Hastings Colleges students Lily Teeple and Josephine Parker developed a program that will be funded by a grant to address community revitalization and brain drain, (Hastings College, Courtesy)
HASTINGS — Two Hastings College initiatives — the Scott Scholars Program and the Doerr Center for Civic Engagement — are excited to announce the receipt of a $50,000 Nebraska Thrive & Retain grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
Grant funding will be paired with a total of $80,000 in additional contributions from the Nebraska Diplomats, the Nebraska Community Foundation, Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District and participating communities in order to help execute the Nebraska Revitalize & Thrive Partnership Program.
The program, developed by Hastings College seniors and Scott Scholars Josephine Parker and Lily Teeple, establishes a collaboration between Nebraska-based partners and Jeff Siegler of Revitalize or Die. Parker is from Omaha, Nebraska, and Teeple is from Gering, Nebraska.
The program aims to address community revitalization and brain drain through national expertise, local leadership and student-driven insights.
Partnership teams will build localized playbooks and toolkits to:
- Align community efforts with the aspirations of young talent, creating vibrant and attractive places to live and work.
- Foster entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Encourage and empower young talent to start businesses and seek local employment opportunities.
This initiative aims to transform Nebraska towns into vibrant hubs by empowering young people to establish lasting roots. Inspired by the Nebraska Community Foundation’s Hometown Internships and the UNO Scott Scholar Design Studio, it connects students with communities to drive meaningful change.
“The Nebraska Revitalize & Thrive Partnership Program will develop local action teams and equip communities with strategies to attract and retain talent, while fostering vibrant and dynamic environments where graduates can thrive,” Teeple said. “By addressing barriers and creating opportunities, it aims to inspire a sense of ownership among young Nebraskans, positioning them to take key roles in impacting their communities’ future.”
Beyond tangible community revitalization, the program strengthens the intangibles — local networks and meaningful engagement. Research shows that cultivating a sense of belonging increases long-term commitment, reducing brain drain and supporting sustainable growth. These efforts create enduring support systems that extend the program’s impact into the future.
“The program tackles brain drain by raising awareness of young talent outmigration and promoting community revitalization as key to Nebraska’s future through targeted outreach as well as establishing meaningful connections between young professionals and community leaders,” Parker said.
Community-specific toolkits will integrate national expertise with local insights, offering strategies to revitalize rural areas, foster entrepreneurship, and enhance quality of life.
The program aims to foster long-term collaboration between public, private and philanthropic sectors to support workforce development and community revitalization across Nebraska communities.
The project team will begin soliciting community applications this April, and will select participating communities in June.
