Q4
2015
NO STANDSTILL. NO OFF SWITCH. ONLY MOMENTUM.
We demonstrated our relentless commitment in 2015 by meeting all of our economic development goals, driving the growth
of our regional economy forward by successfully landing 83 projects, representing 4,126 jobs and more than $686 million
in capital investment. We up-ended the status quo – and supported the success of our members – by implementing a slate
of exciting and influential new programs including GENERATE, Make / Happen and REACH. We are energized and eager to
continue our catalytic role in the community, championing a thriving business community and a prosperous region not just for
some, but for all.
Our inaugural Make / Happen conference brought doers together – those ready to push themselves to create real plans
of action – bettering themselves, their career and our community. Attendees began the day with a set intention and left
inspired to make a difference. To continue the postive momentum garnered from this daylong conference, ongoing
communication will occur to touch base on action plans and follow the impact they are creating throughout our community.
Green Plains Energy announced plans to
locate their new headquarters facility in
Aksarben Village. The three-story, 53,000
square foot building to be completed next
year can accommodate up to 400 people
allowing for future growth. We provided
Green Plains with incentive assistance.
Our #WeKeepTalent initiative continues to
grow and displaced employees are finding
new opportunities right here. 596 job
seekers are currently signed up through our
job portal and 219 companies are
committed to hiring and keeping our talent
in our region.
Chamber staff, Mayor Stothert and volunteer business leaders visited the Silicon Valley in
November, further developing relationships with existing headquarters throughout the region
and making new connections to educate companies about Greater Omaha’s business
advantages. The team conducted six HQ visits, five attraction visits and met with three
startup/venture capital firms.
#3 – Best States for
Business (Nebraska)
Forbes
A Best City for
Global Trade
Global Trade Magazine
THE NEXT BIG THING HAPPENS HERE
Top 10 State for
Business Climate
U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Foundation
Deliver relevant and high quality member
programs, events, services and information
GOAL
Membership Base
New Memberships - Q4
Dropped Memberships - Q4
Actual
Goal
Actual
Goal
125
122
117
<110
Year End Goal - 500
Year End Goal - 470
500
505 YTD
449 YTD
$ 49,215
$ 48,800
$ 53,723
<$43,450
Year End Goal - $200,000
Year End Goal - $185,650
$194,509 YTD
$195,689 YTD
Event Engagement
14 Chamber Events - Q4
1,924 Attendees - Q4
110 Economic Development | 1,191 Signature Events
40 Young Professionals | 583 Member Services
4
*Membership Numbers exclude Holiday Appreciation Party
Economic Development
6
Attendee Satisfaction - Q4
Signature Events
Young Professionals
2
Member Services
Average Rating
4.3
5
Goal
1
2
2
3
4
5
Marketing
OmahaChamber.org Web Analytics - Q4
Total Site Visits
New Visitors
Returning Visitors
Average Time on Website
Measures of Organizational Image - Q4
41,988
19,712
22,276
2 minutes, 44 seconds
Earned Media
Number of Articles
Readership
Advertising Impressions
72
4,987,542
40,000
Greater Omaha Chamber Social Media Channels
Communication Effectiveness - Q4
Total e-communications Sent
Average Number of Individuals Sent to
22
4,574 Fans
12,307 Followers
1,862 Followers
9,806
Goal: 4,718
Goal: 13,450
Goal: 2,000
Average Percent Delivered
99%
Impressions: 192,307
Impressions: 172,249
Impressions: 59,994
Average Percent Opened
18%
Engagement: 48,370
Engagement: 3,236
Engagement: 1,250
Page 2
Q4 Report - 2015
Create, grow and recruit businesses, jobs and
investment in the region
GOAL
Landed Projects
Capital Investment - Q4
$65,897,000
Number of Projects
16
15
Q4
Quarter Goal: $150,000,000
Year to Date: $686,767,500
Year End Goal: $600,000,000
83
Year to Date
60
Year End
Goal
Total Jobs - Q4
545 Total Jobs
60
0
20
Actual
40
60
80
182 New Jobs | 363 Retained Jobs
Year to Date: 4,126 Total Jobs
Year End Goal: 2,400 Total Jobs
Projection
Project Pipeline
62 Files Opened - Q4
Year to Date: 253
Year End Goal: 200
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Startups Launched
30
28
25
20
20
15
20
10
5
7
5
0
Q4
32
Year to Date
Year End Goal
30
Actual
Projection
$17,387,000 Invested - Q4
Year to Date: $33,295,500
Year End Goal: $30,000,000
New to Market / Start Up
Retention / Expansion
SelectGreaterOmaha.com
11 Prospect Visits - Q4
Website Analytics
Year to Date: 77 Visits
Year End Goal: 60 Visits
Total Site Visits
New Visitors
Returning Visitors
Average Time on Website
Page 3
Q4 Report - 2015
5,110
3,331
1,779
1 minute, 50 seconds
GOAL
Foster a more competitive business
environment
Public Policy
Public Policy Engagement - Q4
Potential Candidate Training - Q4
Status Update:
• Completed a series of multiparty discussions aimed at guiding tax policy
debate in the Legislature’s 2016 session.
