Nebraska's economy needs projects like the University of Nebraska Medical Center's proposed $370 million cancer center, Omaha philanthropist Michael Yanney says.
"We must be developing jobs," he said. "Not at the $7 level, but at a much higher level."
The cancer center, project backers say, would provide 1,200 new jobs, many of them high-paying, by 2020. (The breakdown: 100 physicians, 50 researchers, 650 clinical staff such as nurses and patient care technicians, and 400 research staff.) It's expected to add $100 million per year in salaries and benefits to Nebraska's economy.
The job numbers on the clinical side (the physicians and clinical staff) are based on actual growth over the past several years and anticipated growth from an aging population, a Nebraska Medical Center spokesman said. On the research side, UNMC officials expect to fill 98 new labs with researchers who have the same level of support as what is now in place.
University officials are asking the State of Nebraska for $50 million for the project and millions more for proposals on other NU campuses. Gov. Dave Heineman has said the officials have good ideas, but said their funding request had bad timing.
Yanney, who is helping raise money for the cancer center, said the project would generate "sizable" tax revenue from the new workers and related businesses that would be affected by the center. And, he said, the percentage of revenue to the med center for treatment of cancer patients who might otherwise leave the region for care "would go up pretty significantly."
An estimated $200 million in private money would help pay for the project. Although it's still early in the fundraising process, Yanney said, he has a "comfort index that the dynamics of this will be very attractive to foundations and philanthropists in our community and maybe even outside the community."
Yanney noted that Dr. Harold Maurer, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has a track record as "an incredible visionary who knows how to execute" and expects that to again draw significant private support.
Yanney said people also should consider the other segments of the economy that could be boosted by the project: home sales, apartment rentals, pharmaceutical business, restaurant business.
"For Omaha," he said, "it's just a really dynamic opportunity."
As for Heineman's reservations, Yanney said he thinks the governor has done an excellent job getting the state's financial house in order.
"I think when we sit down with the governor, we can find a plan that is satisfactory to both of us," he said. "As good Nebraskans, we'll find a way to make it happen."
Contact the writer:
402-444-1109, bob.glissmann@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
