In northeast Nebraska, the lack of affordable, accessible child care is pushing parents out of the workforce and making it harder for businesses to hire. A new employer-backed initiative in Norfolk aims to change that by expanding capacity, supporting providers and creating a scalable model that could serve as a blueprint for other communities.

Omaha continues to outperform similar-sized cities with four companies on the 2025 Fortune 500 list, including Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific. Local leaders say the city’s strong corporate presence fuels economic growth, innovation and national recognition.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently announced Todd Bingham as its new president and CEO. Bingham plans to continue the chamber’s mission of encouraging economic development while addressing the concerns of local businesses within the state.

The consulting firm Contemporary Analysis (CAN) held its first-ever data science conference on May 15. The event convened experts, industry leaders and career seekers to discuss trends and innovations in topics like predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).

The business and technology conference took place on May 5 in Omaha, convening entrepreneurs and career explorers in the region to learn about industry trends and tech applications. The event also highlighted early stages of the AIM Institute five-year strategy.

Speakers are invited to apply to present at a new conference hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber to tackle modern-day workforce challenges. It combines the initiatives behind its previous CODE and HIRE conferences. Speaker submissions are open through May 23.

Silicon Prairie News and Technical.ly launched a partnership to share stories about innovation and entrepreneurship between the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. This week SPN Editor Stefanie Monge is headed to Philly Tech Week to discuss the role of ecosystem storytellers located outside of Silicon Valley and the coasts.

The Workforce Excellence Department will focus on talent recruitment and retention in the Greater Omaha region, as well as supporting positive work environments among current employers. Future programming and employer partnerships are in the works now.

The AIM Institute has announced the speaker lineup for Infotec 2025. The business and technology conference is designed to address tech trends and encourage practical ways to leverage the latest advancements in technology. The event will take place at the Kiewit Luminarium in Omaha on Monday, May 5.