Why Locate Your Business Here?

Low Industrial Rates - If your business is energy intensive, contact us about relocating here. Cornhusker offers a low industrial rate that is justified by cost of service. We believe our large industrial customers are competitive with any utility in the nation. For rates on your type of business contact Bobby Jones, (402) 564-2821 at Cornhusker Power.

Cornhusker's industrial customers are located in a county industrial tract. Energy sales to commercial and industrial customers have grown 5 percent annually from 24 percent to 31 percent of total sales as food processing companies have moved into the service area.

Abundant Water Resources - One major obstacle for many businesses and producers considering expanding their operations is the availability of a reliable source of quality water. Our area has ample water resources. The Ogallala aquifer found beneath 60 percent of Nebraska's land surface contains 14.5 trillion gallons of water (five times the quantity found in Lake Erie).

Some of Nebraska's tax highlights for agriculture are:

• No state property tax.
• No inventory tax.
• No personal property tax on intangibles.
• No sales tax on agricultural machinery and equipment.
• Sales and use tax refunds are available on depreciated agricultural repairs and repair parts.

It's Safe Here - A growing concern for many families in the United States is the issue of safety of their children. According to Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report, Nebraska was ranked as the fifth lowest in the juvenile violent crime index. Nebraska ranks behind North Dakota, West Virginia, Montana and Wyoming. According to the survey, the four states with the highest violent crime index are Illinois, Delaware, Kentucky and Maryland.

Work Force Is Well Educated - A well-educated labor force provides significant benefits to employers in this area. Nebraska workers are among the most productive, readily trainable and known for their strong work orientation and technical proficiency. The quality of the labor force is enhanced by the high percentage of students graduating from high school. Nebraska high school graduates also score in the top 10 percent in SAT and ACT testing. Nebraska Workforce Development is available to help companies meet their training needs.

College Located In Columbus - In addition to the University of Nebraska system, private colleges and universities and a state college system, a statewide community college system provides specialized training programs for new and expanding Nebraska industries. Central Community College - Platte Campus is located right here in Columbus.

Development Organizations Are Ready to Help - Cornhusker is a member of the Columbus Economic Development Council, the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, the Nebraska Development Network and Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District. We work with these organizations and Nebraska Public Power District to help businesses and industries in determining the best location for new facilities.

Nebraska The Good Life - Because of the safety, education, quality labor and water it is no wonder that the state motto of Nebraska is: NEBRASKA THE GOOD LIFE!!

SmallBizU™ Open for Enrollment at Cornhusker Power

First in its kind, SmallBizU is an eLearning University dedicated to providing local entrepreneurs and small businesses with the real world tools and information they need to be successful.

SmallBizU was launched by Cornhusker Public Power District through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Community and Economic Development Unit to encourage small business development in local communities.

People in the area will have complete access to 25 core courses, each ranging about three hours long, at the SmallBizU Web site. SmallBizU focuses on delivering state-of-the-art small business education with courses featuring the 3M’s: Money, Marketing, and Management.

“Cornhusker Power customers and neighbors can click on the SmallBizU icon and go straight to a self-tutorial covering every facet of small business start-ups,” said Cornhusker Power General Manager Ron Hostetter. “For Cornhusker customers and neighbors it provides opportunities for those who want to launch a small business, entrepreneurs, youngsters interested in starting their own enterprise, retired customers with an idea and graduate students,” he added.

For more information on the SmallBizU program call Judy Trautwein at 1-800-955-2773.

Facts About Our Area

A Community Profile is available for Columbus. To learn more about the economic and demographic trends in this area, please visit: Columbus Community Profile.

For further economic development information, visit the following Web sites:

• Nebraska Public Power District's Economic Development (sites.nppd.com)
• NEDI Online (Nebraska Economic Development Information)
• Nebraska Department of Economic Development

Additional economic and demographic data within Cornhusker's service territory: