LINCOLN- LB727, a substantial legislative package containing more than 20 bills, aims to revitalize and stimulate economic activity all over Nebraska. Besides a bill that would allow Nebraska Crossing to finance a proposed 1,000-acre expansion, LB727 also offers an expansion for Omaha's CHI Center, the construction of a new convention center in Lincoln, tax breaks for retired firefighters, and tax credits for those selling soybean-based biodiesel.

However, the headline proposal of LB727 remains the Nebraska Crossing expansion. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the architect of this expansive proposal, stated that she wanted Nebraska to become a "retail tourism" destination, comparable to the Legends complex in Kansas City. Linehan believes that providing financial incentives will draw in more retailers to the area who might have previously passed on building in the state, like IKEA and Crate & Barrel.

Right now, said Linehan, Nebraska Crossing is "a cornfield," and unless the state helps the area out, it will become a forest of strip malls. "I'm not a lover of incentives," said Sen. Linehan, "but the money that we're losing to other states and the money we could bring in here, I see it as a huge win." Debate on the package of bills is expected very soon.

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