Date:

August 23, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Rick Hoppe, Mayor’s Office, 441-7511

Mayor Chris Beutler today announced that he is reorganizing the City’s economic development team and will develop a new plan to create and retain jobs.

"Changes to the national and state economy demand a new economic development vision for Lincoln's future," said Mayor Beutler. "Over the next 90 days, I will develop a new plan to meet a dynamic economic landscape and give Lincoln a new direction."

Beutler said he has already taken three steps to strengthen the City’s economic development efforts:

• The creation of a Mayor's Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy or MOVE Council, to examine policy and plan for the future. Beutler said the MOVE Council, created in May, already has made an important contribution on a key economic development tool. "I plan to use the Council's help to develop more of our City's ‘big picture,’" he said.
• The appointment of former State Senator Dave Landis as Director of the City's Urban Development. "Dave crafted several of Nebraska's economic incentive programs at the State level, and I want to use his experience to make our City more aggressive and creative in attracting new projects," Beutler said.
• The initiation of a process to create a centralized development services center to cut red tape and speed business growth and job creation.

"Now, it is time to thoroughly examine the City's economic development plan, integrate it closely with the work of Lincoln's private sector efforts, and develop a new model that reflects our goals for the future," Beutler said.

Beutler said he will discontinue the economic development position in the Mayor's office until determining what that role will involve in the future. "Unfortunately, this means the City will lose the services Darl Naumann, who has been has been a champion for job growth for the past five years," he said. "Darl has been instrumental in the addition of several thousand jobs. We are grateful for the hard work of an outstanding public servant."

Naumann was hired in 2002 as the Economic Development Coordinator for the City, Lancaster County and the Lincoln Electric System. Beutler said it was inappropriate to keep funding the position and unfair to Naumann to keep his future in limbo. "I'm considering an option to move this position to the private sector to eliminate duplication and provide more cohesion in our contacts with potential businesses."

Beutler said he is looking forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, the Lincoln Independent Business Association, the Lincoln Board of Realtors, the Home Builders Association of Lincoln and other partners to create an economic development plan that further strengthens the community.