Border Community Challenges

Let’s talk about border community challenges.

This past weekend Carter Lake held its annual Fall garage sale. I took the opportunity to go out and speak with residents about challenges they face.

A major topic from neighbors was the imbalance in economic development opportunities between Iowa and Nebraska. The visible growth in Omaha, marked by new buildings and cranes, is the opposite of the sluggishness observed in neighboring Iowa communities. An article on September 25th in the Des Moines Register points out that while Iowa’s population is slowly growing, border cities along the rivers are shrinking.

A few actionable ideas can make a big change for those of us living in border communities. Here are a few:

• Equalize the minimum wage between the states. Currently the Nebraska minimum wage is almost double Iowa. In 2026 Nebraska minimum wage will be more than double Iowa.

• Focus on equal benefits across state lines to support retention and recruitment of Iowa Educators.

• Align economic development tax incentives. In Iowa you can receive a 10-year tax deferment when starting a business or housing developments. Compare that to Nebraska that offers a 20-year deferment of taxes making it challenging for Council Bluffs and Carter Lake to compete for economic investment and jobs growth.

According to Atlas Migration Patterns Study, Iowa has the 7th highest number of people leaving a state per capita. Retaining Iowans is a critical priority for sustaining local communities and fostering long-term growth. Let’s give our young Iowans a reason to stay in Iowa!