• Held multiple meetings with various interests to develop a united legislative
agenda for 2016 and to address needs of specific members.
• Provided testimony at a hearing of the Legislature’s special committee on
school finance.
• Provided testimony at the Legislature’s Transportation Committee hearing on
infrastructure funding.
• Implemented the Transportation Council’s multi-pronged/multi-model
approach to addressing the Metro’s transportation needs.
• Hosted a meeting of Metro area senators on the Chamber’s workforce efforts
aimed at talent retention and placement related to recent area layoffs.
• Second Candidate Academy with
Chris Peterson and Victoria Kohout
is scheduled for January 16.
• Workshop will focus on potential
candidates who are just beginning
to consider a run for office.
• Candidate Academy is a long-term
strategy - 3 to 5 years in developing
candidates. Parallel to these efforts
will be efforts to identify and
encourage candidates to run in the
short-term.
• Launched a multiyear PAC fundraising effort.
• Continued candidate relations and recruitment efforts for the 2016 elections.
Site Development
GO! Ready Sites
Industrial Property Under Contract
Q4 Progress: Six sites have applied for GO Ready site certification and are
completing final stages of site planning and due diligence. Fremont Business
Park has received GO Ready Status. Extensive site conceptulization and
engineering has occured for a Bellevue location - a concept presentation to
developers will occur at the beginning of 2016. Received Site Building
Development Fund grant to assist in full engineering of sewer plan for 750
acres along Highway 50 and 370 - design will be complete in 2016 with plans to
seek additional funding for construction of sewer. Developed inital pro forma for
acquisition and development of 160 acre site to create further subdividable lots
to meet current market gap in industrial sites. Held six broker events in 2015 to
promote available sites and identify additional opportunities for investigation.
Annual Goal: Five available sites for development.
Q4 Progress: The Partnership has eight sites
under control: 4 sites under option (2 in Sarpy,
1 in Douglas, 1 in Washington) and 4 sites
owned by the EDC or local government (4-Mile
in Plattsmouth, Fremont Business Park, South
Point in Council Bluffs and Bellevue property).
Council Bluffs Industrial Foundation purchased
an additional 92 acres to expand South Point
Business Park.
Annual Goal: Maintain five industrial properties
under contract.
Community Development Financial Institution
Program Status Update
ON TRACK
FOR
COMPLETION
Worked with cross-sector leaders and further outlined organizational structure, board
membership and selection process, and possible partnership with an existing
community development financial institution to manage the loan fund. Secured a grant
from First National Bank for operations funding. Explored consulting services to assist
with naming the organization.
