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Gross Sarpy reports permit rebound, 74 business visits and flags state budget risks to local incentives
Summary
Alicia Sheeb of Gross Sarpy told commissioners that building permits rebounded above 2023 levels, the office completed 74 business retention and expansion visits in 2024, and that pending state actions (including LB650 and other proposals) could reduce or remove incentive tools used to recruit and retain employers.
Alicia Sheeb, representing Gross Sarpy, told the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners that countywide building-permit activity rebounded above 2023 levels and that the economic-development office completed 74 business retention and expansion visits in 2024. She said the office had a healthy project pipeline but reported zero “landed projects” in 2024 in the office’s metric because leadership turnover prompted the staff to decline taking credit for projects they did not lead.
“She said Gross Sarpy is watching a slate of legislative items at the state level, including LB650 and other proposals that would sun set or reduce incentive programs and sales-tax exemptions the county and the region use to attract and retain employers,” the transcript records Sheeb saying. “We’re definitely taking a very close look at the budget.” She asked the board to be prepared to advocate if needed, noting incentive reductions could affect workforce and site-development tools the county uses.
Commissioner Don (as listed on the record) described traveling to Lincoln to testify on a bill related to the county’s documentary-stamp authority. He said Sarpy County collects about $4,000,000 a year through the county’s doc-stamp process and currently retains 22 percent of the receipts; he told senators that the county’s retained share barely covers the personnel costs required to process deed transfers. "It's about $4,000,000 a year here in Sarpy County and we could keep 22% of it," he said on the record, and argued counties should be able to retain a larger share to cover processing costs.
Commissioners and staff also discussed recent outreach: Gross Sarpy celebrated its 50th anniversary and hosted its annual meeting, and the county has been developing stronger ties with the Offutt Air Force Base community and the Omaha Chamber on base-community partnership issues. Commissioners praised the outreach and said they want Gross Sarpy plugged into military-community discussions and quarterly coordination with the Omaha chamber.
Sheeb also summarized strategic metrics distributed in the meeting packet: a one-page year-end packet of 12 pages of reports (not read in full at the meeting) and a statement that the organization will continue to monitor state budget developments and report back to county administration.
The board did not take formal action on policy changes during the presentation. Commissioners requested continued briefings and further information on how potential state-level funding changes could affect local incentive programs.
