The fourth Lincoln Vital Signs report, released on December 17 by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, featured new data that reflects how Lincoln has evolved over the last decade. New data findings illustrated trends in Lincoln’s community in the areas of: Community Profile, Economy & Workforce, Basic Needs, Education, Health, and Safety & Security. The Prosper Lincoln community agenda will evolve to address the latest data.
Public Policy Center Associate Director, Dr. Nancy Shank, shared major findings from the report at the Prosper Lincoln Summit. “Lincoln is prospering and growing stronger,” said Shank. “However, persistent weaknesses are stymieing our progress.”
Data depicts that Lincoln has made numerous improvements to its economy and workforce. Lincoln’s unemployment rate of 2.5% is one of the lowest in the country. Over the last decade, the number of jobs created by new businesses has increased by 24%.
Lincoln added more than 33,000 people to its neighborhoods and has continued to see a decrease in crime. Property crime rate has dropped from 91% of the rate of comparably-sized cities to 85%. Over the past decade, Lincoln’s violent crime rate has averaged 50% of the violent crime rate of other comparably-sized cities.
Recent Vital Sign findings showed geographic concentrations of extreme poverty and poor health. Lincoln currently has 7 census tracts where over 40% of the residents live in households that fall below the poverty threshold. In these extreme poverty neighborhoods, there can be as much as a 20-year gap in life expectancy when compared to other parts of Lincoln. More than 9,000 children are currently living in poverty.
In response to the 2019 Vital Sign findings, Prosper Lincoln has now expanded its focus areas to include Early Childhood, Innovative Workforce, Affordable Housing, Strong Neighborhoods and Civic Investments. Previous focus areas of Prosper Lincoln included Early Childhood, Employment Skill and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
To download a copy of Lincoln Vital Signs 2019, visit LincolnVitalSigns.org.