BELLEVUE, Neb. — A long-planned economic development project designed to strengthen Nebraska’s defense, technology and workforce sectors reached a significant milestone this week.
The Prairie Hill Farm Area Development Authority (PHFADA) and the Nebraska Defense Research Corporation (NDRC) have signed a Letter of Intent to move forward with construction of the REACH Collaboration & Innovation Hub, a centerpiece of the planned 45-acre Prairie Hill Farm campus northeast of the intersection of Highways 75 and 34.
According to a joint announcement released Thursday, the facility will be supported through investments and grants from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the City of Bellevue.
Officials say the first phase of the project is expected to create as many as 150 jobs, with long-term plans calling for more than 300 high-paying positions and an estimated $125 million in annual economic impact for Nebraska once the campus is fully developed.
The REACH campus is envisioned as a collaborative center where defense contractors, researchers, government agencies and higher education institutions can work together on emerging technologies. Secure workspaces will allow companies to collaborate with the Nebraska Defense Research Corporation, United States Strategic Command, the Department of War and allied organizations while accelerating research, innovation and technology development.
The project will also support a new University of Nebraska workforce initiative aimed at placing graduates in cybersecurity, engineering and related fields into careers at the campus.
“This is an important achievement that has been years in the making,” said PHFADA Board Chair Jim Ristow. “We are very excited to be moving forward on bringing high-paying jobs for our Nebraska graduates. This shows just how Bellevue is doing its part to support the Nebraska success story.”
NDRC Chief Executive Officer Jerry “Indy” Gandy called the project an important step toward strengthening both national defense and Nebraska’s economy.
“This project is a critical enabler that enhances NDRC’s mission to innovate and accelerate technology acquisition for the Warfighter and a future-ready workforce to maintain our competitive advantage,” Gandy said. He added that the project will also serve as a catalyst for commercial growth in Nebraska.
Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike said the development reinforces the city’s growing role as an economic development leader.
“Bellevue is a leader of job growth and economic development, and the REACH project is just another example of that,” Hike said. “This project will complement the incredible growth the city is leading along the Highway 75 and 34 corridor.”
Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Maureen Laursen noted that the campus will help support the mission of Offutt Air Force Base while expanding career opportunities in the defense and intelligence industries.
Project officials said design refinement is currently underway, with site grading expected to begin soon. A public groundbreaking ceremony is planned for early 2027, followed by an anticipated occupancy approximately 18 months later. PHFADA also plans to continue recruiting additional public-sector tenants and private-sector partners as future phases of the development move forward.
Link to our February 2024 story about the development: https://bellevuetimes.com/agreement-reached-with-prairie-hill-farm-nonprofit-to-oversee-600m-development/
