Pub. 10 2015-2016 Issue 6

March/April 2016 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Securing Nebraska’s Future Through Housing Development 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Editorial Staff Richard J. Baier Joni Sundquist NBA President & CEO Senior Vice President of Communications richard.baier@nebankers.org joni.sundquist@nebankers.org  President’s Message — continued on page 11 Richard J. Baier, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association Michael Pate NBA Chairman (402) 916-1401 United Republic Bank Omaha Jerry A. Catlett NBA Chairman-Elect (402) 353-2555 Bruning State Bank Bruning Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A. Lincoln Nicholas W. Baxter (402) 602-1839 First National Bank of Omaha Omaha Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Lincoln Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co. Lincoln Karl W. Gramann (402) 988-2255 Adams State Bank Adams Kristie K. Holoch (402) 363-7431 Cornerstone Bank York Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank Omaha Chris Hove (402) 420-8344 Nebraska Bank of Commerce Lincoln Dale L. Johnson (308) 452-3225 Town & Country Bank Ravenna Susan K. Koranda (402) 256-3247 Security Bank Laurel John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank Omaha Kevin J. Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest Bank West Point Brian D. Lierman (308) 217-1382 Great Western Bank Lexington Larry E. McPhillips (402) 367-4334 Bank of the Valley Bellwood Donald E. Moore (308) 345-4994 First Central Bank McCook McCook Debbie R. Newkirk (402) 449-0902 Security National Bank of Omaha Omaha Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank Hershey Anthony Rappa (402) 918-5442 Bank of the West Omaha Kimberly A. Schroll (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank North Platte Jason R. Smith (402) 372-5331 F&M Bank West Point John C. Wilkins (402) 759-8126 Heartland Bank Geneva Lydell L. Woodbury (402) 439-2168 First Nebraska Bank Stanton Craig G. Brewster NBA Past Chairman (402) 775-2271 Butte State Bank Butte O NE OF THE RECURRING ISSUES DISCUSSED DURING MY visits to Nebraska banks is the need to develop and rehabilitate the local housing stock in our Nebraska communities. In December, the NBA Board of Di- rectors approved creation of the NExt Generation Housing Task Force (HTF). The mission of the HTF is to increase the availability of market-rate and workforce housing that meets the expectations of future generations of Nebraskans. The task force includes 17 passionate bankers, public policy lead- ers, realtors, and housing stakeholders from locations that range from Nebraska City to Scottsbluff, and many locations in between. Today, successful and growing communities recognize that without suitable housing, a region’s growth is limited. New and expanding employers need housing for current and future employees. Without housing, our communities miss out on economic growth and good-paying jobs for Nebraskans. During the initial meeting, HTF members shared details about their community and region’s lackluster housing growth and the negative impact it is having on economic development. Communities like Columbus report hundreds of unfilled job openings, with only limited housing growth. Similarly, the Geneva area will soon be home to a new fertilizer plant that will create 50 to 80 new jobs. Unfortunately, the number of potential employees far exceeds available housing, with only a few single-family homes and rental units available in that region. In Nebraska City, less than a handful of new homes were constructed in 2014 despite new job growth across the community. Developing new housing alternatives is clearly es- sential to the future success of these communities and regions. As community leaders, Nebraska bankers have a vested inter- est in fostering the growth of new local housing alternatives. Addressing Nebraska’s long-term housing needs will require a wide variety of creative strategies, as the housing challenges vary greatly from region to region, and community to community. With a large percentage of homes in rural areas constructed prior to 1930, many communities have severely dilapidated housing stock that requires either rehabilitation or demolition. In addition, communities that are actively pursuing new housing options are experiencing challenges, including a