housing

15 Community involvement combatting poverty Retain youth thru ed opportunities Attract employers People prefer to work locally instead of travel Promote current bus New bus based on strengths of youth & tech ability PSC Market- Degree to mid-level managers so they complete 4 year degree Locally grown food Increase Cultural Amenities Housing Attract Developers Fiber Infrastructure - to attract Recruiting people not like us Provide ed opp. Locally Lower cost for them Demo. Workforce is available; deceptive unemployment #s Business is already there Opp for tech training - ties back to first point Ed Strengths & 4 year degree Ag + tourism + Amenities

16 Report Out Top Regional Features Voting Special Features Summary Count Educational Systems - Peru State College 33 History & Tourism 19 Quality of Life 17 Agricultural/Production Livestock/crops 15 Transportation Routes 10 Work Ethic 10 Outdoor recreation & parks 10 Motivated leadership within each county 7 Cultural Area 7 Energy Mecca 6 Financially stable - cost of living 6 Centrally located nationally 6 Events/arts/historical 5 Water 4 Small Town Lifestyle 4 Healthcare opportunities 3 Safety and low crime 3 Public Power Districts 3 Economic Diversity 2 Physical Environment 2 People-friendly 1 Variety of Jobs 1 Services/Resources - Ext Senca 0 State Correctional 0 Local Media presence 0 Pride & Commitment to community 0 Economic Potential 0 Spiritual Opportunities 0