Page 4
Q4 Report - 2015
GOAL
Grow, recruit and retain the talent and workforce
needed for the future
Leadership Development
Leadership Omaha Status Updates - Q4
Omaha Executive Institute - Q4
Quality of Life
Health &
Human Services
Government
October Seminar
November Seminar
December Seminar
Business &
Education
Economic Development
Government
October Seminar
November Seminar
December Seminar
4.5 / 5.0 Rating
4.6 / 5.0 Rating
3.9 / 5.0 Rating
Talent & Workforce
Initiatives in Progress - Q4
We Keep Talent Initiative - Q4
Diverse Talent Attraction
596 Job Seekers
219 Companies committed to keep talent in our region
9,023 Number of Jobs Available
Recruiter Tools and Training
WeDontCoast.com Web Analytics - Q4
Regional Tech Talent Initiative
College Student Marketing
Regional Workforce Collaboration
Total Site Visits
14,146
New Visitors
10,194
3,952
Returning Visitors
Average Time on Website
1 minute, 58 seconds
Young Professionals
Young Professionals Council
Omaha YP Social Media Channels
Fans: 5,442
Impressions: 44,699
Followers: 7,099
Impressions: 40,700
OmahaYP.com Website Analytics
Website Visitors
7,122
Page 5
Q4 Report - 2015
 Held 15 Council Meetings
 Transitions to new council chairs underway
2016 YP Summit planning is in progress
for March 2016
GOAL
Operate the Chamber with excellence
Organizational Resources
Revenue - Q4
$980,248
Expenses - Q4
$1,130,129
*Through 11/30/2015
*Through 11/30/2015
Salaries / Fringe Benefits
Membership Dues
Promotion
Prosper Omaha
Professional & Consulting
Events / Programs
PO Grants & Special Projects
Other
Operations
Total Revenue Year to Date: $6,898,896
Revenue is 6.63 percent behind budget
Total Expenses Year to Date: $6,468,093
Expenses are 6.43 percent better than budget
Prosper Omaha Fundraising
President's Strategic Relationships - Q4
255 Investors
Strategic Meetings
Media Events / Interviews
Speaking Engagements
Chamber Events / Meetings
Board 1:1's
Prosper Omaha Meetings
$24,125,610
Goal: $24,000,000
Q4
Year to Date
54
6
14
44
6
9
235
31
54
243
63
39
Technology & Research
 Security audit document was presented to the audit committee and passed.
 Project completed to shift storage of consumer credit card information from our CRM to PayPal.
 Launched a technology advisory group.
 In the process of completing the automation of ACH payments.
 In Research completed 63 research requests including significant support to: Omaha Community Foundation's Landscape Project,
GOEDP's Project Rawhide, in-depth analysis of the 2015 YP survey and the Chamber's ConAgra response and Talent Retention Plan.
 Assisted in executing a successful Economic Outlook Luncheon with economist and futurist Rebecca Ryan.
 Continuned updating and adding data points to the "The Brain", the Chamber's internal clearing house of data.
 Research on-boarded a new graduate intern who has a strong professional background in market research.
Marketing
Employee Engagement
Measures of Omaha Region Image
Earned Media
Number of Articles
Readership
Advertising Impressions
Employee Turnover
Q4
Year to Date
135
589
13,421,183 44,559,448
5,560,473 19,384,950
Full Time
Part Time
Employees Hired
2
2
Employees Exited
2
0
Employee Engagement Opportunities
We Don’t Coast Social Media Channels
2,516 Fans
1,949 Followers
673 Followers
Opportunities for employee engagement including:
3 All-Staff Meetings & 3 Socials
2 Chamber YP Meetings
0 Manager Meetings
0 Mentor Get Together
Goal: 3,000
Goal: 4,000
Goal: 500
3 Employee Committee Meetings including:
Impressions: 71,780
Impressions: 68,284
Interactions: 1,139
Safety, Social and Wellness meetings
Engagement: 6,734
Interactions: 3,166
Page 6
Q4 Report - 2015
2015 Annual Measures
GOAL: Deliver relevant and high quality member programs, events, services and information
Annual Measures
2015 Outcomes
Increase in net membership base (>3,100 members
and $1,950,000 in dues)
Increased net membership by 56 members for a total active membership
base of 3,146 and estimated dues revenue total of $1,973,023
Develop benchmark data for member engagement
We surveyed more than 8,400 attendees from 82 events and
programs. Satisfaction surveys were distributed for various
programming with an overall average rating of 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.
