Industry
Nebraska is a right-to-work state, offering a number of distinct advantages for business and industry to prosper. Nowhere are these advantages more evident than in Hastings: a central location, excellent transportation infrastructure, extremely low electric rates, a proven superior work ethic and unmatched educational opportunities through Hastings College and Central Community College make Hastings the perfect solution for many businesses.
Industrial assets and opportunities abound in Hastings. Activity surrounding the agricultural industry has flourished. Within a 50-mile radius of Hastings, 10 ethanol plants have a combined capacity of more than 800 million gallons per year. Locally, Hastings is home to Nebraska’s first commercial grade ethanol plant, and today, Hastings’ two ethanol facilities produce more than 120 million gallons per year. Hastings is also home to Cooperative Producers Inc., the largest grain warehousing operation in the state of Nebraska. Moreover, Hastings is home to T-L Irrigation, one of the largest center pivot irrigation manufacturers in the world.
In 1976, the Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) began development of Hastings Industrial Park West. Strategically positioned at the crossroads of US Highways 6, 34 and 281, Park West provides a favorable logistical location for its tenants. Today, Park West is home to 14 manufacturing and related businesses, employing over 1,000 people. In 2010, HEDC sold the last available lot in the industrial park. However, 179 acres are available adjacent to the park with excellent highway and rail access.
In 1995, HEDC began development of Hastings Industrial Park North. Located just off of US Hwy 281, a four-lane expressway, Park North provides great access to US Interstate 80, just 15 miles north of Hastings. Currently, two projects are under construction at Park North. Additionally, HEDC is finishing construction on its 97,500 square foot speculative building. The building boasts 26’ sidewalls, an 8” concrete floor and an advanced early suppression fast response sprinkler system. This building and additional lots of varying sizes are available for industrial applications and related activities.
Hastings Utilities provides comprehensive utility service to both industrial parks with some of the lowest cost utility rates in the nation. Over the last few years, Hastings Utilities has been responsible for one of Nebraska’s largest economic development related projects, the construction of a brand new $650 million, 220-megawatt coal-fired power plant. The plant is scheduled to come online in the spring of 2011. With the development of the new power plant, Hastings Utilities and HEDC stand ready to continue to serve new and existing industry now and into the future.
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