City of Kearney SportsPlex, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The voters of Kearney will now decide upon the Good Life District Economic Development program after the Kearney city council voted to put the resolution on the ballot for the primary election in the spring.
“On July 3, 2025, the City of Kearney was notified that we received a Good Life District designation for approximately 200-acres on the north side of Interstate-80. This State-led initiative will drive tourism, support business growth, and enhance the overall quality of life for both Kearney residents and visitors,” per the City of Kearney.
The Good Life Transformational Projects Act and the Good Life Economic Development Act, which authorizes the establishment of a Good Life District, was created by the Nebraska Unicameral in 2023 and amended in the 2024 and 2025 Legislative Sessions.
Kearney’s district joins four other geographical areas designated as good life districts by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in or around the cities of Omaha, Gretna, Bellevue and Grand Island.
“The Kearney Good Life District will be located on 200 acres of vacant land surrounding the City’s SportsPlex and will include retail, restaurant, and destination attractions developed by a private developer. Sales taxes generated within the Kearney Good Life District are rebated back to the City to assist in funding of the development,” the City of Kearney stated.
“As part of the Good Life District Economic Development Act, approved by Nebraska Legislature in 2024, the City must be granted authority, by the City of Kearney voters, to adopt a Good Life District Economic Development Program. If authorized by the voters, the City Council could then adopt the Program pursuant to Nebraska State Statute,” the City of Kearney noted.
Brenda Jensen, City Manager, appeared before the council to speak on the Good Life District program.
Jensen said the district’s are economic development zones established by the Nebraska Legislature to support large-scale developments to attract out-of-state workers, introduce new-to-market retailers and stimulate infrastructure development.
The benchmarks the state has set for the districts over the next 30 years include $100 million in new development in 10 years, 20 percent of sales generated by non-Nebraska customers and 50 new jobs.
Jensen said the benefits of the districts include stimulating tourism, fostering job creation, increasing the speed of development, expanding retail and dining options, competing for large-scale projects and the overall expansion of the tax base.
The way the districts are set up, half of the state sales tax generated within them stays in the City of Kearney, estimated to be around $7.2 million per year.
Good Life District Economic Development program outlines how the funds generated within the district can be used and they include a number of items, water, sewer, paving and parking, sidewalks, landscaping, signage, public areas.
The impact of the program hopes to be 800,000 square feet in new development, $280 million in investment and $1.1 billion in overall state and local impact over the next three decades.
Addressing several frequently asked questions, Jensen said that if the vote for the program fails, the state is still required to rebate the funds generated within the Good Life district to the city.
However, without an approved economic development program, the city will be quite limited in how the funds could be utilized, only being available for standard municipal expenditures, water, sewer, paving, etc.
There have also been questions about whether residents will pay more in taxes if the program is improved.
Jensen said the answer is no, the state and city sales tax will remain the same within the district. On transactions in the district, the consumer will pay 5.5 percent in state sales tax and 1.5 percent in city sales tax.
The Good Life district will also redirect half of existing state sales tax revenue back to Kearney.
Another question is whether this program will impact funding for the SportsPlex.
Jensen said that funding for the location is separate and will not be impacted by the Good Life District. She noted the primary funding for the SportsPlex is a state sales tax turnback, which was awarded in 2021 to support construction and a one percent food and beverage occupation tax – local revenue dedicated to the project.
Many questions have been addressed to the city on what is to be built in the district. Jensen said that the land is owned by a private developer and they have outline plans for a “vibrant mixed use” district that will complement the SportsPlex and leverage the proximity to Interstate 80.
Proposed elements include retail shops, restaurants and destination attractions designed to activate the area and enhance the resident and visitor experience, Jensen said.
The first businesses in the district under construction include the Drop Zone golf experience and Texas T-Bone restaurant.
The question that will be on the ballot is: “Shall the City of Kearney be authorized to establish a good life district economic development program for any area within the City which is included in a good life district established pursuant to the Good Life Transformational Projects Act, and shall the City be authorized to appropriate the local sources of revenue collected within such good life district program area, which may include local option sales and use taxes and occupation taxes, established pursuant to and as permitted by the Good Life District Economic Development Act; provided that the City shall not use any property tax dollars for such program, but may appropriate sales tax receipts collected within the Good Life District and remitted by the State of Nebraska for such program?”
The Kearney city council approved putting the question on the ballot for the primary election, which will be held May 12, 2026.
For more information about Kearney’s Good Life District designation and upcoming initiatives, visit www.cityofkearney.org/goodlifedistrict
