Economic Development Office
Tom Ourada, City Administrator
Phone: 402.826.4312
tom.ourada@crete.ne.gov
City Hall - 243 East 13th Street
Crete NE 68333-0086
The City of Crete recognizes the need for business and government to work together for economic development and works to further this concept through the Economic Development Committee and the Economic Development Office.
The Economic Development Department serves as a point of contact for local businesses, businesses looking to relocate into Crete, development organizations, and state and federal agencies. The development office can provide information about Crete's demographics, housing, infrastructure, and other aspects of the community on request, or access data in the sections below or at left. The City of Crete is proud to be a Nebraska Department of Economic Development Certified Community. The city received recertification status in September 2021.
Incentive Programs
More about Crete:
- gWorks online mapping - zoning, floodplain, redevelopment areas, public parks, parcels, sections, address points, etc.
- Housing, Business & Industry information
- Local business regulations and licensing, real estate/housing, tourism, city affiliations, 2019 housing study, comprehensive plan, additional community data, major employers, etc.
- Building Inpsectior's Office/Zoning
- City Master Fee Schedule: A comprehensive list of all city fees for services, permits, utilities, and programs across all departments and offices. View the Master Fee Schedule
- Living in Crete - community links
- Community & history information, local agencies and programs, churches, education, healthcare, recreation
- Major community construction highlights:
- There are currently five housing subdivisions in various phases from planning to construction.
- The Crete Senior Villas $3.7 million development on East 29th Street will be completed in December 2024 with a 30 unit, 3 story apartment building to create affordable housing for residents age 55 and up and include units for residents with income levels at or below 60% of AMI (area medium income).
- Doane University completed construction in December 2023 on a new, four-floor residence hall to accommodate 128 students. Doane also opened a new president's residence in early 2024 with additional event space on the south side of campus.
- Crete Area Medical Center, a critical access hospital, completed a three-phase renovation and expansion project in 2023 to include its physician and specialty clinics, surgery, and labor and delivery areas. The facility was new in 2003 and has had additions and renovations to the emergency department and cardiac rehab areas.
- Crete Public Schools purchased a former commercial space on Main Ave. and completed an estimated $3.7 million renovation in December 2021 to create a district welcome center and administration offices totaling 26,000 sq ft.
- The City of Crete opened the new, $7.4 million, 20,000 sq ft Crete Public Library and Community Room in January 2020. The site also includes a new park.
- A new 80-room Fairfield Inn and Suites opened in early 2020.
- Through Downtown Revitalization funding and local property matches, over $500,000 was invested to rehabilitate 29 front and side building facades in Crete's downtown district from 2018-2019.
- The City of Crete's new $12.9 million wastewater treatment facility went online in May 2016.
- Current businesses moving to newly constructed buildings: Orscheln Farm & Home (2020), UBT (2015), Runza (2014), Dairy Queen (2014);
- Crete High School, at 174,000 sq ft, was new in 2016. Other district improvements new in 2016 included major renovations to the former high school building to function as a middle school; and a new 8-lane track.
- Doane University: completed a 22,000 sq ft expansion of Fuhrer Fieldhouse in 2014; George and Sally Haddix Recreation and Athletic Center, over 63,000 sq ft, was new in 2010; Chab Weyers Education and Hixson Lied Art Building was new in 2007.
