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Grow Omaha

Grow Omaha 10-4-2025

·37 min·3 clips
Mayor Ewing secured $40 million in bonds to accelerate affordable housing from the streetcar project, moving it up to 2025.
The episode begins with host Jeff Beals introducing the show's focus on Omaha's economic development, construction, and business expansion. Guest co-host Brad Williams joins, substituting for Trenton Magid, and they discuss the pleasant fall weather in Omaha. The hosts announce a survey for the Omaha streetcar brand and logo design, open until October 7th. They then dive into the news, starting with the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approving the second design phase for Project Health, a $2.2 billion hospital with a $1.22 billion shell construction authorization. The conversation shifts to other major projects, including the Mutual Tower's progress and the Eppley Airfield terminal expansion. R&R Realty Group's new warehouse in Papillion and an $11 million townhome project near 40th and Pacific Street are covered. Affordable housing initiatives are highlighted, such as converting a building at 521 South 38th Avenue into a fourplex and plans for a stacked duplex at 25th and Grant Street. The hosts discuss converting the Sonesta ES Suites hotel into 80 residential units. Mayor John Ewing Jr. is interviewed, outlining his four priorities for job growth and addressing reports of Omaha losing jobs to other cities. He explains accelerating $40 million in affordable housing funding from the streetcar project and confirms the streetcar's fall 2028 opening timeline. The mayor also talks about improving city aesthetics and park maintenance. After a break, the hosts present three business stories: Berkshire Hathaway's $9.7 billion acquisition of Oxychem, Rate Gain Travel Technologies buying Sojourn for $250 million, and FNBO acquiring Country Club Bank of Kansas City. The Perkins-Kreitzer Construction Lightning Round covers various local updates, including Hero 88's renovation, Varsity Sports Cafe's sale, Nebraska Brewing Company closing, North Italia opening, and new businesses like Lovely Brewing and Aroma Pho. The episode concludes with thanks to sponsors and a preview for next week.

As heard by us

Omaha's building boom gets tested against the harder question of whether job growth is keeping up.

Grow Omaha turns Omaha's construction boom into a sharper business question: is all that visible activity producing enough job growth? Jeff Beals and guest co-host Brad Williams press the mayor on that gap, and she frames the work around four priorities: keeping existing…

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Want Omaha growth talk with a $1.7 billion payroll question underneath the construction cranes?

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