NE Chamber Representatives Lauded on Focusing on Statewide Economic Development and Growth

Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4, Auburn leaders and business owners met with NE Chamber representatives at City Hall during the 2026 statewide Road Show.
“You have an amazing (Chamber of Commerce executive director) in Leslie Clark,” noted Tara Lea, the state organization’s executive vice president of partnerships and programs.
Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, District 1 senator, commended the NE Chamber on doing a 
“wonderful job” in promoting economic development and growth across the Cornhusker State.
He recalled of 40 bills he has introduced his first two years in the Unicameral, 33 have passed. You can only introduce 20 bills per session, he continued. Hallstrom stated he has focused on rural economic development, workforce, workforce housing, health care and child care.
“A lot of work remains to be done on the property tax issue,” he related, and indicated he continues to hear property taxes are too high. Child care and housing are vitally important, Hallstrom said.
“We pride ourselves on doing the best we can when constituents contact us on issues the Legislature cannot handle,” he continued.
Hallstrom indicated he has heard concerns with the closing of the Department of Motor Vehicles  (DMV) office in Nemaha County through the end of 2026 as well as fatalities on Highway 75. The legislator noted it is hoped to reopen the DMV office or get a rotating system. Highway 75 is not high on the list of the state improvement program, he concluded.
Joseph Young, new NE Chamber president and CEO, told the Auburn audience the organization focuses on lobbying the Unicameral and governor on issues favoring growth, related to economic development and public policy.
“Child care and housing are issues wherever we go,” Young continued.
NE Chamber has a political action committee, which plans to help familiarize newly elected legislators with the process, he stated. The 2027 Unicameral is assured of at least 13 new senators. Two completing their first terms opted not to run for re-election. Another appointed to fill a vacancy decided not to run for the final two years of a term. There are 10 others who are term-limited.
“Our goal is working together to get pro growth legislation enacted,” Young concluded.
Also attending from NE Chamber were: Hunter Traynor, executive vice president of legislation and policy and Ron Sedlacek, vice president and general counsel. Representing 6 Regions One Nebraska was Zane Francescato, Southeast regional navigator. Rachel Leidy of Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska was also in Auburn. Remarks from Francescato and Traynor remarks will be featured in separate articles.
Leidy shared information on Chamber Choice, a partnership with NE Chamber. It offers a variety of affordable health insurance options and includes a built in wellness program. She said a minimum of five employees need to be covered. Leidy encouraged reaching out to local insurance brokers.
Priorities presented by those attending included housing and business development.
“This engagement keeps municipalities like Auburn healthy,” Young replied.
In addition to Auburn, the NE Chamber team visited Falls City and Nebraska City Aug. 4. The 2026 Road Show started in June in Gothenburg and had eight previous stops before Southeast Nebraska. It continues through Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Omaha.