Sarpy receives economic development award

At the annual Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation meeting and awards ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 1, Sarpy County received the 2018 Partner in Economic Development award.

The award honors groups or organizations whose contributions pave the way for economic growth. Sarpy County received the award for leading efforts to form the Sarpy County and Sarpy Cities Wastewater Agency.

The agency’s purpose is to build a sanitary sewer system to serve the southern portion of Sarpy County, opening the area to further development.

“The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners and everyone involved in this agency are committed to a bright and prosperous future for Sarpy County,” said Sarpy County Board Chairman Don Kelly, who accepted the award on behalf of the County. “We will continue to partner with the development community as well as public and private organizations to build the infrastructure needed to support growth.”

Sarpy County shared the award with the five Sarpy cities: Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion and Springfield.

As a joint effort between the county and the cities, the wastewater agency is a unique approach to building a utility. It will be governed by a 6-member board composed of the chair of the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners and mayors of the five cities.

"The Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation wanted to recognize the collaboration and teamwork the county and each of the cities within Sarpy showed when they came together to form the sewer agency," said Andrew Rainbolt, Executive Director of the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. "The lack of wastewater infrastructure in south and western Sarpy County is a limiting factor to growth, and although forming the agency is just the first step, it’s a big one."  

Development in southern Sarpy County is estimated to generate incremental annual revenue of:

* $15 million per year in sales tax revenue for Sarpy County cities

* $45 million per year in sales tax revenue for the State of Nebraska

* $19 million per year in property tax revenue for Sarpy County cities

* $21 million per year in property tax revenue for Sarpy County

* $76 million per year in property tax revenue for local school districts

Click here to learn more about the Sarpy County and Sarpy Cities Wastewater Agency.