LINCOLN - For the third consecutive year, Nebraska has been awarded one of the 2018 Site Selection Governor's Cups. This is the sixth year Site Selection recognizes the state with the most qualifying new and expanded facilities per capita, which Nebraska claims for its capital investment activity in 2018. Texas was also a winner for having the most qualified projects of any state.

Lincoln also placed fourth in the 2018 rankings for Metros with a Population Between 200,000 to 1,000,000. Lincoln’s ranking is up from ninth in 2017, with 29 projects in total. The Omaha Metro area was once again at the top of the rankings for the same population class.

The 65-year-old Atlanta-based magazine has awarded the Governor’s Cup annually since 1988, based on new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by the proprietary Conway Projects Database. Site Selection's yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as "the industry scoreboard." The magazine's circulation base consists of 48,000 subscribers, most of whom are involved in corporate site selection decisions at the CEO/President/COO level.

In the per capita (per 1 million population) contest, Nebraska’s tally of 118 projects was eight higher than the year before, which in turn was nine higher than the year before that.

“We could not be any prouder to be part of this Governor’s Cup. Third party validation such as this is invaluable to us, as it goes a long way for us in trying to recruit others to our state. We’ve been inundated with third-party validations, but this one is the cherry on top,” according to Wendy Birdsall, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President.

“This award is due to the partnerships formed within the business community and with state and local governments that allow us all to succeed.”

Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database focuses on new corporate facility projects with significant impact, including headquarters, manufacturing plants, R&D operations and logistics sites, among others. It does not track retail and government projects, or schools and hospitals. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria: (a) involve a capital investment of at least US $1 million, (b) create at least 20 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 sq. ft. of new floor area.

“We’ve got the best people in the world here in Nebraska. This is not the effort of one team or one organization, it’s the effort of so many partners throughout our communities and a true team effort to help our state,” says Governor Pete Ricketts.

“It’s about companies making those investments in our state that allows them to send their kids to school, go on that family vacation and enjoy the “Good Life” in Nebraska. That’s why this is so important, that’s what it’s about at the end of the day.”

Further information on the winners and rankings from 2018 can be found at www.siteselection.com.