$12 MILLION LAND PURCHASE SOUGHT BY CITY OF OMAHA TIED TO PLANNED NORTH OMAHA BUSINESS PARK

OMAHA- Nebraska's largest and most populous city is in the final steps of purchasing a $12 million tract of land that would fulfill the long-awaited effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. The proposed purchase, which would encompass 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, is on this week's Omaha City Council agenda. Sen. Justin Wayne, a North Omaha resident and long proponent of the business park, said he believes the move, while costly, will bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most historically disadvantaged areas of the city.

"This is a first step toward developing the business park in North Omaha," said Wayne. Over the past two years, the Nebraska Legislature has allocated nearly $90 million to develop one, and perhaps even two, business parks in the North Omaha area. Broader legislation over the years has also set aside around $400 million, which is set to be invested into distressed areas of North and South Omaha.

When asked about the potential $12 million purchase, an aide from Mayor Jean Stothert's office said that the city intends to partner with a still-to-be-announced developer who will be awarded the funds to develop the business park. Additionally, according to Spokeswoman Carrie Murphy, the city intends to build a new truck route that will run from North Omaha toward downtown, with an access road connected to the planned business park.

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