The Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge offered another opportunity for Omaha’s remarkable healthcare innovation ecosystem to come together. Working with UNeTech, the region’s major healthcare employers assembled an unprecedented coalition in support of the Omaha AI Pipeline (OAIP) proposal. While we eagerly await EDA’s announcement this month, the strength of our community’s response deserves recognition.
The region’s healthcare institutions demonstrated remarkable leadership. Nebraska Medicine joined Children’s Nebraska and the Methodist Health System to form a powerful coalition of healthcare employers ready to transform their workforce through artificial intelligence. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska recognized AI’s potential to enhance preventive care and streamline operations.
The University of Nebraska system mobilized significant resources. The Holland Computing Center committed its state-of-the-art, high-performance resources. The Center for Intelligent Healthcare offered its computational infrastructure, while the NU Advance platform stood ready to support flexible credentialing needs. At UNO, the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance prepared to provide comprehensive business strategy analyses for AI projects.
Research institutions across the University of Nebraska opened their datasets and expertise. The Antimicrobial Peptide Database, the world’s largest repository of bioactive peptides, offered a treasure trove of data. Multiple research groups provided access to specialized datasets in human motion analysis, pain assessment, and healthcare provider efficiency—real-world healthcare challenges that could benefit from AI solutions.
The region’s workforce development infrastructure aligned as well. The Greater Omaha Chamber, Aksarben Foundation, and Heartland Workforce Solutions collectively pledged their networks and resources. IBEW Local agreed to serve on a steering committee, willing to lend their experience and represent the void of workers. Nebraska’s commitment to growing our technology workforce aligned the program with broader economic development goals.
Even Omaha’s startup ecosystem rallied to support the initiative. Companies like RespirAI Medical, University Medical Devices, and investors like SpringTide Ventures recognized how the OAIP could strengthen Omaha’s position as an emerging hub for healthcare AI innovation.
Should the EDA select our proposal this month, UNeTech stands ready to serve as the backbone organization for this transformative initiative. The trust placed in UNeTech by our region’s largest healthcare employers, educational institutions, and community organizations represents years of successful collaboration in healthcare innovation.
Regardless of the EDA’s decision, this unprecedented show of support demonstrates Omaha’s extraordinary capacity for collaboration. Our healthcare institutions, universities, and workforce development organizations have shown they can unite behind ambitious initiatives that serve our entire community. This coalition-building represents perhaps the most significant outcome of the application process—proving that Omaha’s healthcare innovation ecosystem stands ready to tackle transformative opportunities.
Watch this space for the EDA’s announcement. The potential to transform healthcare through AI while creating pathways to prosperity remains a compelling vision for our region.
