Engage reports active recruitment, site-readiness study and industry analysis underway

Engage representatives told the Beatrice City Council on April 21 that the organization is conducting an industrial site-readiness study and a parallel target-industry analysis, and reported 15 active recruitment projects as of March 31.

According to the quarterly report, Engage selected Olsen to perform an industrial site-readiness study across Gage County and the city of Beatrice; a steering committee was formed and a kickoff meeting was scheduled. The study will evaluate parcels for infrastructure capacity, site access, zoning and environmental constraints and is intended to guide future site-development priorities and potential Phase I environmental assessments or soil studies. Staff estimated Olsen’s work could complete in roughly six months, with a target to have deliverables by September and certainly by year-end.

Engage said it is conducting a parallel target-industry analysis. Current target industries identified in the packet include advanced manufacturing, food processing, warehouse distribution, data centers/crypto projects and value-added agriculture. Engage staff said the analysis will be run with and without Lincoln/Lancaster County in the regional labor pool so the results can be used for both countywide recruitment and Beatrice-focused downtown or small-site strategies.

The report said Engage conducted nine BREs (business recruitment and expansion visits) during the quarter, had three active leads from a site-selection publication and was working multiple leads generated through state and utility partners. Staff reported two in-person site visits by international companies in the manufacturing sector and noted that one of those companies had visited three times since November. Engage described 15 active projects: three local, two out-of-state and 10 initiated at the state level; staff said they have worked to secure a seat at the table when the Department of Economic Development routes projects to communities.

Council members asked how the city could help; staff encouraged council support in outreach to state officials and noted the governor’s office and state Department of Economic Development have been active in some recruitment projects. Engage staff also flagged workforce and incentives as ongoing constraints and said they are exploring options such as speculative buildings to attract projects that prefer not to purchase land outright.

No council action was required; the presentation was filed for the record.