Silicon Prairie News

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newsletter, Dec. 23 – Year end

The Business Innovation Act is back in business following a two-month pause. Gov. Jim Pillen announced in a memorandum yesterday that the Nebraska Department of Economic Development would immediately resume awarding funds. 

The sudden pause of BIA awards funding in October rallied the Nebraska startup community in support of the program that has been an important catalyst for innovation and startups in the state.

Read more about the latest developments in the breaking story on SPN.

The SPN team is winding down for the holiday break and starting now we will pause publishing on the website until Monday, January 5. In the meantime, you can revisit the top stories from 2025 here.

Or watch SPN social where we’ll feature one top story each day starting on Christmas Eve. Wishing you and yours a safe and relaxing year end!

Upcoming Events

  • Check out Innovation Office Hours at Intersect Coworking & Incubator, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 6-7:30 p.m., in Norfolk. 
  • 1 Million Cups resumes Wednesday, Jan. 7 in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk and Grand Island.
  • Kick off the year with Open Coffee at Crescent Moon, 8-9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, in the Haymarket in Lincoln. 
  • The next B.A.I.L. Open Office Hours will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Commonwealth in the GROW Nebraska Women’s Center in Omaha.

See more events on SPN »

ICYMI: Updates from around the ecosystem

  • Omaha-based Omedus set to showcase autonomous triage technology at CES in Las Vegas in January
  • Omaha nonprofit partners with UNL students to design small, aging-ready homes to address housing crisis
  • Cabela’s headquarters back in local hands and an Economic Development Corporation is on the way as Sidney aims for long-term stability
  • Meet Heather Holmes, founder and owner of The Vibe, in the latest Prairie Portrait

Have an announcement or event you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter? Send it to tips@siliconprairienews.com.

Until next week!

Sincerely,

Stefanie Monge, SPN Editor

Stefanie Monge, Executive Editor

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