GOAL: Create, grow and recruit businesses, jobs and investment in the region
Annual Measures
2015 Outcomes
GDP Growth: greater than 2.5 percent
GDP growth from 2013 - 2014: 2.4 percent
Civilian employment: 1 percent growth annually
Civilian employment: 0.28 percent growth annually
$600 million in investment from landed projects
$686,767,500 in investment from landed projects
2,400 new and retained jobs associated with landed
projects at or above median wage
88% of the 4,126 new and retained jobs associated with landed projects
were at or above median wage
500 business visits
532 business visits
20 tech startups launched
28 tech startups launched
$30 million in capital deployed or received
$33,295,500 in capital deployed or received
GOAL: Foster a more competitive business enviroment
Annual Measures
2015 Outcomes
Key bills passed in legislature
Key bills passed in legislature:
LB 81 provided a measure of relief from the effects of the childcare
assistance cliff. This will allow more employees to accept advancement
without losing the assistance. Approved 47-0.
LB 156 increased investments in startup businesses through the
Angel Investment Tax Credit Act. Approved 46-0.
LB 259 exempted $10,000 in business equipment from the personal
property. Approved 47-0.
LB 414 granted tax-exempt status to fraternal benefit societies in
Nebraska. Approved 33-13.
LB 419 provided a sales tax exemption for zoos. Approved 39-5.
LB 457 provided additional funds for the Site and Building Fund.
Approved 46-0.
LB 559 fixed an anomaly in the New Markets Tax Credit Act.
Approved 45-0.
LB 623 authorized driver’s licenses for people with DACA status.
Approved 34-10.
LB 629 authorized ride sharing services such as Lyft and Uber.
Approved 47-0.
Improved competitive rankings
Nebraska's Tax Foundation ranking improved from 29th to 27th.
The income tax rank improved from 25th to 24th.
Increase member PAC participation
No additional active donors in 2015, but a three year PAC fundraising
effort is launching in January 2016.
A Community Development Financial Institution
created
A Community Development Financial Institution creation in process.
Page 7
Q4 Report - 2015
2015 Annual Measures
GOAL: Grow, recruit and retain the talent and workforce needed for the future
Annual Measures
2015 Outcomes
Increase number of individuals employed
Increased number of individuals employed by 1.40 percent
Increase number of individuals employed at
above-media wage income
Increased number of individuals employed at above-media wage
income by N/A percent
Increase percent of individuals with postsecondary degrees
Increased percent of individuals with post-secondary degrees
by 1.13 percent
Increase percent of high school graduates going on
to 2 and 4 year colleges
Increased percent of high school graduates going on to 2 and 4
year colleges by N/A percent
Increase percent of high school graduates
Increased percent of high school graduates by 0.80 percent
GOAL: Operate the Chamber with excellence
Annual Measures
2015 Outcomes
Expenses and income managed to budget
Expenses and income have been managed to budget (thru Nov. 2015).
Continued focus on employee engagement monitored
by Q-12 scores and dialogue
Q-12 overall score was in 98th percentile and are the best results to date.
Accomplishment of Chamber goals and objectives
Accomplished majority of planned goals as well as several unplanned
projects and programs.
Board, member, sponsor and investor feedback
Feedback is uniformly positive - 2015 Chamber of the Year!
Engagement in community projects
Involved in virtually all major community activities relevant to our mission.
Statewide relationship building
Strong partnerships developed with Lincoln, State of Nebraska, Governer's
Office, Regional Partner's, State Chamber and Statewide Local Chambers.
Chamber program promotion in community
Development and marketing of several new initiatives as well as longstanding
efforts resulted in more aggressive marketing of Chamber in community.
Page 8
Q4 Report - 2015