Omaha’s new Inland Port Authority looks to fill community advisory posts

Development within Omaha's inland port district, a roughly 300-acre area of northeast Omaha near Eppley Airfield, is to be guided by the freshly appointed Omaha Inland Port Authority Board that now is seeking a community advisory committee. The community advisory panel is required by state statute. (Courtesy of the City of Omaha)

OMAHA — Lack of community input became a major complaint early on in discussions about a proposed Omaha airport area business park, which is to be bolstered by a $90 million state grant.

An upshot was state legislation, adopted this past session, requiring a community advisory committee to consult with the nine-member Omaha Inland Port Authority Board. The board is charged with overseeing the proposed business park, as well as other economic development activity within the 300-mile inland port district in northeast Omaha.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 30, via the Omaha City Clerk’s Office website, for the community panel, which is to include:

• At least two residential property owners in the district.
• At least two business owners within the district.
• The City Council member and the Nebraska state senator who represent the area.
• A youth representative.

Composition of the committee was laid out in the update to the Nebraska Municipal Inland Port Authority Act, originally approved in 2021. It  allowed up to five inland port districts to be established in the state. Lawmakers created the inland ports as a tool to help spur jobs and business.

The state senators bestowed powers on such entities, which must be approved by the state as well as the city, that include selling bonds to finance construction and infrastructure within the designated zone.

Updates to the law mostly related to Omaha and addressed concerns and goals voiced by Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney of North Omaha.

Omaha’s Inland Port Authority Board met for the first time earlier this month. Its nine members were appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Among their duties as outlined in state statute is to create and maintain the community advisory committee.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX