by Leo Adam Biga

State Sen Megan Hunt (District 8) Credit: Unicameral Information Office

Legislation passed last session in the Nebraska Unicameral creates a mechanism for supporting the formation of creative or cultural districts as economic development catalysts in communities statewide.

LB943 introduced last year by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt mandates the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) develop a plan to certify such districts. These cultural nodes would be distinguished by a distinct sense of place and history, along with amenities and activities, within certain defined boundaries.

Hunt introduced a companion bill, LB942, to fund this districts program through proceeds from speciality Support the Arts license plates citizens can opt to purchase for an extra fee. Both bills made it through two rounds of floor debate without opposition before COVID-19 cut short the spring legislative session. When the session resumed last summer, Gering Sen. John Stinner’s comprehensive LB 780 adopted provisions from Hunt’s bills in addition to calling for increasing monies available from the Nebraska Arts and Humanities Cash Fund. The package passed 47-0. The Cash Fund will feed a competitive grant program by the NAC to review applications from certified cultural districts and award grants as deemed warranted.

Thus, two Nebraska politicians, one representing a metropolis and the other a small town, rallied around the idea of endorsing the arts, cultural events and touchstones as a stimulus for communities, large and small, urban and rural.

“It's always a great feeling to see legislation passed into law and implemented, especially with the support of the full Legislature,” Hunt said. “I wanted to introduce something that would give back specifically to my district, and I'm so grateful to all of the testifiers who helped us get this across the finish line, especially my friends from Benson First Friday in Omaha. I'm so excited to see what cities all over Nebraska do to show off their creative communities.”

An apparatus for showcasing what’s cool

Suzanne Wise is executive director for the Nebraska Arts Council.

The new laws mean branding and development opportunities for areas such as North Omaha, which contains robust pockets of cultural significance that should meet the creative district designation and potential funding eligibility.

Similar districts in the U.S. are managed by state agencies charged with promoting and supporting the arts. The NAC is that agency here. Executive director Suzanne Wise said the program “fits within our mission to support the arts for economic development, quality of life and education.”

“The Nebraska Arts Council was the best option because it’s a state government agency,” said Hunt, a Democrat who represents Omaha’s District 8. “I didn’t want the authority to go to, for example, a nonprofit that could go away. It needed to be a stable agency that was going to be around for a long time, The districts themselves won’t have any taxing authority or elected board. Nothing like that. It’ll just be a designation Nebraska can use to boost tourism and to improve connectivity among neighborhoods.”

“The Nebraska Arts Council is in the process of developing the rules, regulations and procedures regarding cultural districts,” Wise said. “The program will be ready to launch in the fall of 2021.”

Wise said her organization will manage the program amidst its current portfolio without requiring new staff or budget allocations.

An Americans for the Arts study counts 300-plus designated creative districts in the nation and yet, Hunt said, “Nebraska was one of only two states without them.” Hunt argued districts enhance quality of life, which in turn helps attract tourists, employers and job candidates, plus retains young professionals. Without the designation, she said, “We were really missing a chance to keep young people here, to attract and retain talent and to tell the world about Nebraska’s rich history of cultural vibrancy.

Especially rural senators understand how this is going to help economic development in their communities. A lot of my colleagues have said this is going to give young people excitement about staying in their communities.”

Testifying before the General Affairs Committee, Nebraskans for the Arts Executive Director, who has since retired, Doug Zbylut said, “Creative districts are growing in popularity and becoming an integral part of economic and community development policy. LB943 is a way for our state to step up with support to compete with other states … to meet our goal of ‘Growing the Good Life.’”

“creative districts are growing in popularity and becoming an integral part of economic and community development policy.”

-former Nebraskans for the Arts Executive Director Doug Zbylut

“Artist voices and creative platforms are vital to foster and sustain a healthy economic currency within a community,” said Benson Theater executive director Amy Ryan. “They also improve the quality-of-life of residents.”

Amy Ryan is executive director for the nonprofit Benson Theatre.

A qualifying district would be a contiguous area readily identifiable by some distinguishing concentration of cultural life and heritage.

