Governor announces new jobs and education initiative to keep talent in state

Governor Pete Ricketts along with education and economic leaders from across the state announced a new proposal that’s aimed at developing and keeping young talent in Nebraska.

The initiative is called Nebraska talent scholarships.

“The idea is to really develop those types of talents that we have and are in need of here in the state,” said Governor Ricketts. 

The scholarship would provide $4,000 annually to 250 university or state college students.

Additionally 65 community college students would receive $2,000 scholarships.

To be eligible students have to be studying in specific career areas where the state needs to develop talent.

Some of those career fields include engineering, math, computer information systems, along with several other growing areas.

University of Nebraska president Hank Bounds says the state faces a workforce crisis with the numbers of workers needed to fill jobs continuing to grow every year.

“We’ll have more than 1,700 it openings. Clearly we cannot produce enough people to fill those jobs,” Bounds said.

Governor Ricketts hopes by offering scholarships students will live and work in the state once they have graduated.

The proposal dictates one million dollars in scholarships the first year, with that amount doubling the second year.

Colleges will be responsible for making students aware of scholarships and awarding the money.

Funding for the proposal is included in the Governors bi–annual budget which he will present to the legislature later this month.

As for how to make sure students who receive the scholarships stay in Nebraska, the governor says they plan to track the students and make revisions to how the money is awarded if necessary.