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Nebraska Thrive & Retain Initiative

The objective of the Nebraska Thrive and Retain Initiative is to empower Nebraska communities and organizations to create welcoming and supportive environments to benefit workforce attraction efforts and enhance the retention of new residents. By taking proposals to sponsor innovative projects and initiatives, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s Nebraska Thrive and Retain Initiative aims to foster connections, promote engagement, and ensure all newcomers feel welcomed, valued, and connected in their communities, ultimately contributing to a vibrant and thriving workforce across the state.

Criteria

Location and Focus
Eligible applicants must be located within the state of Nebraska and their proposed project focused on workforce retention of new Nebraskan residents.

Type of Organizations
Applications will be accepted from a variety of organizations, including but not limited to:

Nonprofit organizations
Nebraska-based businesses
Educational institutions
Local government entities
Community foundations
Chambers of commerce

Project Scope
Proposed projects should focus on improving the welcome, inclusion, and integration of New Nebraskan residents, including, but not limited to:

Community events
Resource development (toolkits, guides)
Networking opportunities
Support services (workshops, language classes, community connection resources )

Community Involvement
Applications should show evidence of community involvement in the planning and execution of the project. This could include:

Partnerships with local businesses, organizations, or residents
Letters of support or endorsements from community leaders

Funding Leverage and Matching Contributions
Funding prioritization will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong cash and/or in-kind matching contributions.

Monitoring & Reporting
Applicants are encouraged to measure the impact of their projects on new residents and the community, including specific metrics related to retention and engagement. Metrics may be requested by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, but not required for program participation.

All awardees must agree to utilize Nebraska’s talent attraction campaign: The Good Life Is Calling branding. This could involve providing Nebraska Department of Economic Development with new Nebraskan information, promoting The Good Life is Calling welcome promotions, and other inbound tracking initiatives.

Future Outlook
Applicants will receive additional points if they include a plan for sustaining the project’s impact beyond the funding period, demonstrating a commitment to long-term support for new residents.

Ineligible Expenses:
Awarded sponsorship funds must not be used for the payment of the following items:

Any political fundraising or campaigning activities
Construction projects or costs

Brand Inclusion:

Projects must include The Good Life Is Calling logo on promotional materials, project documents, etc.

Application Overview

Best Practices and Resources

Community Engagement

Actively involve existing residents and stakeholders in project planning to ensure initiatives reflect local needs and strengths. Host focus groups or town hall meetings to gather input and foster buy-in from the community.

Inclusivity

Design accessible programs for diverse populations.
Offer language support and culturally relevant resources to enhance participation.

Partnership Development

Build strong partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions to leverage resources and expertise.
Encourage collaboration among organizations to create comprehensive support systems for new residents.

Regular Feedback and Adaptation

Implement mechanisms for ongoing feedback from participants to continually refine and improve initiatives.
Be flexible and willing to adapt programs based on community input and changing needs.

Clear Communication

Use multiple channels (social media, community boards, newsletters, businesses) to communicate programs and resources effectively to both newcomers and long-time residents.
Create user-friendly materials that outline available support and services for new residents.

Sustainability Planning

Develop sustainability plans that outline how projects will continue to benefit the community after initial funding ends.
Seek ongoing funding sources or partnerships to maintain program momentum.

Examples

Establishing a Young Professional Network in the community to help connect new young talent to professionals in the local business community.
Establish a regional/community new resident connection guide or concierge service that helps connect new resident talent to needed resources, businesses, and people (i.e. realtors, movers, childcare options, community events, educational opportunities, etc.).
Create local welcome activities to help new talent engage with the community by linking them to key needed businesses, resources, organizations, and community events.
Establish an English language program for non-English speaking new Nebraskans that help them increase their English proficiency.
Offer training programs for local organizations on community engagement, inclusive practices, and/or cultural competency.