“With cultural districts you really capitalize on what your strengths are,” Wise said. “We’re not saying it has to be strictly arts. Things like historic preservation and other factors will certainly play a role in this. For example, Superior, Nebraska has a good inventory of Victorian homes, so if they were to put together a cultural district it would probably be focused on that aspect. It just makes Superior that much more captivating in that marketplace.”

Several places in-state boast enclaves that advocates believe fit the districts model, such as growing arts scenes in Red Cloud, Scottsbluff, North Platte, McCook, Kearney, Norfolk, Fremont and Brownvillle. Larger, more numerous creative and cultural enclaves exist in Omaha and Lincoln, where the Old Market and Haymarket, respectively, essentially operate as districts now.

Omaha’s 10th Street Corridor, Little Bohemia, the Blackstone District. Midtown Crossing, Dundee and North Downtown (NoDo) are others that could make the case for being designated districts.

“North Omaha and South Omaha absolutely would be considered as part of this,” Hunt said.

South Omaha

South O is awash with touchstones that speak to a diverse ethnic heritage. It owns a rich meatpacking-stockyards history, a vibrant South 24th Street and Vinton Street business corridor, community landmarks in the Livestock Exchange Building, El Museo Latino and Sokol Hall and busy anchors in South High School, the Kroc Center and Metropolitan Community College’s South campus. It also hosts the annual Cinco De Mayo festival.

24th and Lake

https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2019/6/27/forever-north-study-to-benefit-n-24th-street-corridor-development

The North Omaha Revitalization Plan envisions an arts-entertainment strip anchored at 24th and Lake, where Black social life and commerce once revolved. Vestiges of that history remain in Goodwin’s Spencer Street Barbershop, Elks Lodge, Webster Telephone Exchange Building, the Jewell Building, Bryant Center and Omaha Star. Those spots, along with Culxr House, Love’s Jazz and Arts Center, Union for Contemporary Art, Great Plains Black History Museum, shops and eateries, form the makings of a full-fledged district.

A major project proposed for east of 24th and Lake, Artist Lofts on Lake Street, awaits financing. It would add an anchor amenity and new activity.

Perhaps the most important player in North Omaha today is the Empowerment Network and its founder, president and facilitator, Willie Barney, said his organization supports what the new legislation promises.

“The Empowerment Network recognizes the importance of cultural and historic districts,” Barney said. “The arts have a huge positive economic and social impact on communities.” Since 2006, when the group was first formed, arts, culture and entertainment has been a core part of the comprehensive strategy. The collaborative has launched and co-hosted major events and activities focused on the arts. These events have brought thousands of residents from across the city back to 24th and Lake and served as catalysts for much of the activity occurring in the neighborhood currently. Working with dozens of other organizations, the Network has hosted Christmas in the Village, Black History in the Village, Juneteenth in the Village, Omaha Mobile Civil Rights Museum and partnered with neighborhood organizations to sponsor other well-attended and successful events.

“Establishing a community-based cultural district with funding opportunities would be another big win for the area.”

Florence

The former town boasts historical-cultural import as a 19th century way-stop for pioneering Mormons. It contains the Mormon Trails Center, the Mormon Bridge, the historic Florence Mill, Bank, Depot and City Hall (now community center) as well as the Florence Branch Library, and assorted restaurants, shops and scenic overlooks. It hosts Florence Days in May and other events throughout the year.

Benson

The Benson Business District, which just gained National Register of Historic Places status, is the commercial center for what used to be the town of Benson. The quant streetscape is now home to restaurants, galleries and shops, live music venue The Waiting Room, the 402 Arts Collective, Benson Community Center and Benson Branch Library. This year the Benson Theatre is due to open its doors. Benson First Fridays, Benson Days, a farmer’s market and other events also enliven the neighborhood,

Such areas already function as informal districts and market themselves as centers of cultural consumption. South of downtown, the Old Market is Omaha’s most long-lived, well-defined, heavily promoted historic-cultural tourist destination.

Benson, 24th and Lake and Florence are enjoying a resurgence thanks in large part to creative communities flourishing there.

