homestate nebraska
By Ben Everidge for Thomas
Photo Credit: Visit Nebraska
nebraska at the Crossroads: 10 Issues That Define the cornhusker state’s Future
“Nebraska doesn’t measure greatness in noise or numbers. It measures it in character. The center of the nation still believes that strength is best proven by doing the right thing when no one’s watching.”
- Ben Everidge
Nebraska has never been a state that seeks attention. It earns respect. Rooted in agriculture, guided by common sense, and shaped by community, it has weathered the economic shifts that have undone flashier states. But beneath its steadiness lies a challenge: how to grow without losing what makes it grounded. As population centers shift, industries evolve, and the climate changes, the Cornhusker State stands at a turning point. Its future depends on whether it can pair its practical wisdom with a new kind of ambition. One that creates opportunities while preserving the values that have made it strong.
1. Economic Diversification and Modernization
Nebraska’s economy remains anchored in agriculture and manufacturing, but it’s expanding into tech, logistics, and renewable energy. Attracting high-skill jobs and supporting small businesses will define long-term growth.
2. Agriculture, Water, and Climate Adaptation
The state’s agricultural strength depends on the health of the Ogallala Aquifer and soil conservation. Climate shifts, drought, and irrigation demands are forcing a reckoning over how to balance production with preservation.
3. Workforce Development and Talent Retention
Nebraska’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in the nation, but many employers struggle to find skilled workers. Attracting young professionals, boosting wages, and improving housing affordability are essential to keeping communities vibrant.
4. Education and Long-Term Investment
Strong schools have long been a source of pride, but teacher shortages and funding disparities threaten progress. Investing in K-12 education, vocational programs, and higher learning will shape the state’s competitiveness.
5. Rural Population Decline and Urban Concentration
Omaha and Lincoln continue to grow while much of rural Nebraska shrinks. Building infrastructure, healthcare, and broadband in small towns will be vital to maintaining statewide balance.
6. Healthcare Access and Affordability
Rural hospital closures and limited provider networks strain access to care. Expanding telemedicine, Medicaid, and regional collaboration could strengthen both health outcomes and local economies.
7. Infrastructure, Transportation, and Broadband
Nebraska’s location at the center of the nation gives it unique logistical advantages. Upgrading roads, rail, and broadband connectivity will determine whether it remains a national hub for trade and distribution.
8. Energy Transition and Environmental Stewardship
Wind and ethanol are redefining Nebraska’s energy identity. Expanding renewables, investing in grid modernization, and protecting natural resources will ensure that sustainability and economic opportunity are aligned.
9. Political Balance and Governance
Nebraska’s unicameral, officially nonpartisan legislature is one of the nation’s great experiments in practical democracy. Preserving that spirit of collaboration amid national polarization will test the state’s independent identity.
10. Quality of Life, Housing, and Community Cohesion
Affordable housing, cultural investment, and recreation are becoming key economic drivers. Strengthening community life will help keep Nebraska not just livable, but lovable - a place where people choose to stay and build.
The Thomas Take
Nebraska’s quiet strength has always come from balance, between land and labor, tradition and progress, independence and unity. The next decade will decide whether it can turn that balance into boldness. If the Cornhusker State can hold to its principles while daring to innovate, it won’t just endure, it will lead the heartland forward, one steady step at a time.
To learn more about Nebraska’s issues, read: