At UNeTech, we write a lot of grants. Most of them we don’t get. The good jobs challenge was one of them. Although you never really know, I suspect we fell >just shy< of the mark. Missing out on this grant wasn’t just another rejection; it felt deeply personal. The federal government has made big, bold investments to advance the national economy. Good Jobs Challenge might be the last one for a good long while. Also, the program we proposed—a forward-thinking initiative to equip healthcare employers with AI-driven job skills—was more than just a good idea. It embodied UNeTech’s mission, a bold step forward in our collaboration with the EDGE District, and a natural extension of our history of impactful EDA-funded projects.
The disappointment stings because we believed so strongly in the potential of this program. Healthcare employers across Nebraska face rapid technological shifts. AI and automation are reshaping roles, and our proposal aimed to bridge that gap, ensuring both employers and employees were prepared for the future. It wasn’t just about funding—it was about creating a framework for sustainable job growth and technological fluency in a sector that touches every life in our state. Knowing that we couldn’t secure the support this time leaves us grappling with the lingering “what-ifs.”
But in entrepreneurship—and indeed at UNeTech—disappointment is not a reason to stop. It’s a cue to pivot, to refine, and to double down on our efforts. We are entrusted with a mission by the state of Nebraska to drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and create opportunity. That responsibility doesn’t allow for retreat in the face of setbacks. Instead, it demands resilience. To honor that trust, we must find another way forward. Another grant to pursue, another partner to collaborate with, another chance to bring our transformative vision to life.
What makes this rejection particularly tough is the context. This program was not just a standalone opportunity; it represented the next chapter in UNeTech’s long and fruitful partnership with the EDA.
We’ve done so much and are ready to do more.
Our proposed program would have built on a foundation of previous successes while opening new doors in workforce development for the EDGE District—an area brimming with potential for innovation and growth. We had hoped to start 2024 with the triumphant announcement of funding for a program that combined cutting-edge AI with meaningful economic impact. Instead, we’re starting the year with the hard work of regrouping.
But maybe that’s the right place to begin. This setback is a chance to recommit ourselves to the grind. Excellence, after all, doesn’t come from avoiding failure but from pushing through it. UNeTech exists to serve entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs know better than anyone that success is rarely a straight path. We pivot because we must. The only way to achieve our mission is to keep at it, to reimagine the pitch, and to look for the next opportunity.
The good news? It’s on the horizon, but that’s for tomorrow. Today, I’m just going to be a little sad and a lot determined. Even in the face of the disappointment: I will be grateful for the chance to nurture, cultivate and have fun. Even in failure: there’s nothing I’d rather do.