“These unofficial districts are already creating amazing neighborhoods that breed successful local business, draw tourism and create exciting opportunities for collaboration,” said Caitlin Little, who directs programming for the Benson Theatre and does marketing for Benson First Fridays.

But what these placemaking hubs lack is official, state-sanctioned certification – and the funding that follows such recognition.

“This designation will further legitimize the work of these communities and give them extra resources and recognition that will only help them grow and increase the economic impact they already have,” said Little.

“That designation is valuable,” Hunt said. “It puts you on lists nationwide [that] tourists use. It allows communities to cluster hubs of economic activity. Districts enhance areas as appealing places to live, visit and do business. They complement non-arts businesses.”

“We’ve already got readymade cultural districts,” Wise said, “but they’re not formalized in a way that can be most advantageous to their goal. They’re doing it in an individual as opposed to a collective way. Working as a collective can make a big difference. The missing piece is how do you engage city government. It’s critical the city is involved in the guidelines. Bringing the city in does not necessarily mean asking for financial resources. It’s simply providing the information it needs to understand why you’re asking, for example, to add a logo on street signs. If you make the city part of the conversations, it really streamlines things.”

Seal of approval

Having the imprimatur of a designated cultural district, Wise added, “gives a little extra juice to do what needs to be done.”

“It’s a series of steps you take,” Wise said, “and it’s really mostly about building up organizational capacity so that you can be successful. Even though there might be a loose confederation of individuals, not-for profits, artists, artisans, restaurant owners, for-profit theater and music venues that nominally agree they are part of an association, there is not necessarily a more directed way of saying what is it that we want for our district to benefit us all. The designation opens the door to that kind of facilitation so that it’s much easier to achieve goals.”

The Florence Futures Foundation may be the organizing-driving force for Florence to stake its claim. Benson First Fridays and Benson Business Improvement District may lead the charge in Benson. The Empowerment Network, Omaha Economic Development Corporation and the North 24th Street Business Improvement District could be the drivers in North Omaha.

“The current coalition of organizations that plan and support Christmas in the Village is definitely prepared to help lead the way partnering with neighborhood residents and local, regional and national artists.” said Wille Barney, adding, “One of the most important elements is for the community to be fully engaged and involved in decision-making processes.”

Great Plains Black History Museum executive director Eric Ewing sees it as a vehicle for the 24th and Lake hub to gain more traction as a destination for people to live-work-create-shop there.

Stakeholders like Ewing and Union for Contemporary Art executive director Brigitte McQueen-Shew, for example, might partner to make the case for the designation. Coalescing ideas into a vision helps better define the area and what’s needed there. “The goals tend to be things like we need a mural on this building’s wall to create a more appealing streetscape or we need more research about the area to inform visitors of the history,” said Wise. “Having the designation opens the door for a grant to pay an artist or a scholar.”

Hunt emphasizes districts “can be very creative when it comes to the projects they pursue.” Grants could be for murals or decorative bus benches or branding campaigns. Funds could seed startup festivals or grow existing events or go towards building construction or establishing a community garden. “That’s going to be based on what is right for each district. Every single entity is going to have a different request. We don’t want it to be one-size-fits-all. We want it to fit in with exactly what they need.”

Making the case

Wise and her staff “have been involved in deep-dive research” on the subject, she said, “since 2010.”

Arts-culture as an economic engine is a big selling point.

“It’s something easy we can do. It has no cost to taxpayers and it’s going to end up bringing a lot of support to neighborhoods in my district and in other districts,” Hunt said.

Hunt added that states with such programs report re-investment happening in districts via businesses opening and creatives-artists moving in. New events and programs get sparked. She assures skeptics the results of Nebraska’s program will be tracked, adding that NAC reports its expenditures and impacts to the legislature. NAC’s also subject to state auditing, thereby providing more transparency and accountability.

Laying the groundwork, Wise said, has meant educating state senators on the merits. “A few years ago we brought in the director of Colorado Creative Industries to talk to a legislative study group about the concept of cultural districts. That same legislative study group was also involved in economic development issues.”

Meanwhile, Hunt, who serves on both the General Affairs and Urban Affairs Committees, took an interest in the approach and sought Wise for counsel.

“We had a long, in-depth conversation in 2019,” Wise confirmed. “I provided her and her staff with copies of our resource materials. Then there was a legislative study.”

Hunt’s team studied how other states handle like districts. The bill she crafted borrowed from Colorado and Massachusetts. Wise and Doug Zbylut with Nebraskans for the Arts testified in favor of the measure. Letters of support came from all quadrants of the state and stakeholders ranging from business owners to nonprofit leaders to elected officials.

In his testimony, Zbylut cited a Blueprint Nebraska report that found “not all regions in the state have access to the same level of arts, entertainment and recreation offerings, creating a barrier to retain the top talent in Nebraska and for attracting new workers and families.” He added, “This initiative (Blueprint) proposed targeting state investment and other incentives to aid partnerships of the private sector, nonprofit organizations and government in mapping, planning and marketing their community arts, entertainment and recreation assets. LB943 can serve as such a targeted investment.”

Hunt said while most economic development programs give tax breaks to large companies, this one targets small organizations and businesses with funds intended to sustain or grow creative enterprise and consumption. She touts the initiative as a potential boon to artists, creatives and entrepreneurs.

“The more we can use policy tools to support them and grow the businesses they have,” Hunt said, “I think that strengthens all the other businesses and amenities in the neighborhoods where those individuals live and work.”

Benson’s business and creative community threw its collective weight behind establishing the districts.. “This in many ways was driven by the Benson neighborhood.” Wise noted. Caitlin Little, developmental director for BFF Omaha, testified in support of the bills.

Caitlin Little.jpg — “This in many ways was driven by the Benson neighborhood.”

- Caitlin Little Developmental Director for BFF Omaha

“I’m really interested in making Omaha and Nebraska a place where folks want to come live and stay and create,” Little said. “Recognizing arts districts and allowing them to have extra funds to pull from is beneficial not only for the folks living and playing there already, but for tourism. We work with small businesses and nonprofits. We're really passionate about making those community connections, We strive for diversity, inclusivity, accessibility. Just recognition alone from the state that we create economic growth and make Omaha a place for everyone is really important.”

Wise said the legislation’s progress through the Unicameral reflected “the readiness of Nebraskans, including business leaders and elected officials, to come around to the idea that the arts can really be viable in terms of economic development.”

Wrapping it with a bow

The speciality license plates funding mechanism, Hunt said, will provide resources to help “improve these districts with no direct cost to taxpayers.”

“The carrot always is that it’s not going to cost the state any more money,” Wise said. “In this case by leveraging speciality license plates for the arts it’s really then up to citizens to say I want one and I’ll pay extra for it. Any time you can market the arts, it’s a good thing. The challenge will be just how much money the license plates will generate. That’s an unknown in the long-term, but so far sales have been steady,”

She anticipates the first plates will be delivered to people’s homes by mid-February. “We feel that interest will continue to develop when people actually see them on vehicles.” A mosaic design by Bennet, Neb. artist Danielle Dewees was selected among 40 entries that Nebraskans voted on as the winning image to adorn the plates.

Hunt said she was “totally confident” her bills would ultimately pass and Nebraskans would get to show their support for the arts.

“Both the license plate bill and the creative districts bill advanced from committee unanimously and they were both on final reading as part of a larger bill package,” she said, “so there was great support from the body. It took some convincing and answering questions, but my colleagues get it. Once we reconvened I had no doubt it was going to get to the finish line.”

Wise was equally confident the time’s right for cultural districts here. “I don’t think there’s any doubt this is going to be a very popular program because it’s something people have said they want and it’s really kind of a no-brainer. All it requires is a willing community and by community I’m also referring to neighborhoods in urban areas. That’s the most important aspect – your community has to say, yes, we want to get together to do this. I just don’t see this as anything we have to sell. I think it’s going to sell itself.”

North Omaha and Other Areas Stand to Gain from Cultural Districts Legislation