Cambridge Economic Development
- a great place to grow your business

Find fast facts about Cambridge here.

Facade Grant Program

This program offers up to $5,000 in matching funds to business and building owners whose business is located within the city limits of Cambridge. These funds are to be used to improve the appearance and quality of individual building facades as well as the overall look of Cambridge. Improvements must occur in areas visible from the public way and must be approved by the City Planning Commission. Read more...

New Local Incentives  

After nearly two decades of efforts to sustain and grow our small community, the Cambridge Economic Development Board has proven that success starts at the grassroots level. These nine visionary local volunteer leaders recognize that embracing a new generation of pioneering entrepreneurs is essential. Currently, we are boosting our efforts to attract new families through our Homestead Free Lots and New Pioneer Rewards programs. We welcome and encourage prospective new citizens to contact our Economic Development Board and we will eagerly assist you in any way possible. We hope you will agree as you surf through our website that our small community offers big opportunities and a launching pad for any entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurial Support      

We eagerly support those who desire pursuing any entrepreneurial, start-up or expanding business opportunities. This support may include assistance with business planning, locating appropriate land or buildings, exploring the available labor market for your industry, low interest gap financing through our revolving loan fund, educational trainings to meet your needs such as e-commerce, QuickBooks, marketing, and more. We also provide cooperative marketing funds for businesses who are partnering or clustering to draw clientele from the surrounding area to our community. For those interested in grants, certain industries may offer grants to applicants that meet new job creation and other requirements. These are primarily through State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Federal resources.

Officers and Board Members

• Economic Development Director, Ashley Rice-Gerlach
• President, Tammy Sexton
• Vice President, Darcy Johnson
• Secretary, Tom Shoemaker
• Treasurer, Jan tenBensel
• Randy Heitmann
• Judy Jackson
• Don Sackett
• Leah tenBensel
• Clifford Meeuwsen

Mission
To focus our efforts on attracting new families to Cambridge by promoting our school, career opportunities, health care, affordable housing, and recreation. To coordinate resources to support the following goals:

1. To create a dynamic entrepreneurial climate to leverage our technology infrastructure, diversify our businesses and economy, revitalize our retail sector, and enhance our agricultural and tourism opportunities.

2. To develop strong and positive community leadership representative of all age groups, interest groups, male and female, established leaders, and new community members.

3. To make an impacting community connection with our youth before they graduate to encourage and support the possibility of them returning home.

4. To achieve a coordinated effort for local philanthropy and build a community development foundation that will provide financial resources for future generations.

Community Assets

Directorship magazine says...

Nebraska is the fifth-best state for business, according to a well-recognized national publication read by corporate executives.  The June/July issue of the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Directorship magazine features its first annual Boardroom Guide to the Best States for Business.  The state rankings were compiled using eight major indices of attractiveness to business, including litigation climate; presence of Fortune 500 companies; business tax climate; cost of living; cost of labor; state economic performance; higher education prevalence; and quality of life.  With its overall ranking at No. 5, the Cornhusker State scored particularly well in the areas of litigation climate, cost of living, and quality of life.  Nebraska’s only poor grade came in the category of tax climate, in which the state was ranked eighth worst overall.  Ranked ahead of Nebraska were Texas (No. 1), Virginia, Utah and South Dakota.  To see the rankings and accompanying story, click here.

 'Nebraska Makes Big Jump in 2009 CNBC Best States for Business Poll; Ranked No. 11"...

(CNBC) -- CNBC.com reports that Nebraska has jumped eleven spots in this year edition of the network's "Best States for Business" rankings. CNBC notes that "being in the Midwest means the economic booms are less pronounced than the rest of the country, which means the busts are not as severe," and "that same theory appears to have helped" Nebraska, one of CNBC's "most improved" states of 2009.  CNBC's rankings are based on 10 categories important to economic development.  Nebraska scored high marks in the categories of "business friendliness," "economy," "cost of living" and "cost of doing business."  For the second time in three years, Virginia was named the best state for business.  Alaska was ranked last.  To see Nebraska's rankings in the individual categories, click here.

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