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The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce has a new President and CEO. Todd Bingham comes to Lincoln having led the Manufacturers Association in Utah, a state known for high-tech and diverse industries. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Bingham to find out how his Utah skills will benefit him in Nebraska.
Todd Bingham: If you're talking about tech, I actually would say that I think every company today, first and foremost, has to be a tech company. I think that's the way they're leaning, whether you're in ag processing, whether you're in traditional steel manufacturing, whether you're a new core or a Lincoln premium poultry or, you know, Chief Industries, whoever. You're a tech company. I think you have to be. When you talk about economic development, there's certainly an area and an opportunity for significant growth in those fields in Nebraska, and we can get into more of the discussion, but it kind of focuses around automation, AI the advancement of tech across the country. And just because Nebraska is a rural community doesn't mean that it is behind in terms of tech, or it is somehow lagging and doesn't have opportunities.
Dale Johnson: Before we go any further, define what a State Chamber of Commerce does.
Bingham: Sure it's, you know, a statewide organization that really has a couple of focuses. One is on creating a business environment in the state that allows Nebraska to grow, thrive. It's also an economic development engine that works with other economic development organizations to really create prosperity, to create communities that grow, to address challenges.
Johnson: To use your term, business environment means something different in the western part of Nebraska than it does in the eastern part of Nebraska. You've got a cowboy hat and a seed corn hat when you go out west, you've got maybe not a hat at all. You've got your suit jacket when you address people here in eastern Nebraska. So talk about the dynamics that you have to handle.
Bingham: I think that's definitely true. I'm a rural kid, grew up in Utah, and understand that environment. Whether you're wearing boots with a little bit of debris underneath them and jeans and a hat, or whether you're wearing a sport coat and a suit, business environment is important to Nebraska. It's important to the economy. It's important to growing industries, to helping us find workforce, helping us find those challenges. Obviously, the impact of 150-250 jobs in a small western Nebraska town probably has a little more ripple than it does a company hiring 100 people in Omaha. I think what we're looking for as State Chamber is to be able to develop a strategy and a playbook that helps us have that rising tide that lifts all boats. You know that we're creating economic growth in both Norfolk, but we're also creating it in North Platte, and we're also creating it in Omaha and Lincoln.
Johnson: I promise that in future conversations, we'll mention less about Utah and more about Nebraska, but since this is the first time that we're talking, sure I'll bring up Utah. The January 2024 Nebraska manufacturing Competitiveness Report comes right out and includes Utah right among states receiving higher marks than Nebraska for its innovation environment. So what's missing in Nebraska that you've been able to feel out and what makes for a stronger innovation environment?
Bingham: Boy, that's, that's, that's a tough one, because that's, that's like asking me to tell you that your baby's not cute. If you take the rankings that happen around the country, and you look at the states that are ranked and where they finished, I think Nebraska finished this last week for CNBC, top states as number five in the country. You indicated Utah was number one. Again, depending on which study you look at, you can spin them one way or another. Mark Twain said “lies, damned lies and statistics.” So you can spin them whatever you want. But I think there's a couple things, broadly, tax policy. It is very important for businesses that are growing, thriving, expanding, looking at another state to say, what is the tax environment? And if you look at that competitiveness study that you're referring to, we would want to look at overall tax burden and say, “What is the overall tax burden, not to just businesses, but to individuals as well, and how does that relate to economic growth in a rural community versus an urban community?” And then I think other areas, energy is going to be a big, big opportunity for innovation. We've talked a little bit about AI and tech, as tech continues to thrive and really grow across the country, energy sustainability, energy reliability and energy production is going to be paramount. And then lastly, I would say Dale, water. Nebraska has a significant advantage in terms of water availability.
Johnson: God bless the Ogallala Aquifer. I'll just come right out and say it. In the time we have left, what have you learned about Nebraska? You've been on the job about a month, that you didn't know when you crossed the border and started your work here,
Bingham: I would say that, I think, and I've had a couple of family members come out since then, as well, is the rolling hills. Everyone says Nebraska is flat, and for the most part, it is flat, flat-ish certainly compared to where I was raised in the in the Rocky Mountains. But the terrain, the abundance of water, the green, it is just wonderfully green. And I would argue that the sunsets here rival certainly those in the Rocky Mountains and certainly have enjoyed that. Maybe most importantly, I think, is the people. And the phrase that people here refer to as Midwest nice. It's a thing. It's a real thing. And it is one of the things that, very quickly, in a month, I think I have realized is really the secret sauce in Nebraska is the people.
Johnson: We'll have you back. All right. Chamber of Commerce President, CEO Todd Bingham joining me on Nebraska Public Media. I'm Dale Johnson.