The Nebraska Innovation Hub Act

Home / Programs / Economic Recovery / The Nebraska Innovation Hub Act The Nebraska Innovation Hub Act The Nebraska Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Legislative Bill 450 during the 2022 Legislative Session creating the Nebraska Innovation Hub Act.  The Legislature declared that Innovation hubs could serve as a vital resource for stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship and technology-based small businesses in Nebraska.  The Nebraska Innovation Hub Act selected the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) to designate innovation hubs within iHub areas to stimulate partnerships economic development and job creation by leveraging iHub partner assets to provide an innovation platform for startup businesses, economic development organizations, business groups, and venture capitalists. iHub designations by Congressional District District 1: Fermentation Collaborative Location:   801 R 68508 Focus:   The Fermentation Collaborative seeks to improve the workforce for biotechnology in Nebraska by addressing the need for employees with fermentation experience. Annual Report District 2: Omaha Innovation Hub Location:   2514 N. 16 th   68110   &   5417 N. 103 rd  Street, Omaha NE 68134 Focus: The Omaha Innovation HUB assists in the assessment of innovative concepts and emerging and enabling technologies and capabilities in support of local and the North Omaha community. Annual Report District 2: The Julian and Brittany Young iHub Location:  6825 Pine 68106 Focus:   The Julian and Brittany Young iHub mission is to inspire economic well-being through entrepreneurial education. Annual Report Program Objectives Job creation through rapid technology commercialization is a vital part of the state's economic well-being.  Innovation and technology-driven entrepreneurial activity coupled with venture investment creates small business startups and expansions at an accelerated rate, which leads to significant employment opportunities that contribute to the state's financial health and economic competitiveness.  To maintain a healthy state economy and to aid communities, entrepreneurship and technology-based small businesses must be stimulated and supported.  The Nebraska Innovation Hub Act seeks to: Stimulate partnerships, economic development, and job creation, and support entrepreneurship and technology-based small businesses in Nebraska. Accelerate entrepreneurial activity coupled with venture investment. Increase employment opportunities with start-ups and technology-based small businesses. Eligible Applicants Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3,114 prohibits foreign adversarial companies from receiving benefits under an incentive program of the State of Nebraska. Prior to applying, please see the Foreign Adversarial Company Memo found in the Guidance Documents section. Applicants meeting the definition of foreign adversarial company will not be approved for benefits. Eligible applicants are private nonprofit corporations located within any of the following areas: An economic redevelopment area. (A map showing economic redevelopment areas can be found at Application Levels - imagine.nebraska.gov An enterprise zone designated pursuant to the Enterprise Zone Act. (A map showing Enterprise Zones can be found at Nebraska Enterprise Zones An inland port district as defined in section  13-3303 . (Locations in Lincoln County Bellevue Omaha Fremont/Dodge County and South Sioux City Thirty miles of Lake McConaughy, the largest artificial reservoir constructed in Nebraska for the storage of water. Any county with a population of less than one hundred thousand inhabitants. 2025 Nebraska Innovation Hub Act Designation Application Application Period: Submission Open Date: 12/1/2025 8:00 AM (Central Standard Time)