Click here for the slides of Anthony's presentation.
The focus of the presentation was Coronavirus, it's impact on our economy, our reactions, and how we move forward.
Anthony started his presentation with the Vision, Mission, Priorities and Values.
Vision: Grow Nebraska
Mission:Create opportunity through more effective, efficient and customer-focused state government.
We are a large, diverse population in Nebraska. From large cities to small communities. But in the end we all need to be on the same page in our vision to grow Nebraska.
In the list of Values, Our Team is key. Anthony said that we all know that we have something very special in Nebraska - it is our people. Our people are the largest differential for our state. He believes that our story is under told and under sold. We do great things but have a high level of humility.But we need to find ways to promote and talk about how great we are.
Anthony was on a trade mission and happened to be in Tokyo when the reality of the Coronavirus hit him - and he knew it was time to come home. Back in Nebraska there was a team working on strategies to assist our citizens and protect our economy. How would we stabilize, recover and return to Grow Nebraska. All the while they wanted to address public health concerns and hospital capacity.
Nebraska had the lowest unemployment rate in May. We also saw the lowest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) drop in the county during the first quarter of 2020. GDP is a measure of economic strength. Overall we were less hard-hit than other states. Nebraska leaders were asked by President Trump to visit Washington to share what we had done.
To stabilize, some of the first things put in place were:
- - Payment deferrals from banks/Rent deferrals from landlords
- - Paycheck Protection Program
- - SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Not only were there new programs in place, but they made them easy for small businesses. They made the application process easy and nobody had to call a call center. The banks set up extra shifts so that they were readily available to assist.
For recovery, there has been a task force developed - "Get Nebraska Growing".
They have developed a phased, data-driven approach while conferring with healthcare experts to minimize hospital bed, ventilator and ICU use. As businesses reopen, there will need to be new safety procedures and likely new business models adopted.
We have $392 million in funding from CARES Act.
- - Much or that will go for small business / livestock producers support.
- - Rural broadband remote access will be further developed
- - Workforce retraining focusing on trades through community colleges will receive funding.
- - Leadership development - to ensure people have the resources to make changes in their business models will be provided.
Looking at the way forward, we need to realize that we will not have a COVID-free environment so we have to learn how to co-exist with COVID. It is important that we follow CDC guidelines with regard to PPE, sanitizing and distancing. We are all on the same team and need to be kind to each other - not let social issues prevent unity.
The economy requires citizens' participation.
BIO:
Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Antony Goins of Lincoln as the new director of the Department of Economic Development in July 2019.
Goins has an extensive background as a business executive in Nebraska and elsewhere. He currently is director of branded products at Lincoln Industries and before that served as chief operating officer and executive vice president for Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank.
Before coming to Lincoln, Goins served as an executive for CertusBank and JPMorgan Chase. He also worked for American Express and USAA.
Goins majored in business management at North Carolina A&T State University and served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.