Nebraska Innovation Campus Plans, Prep Moving Ahead |
Plans for Nebraska Innovation Campus are moving forward with a new leadership board overseeing development of the private-public research community.
The campus is being developed on about 250 acres adjacent to UNL and near downtown Lincoln. It’s planned as a premier private-public sector, sustainable research campus that capitalizes on UNL’s research and faculty expertise. Businesses and entrepreneurs will work closely with faculty and students in an innovative environment. The long-term project is designed to strengthen Nebraska’s economy, build public-private collaborations and stimulate job creation.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents in April named representatives to the Innovation Campus Development Corp.’s first board of directors. Private business and university representatives on the nine-member board will guide development and advise regents. Private sector members are: Tom Henning, CEO of Assurity Life Insurance Co.; Dana Bradford, president of McCarthy Capital Corp.; Matt Williams, president of Gothenburg State Bank; Tonn Ostergard, president and CEO of Crete Carrier Corp.; and JoAnn Martin, CEO of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. University representatives are: James B. Milliken, University of Nebraska president; Harvey Perlman, UNL chancellor; Prem S. Paul, UNL vice chancellor for research and economic development; and Ronnie D. Green, NU vice president and vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
UNL took ownership of the property, formerly home to the Nebraska State Fair, on Jan. 1, 2010. Initial site preparation is under way.
Over the next 20 to 25 years, private companies and the university will develop the campus. Development is expected to be two-thirds private and one-third public and will include private, university and government research and office space, retail and recreational space, residential living and perhaps a hotel.
Consultants estimated that when fully developed Nebraska Innovation Campus could create 5,525 new jobs and grow Nebraska’s annual payroll by $267 million.