Outlook Nebrasks: Outlook Nebrasks

ID

135

OrgName

Outlook Nebrasks

PhysicalAddress

6935 F Street Omaha, Nebraska 68127

MailingAddress

10404 Essex Court, Suite 101 Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Website

www.outlookne.org

SocialMediaAccounts

Name

Arun Agarwal

Title

EmailAddress

aagarwal@whitelotusgroup.com

Phone

+1 (402) 346-5550

Team

Yes

TeamExplanation

Eric Stueckrath, CEO of Outlook Nebraska, Arun Agarwal, CEO of White Lotus Group, Zak Olsen, CEO of Ronco Construction, Dan Kerns, Schemmer, Alex Bullington, Project Manager WLG, Tanner Ertan, Property Manager WLG

OrganizationalChart

see attached for WLG, and Board Presentation for Outlook.

OtherCompletedProjects

White Lotus Group has completed over 1MM SF of industrial developments including but not limited to: I-80 Logistics Hub (includes users: Amazon, UPS, XPO, Google, Home Depot and Scooters) and Brook Valley Corporate Park. Two Additional developments are underway nearby: Loess Hills Logistics Hub (Mills County, IA), and Lincoln Logistics Hub (Lincoln, NE). Collectively, WLG aims to bring another 5MM sf of manufacturing, distribution and warehousing. Our unique approach to turnkey developments of this type elevates our service offering. Our last two (2) buildings, 301,320 sf and 313,820 represented the State of Nebraska's largest speculative warehouse projects ever.

ProposalTitle

Outlook Nebrasks

TotalBudget

17257500.0

LB1024GrantFundingRequest

2598296.0

ProposalType

Capital project Combination of capital project and service/program Service/program

BriefProposalSummary

Outlook Properties, LLC, currently owned by Outlook Nebraska (collectively “Outlook”), offers an opportunity to advance the nonprofits mission of impacting the lives of the visually impaired. It aims to advance the lives by providing employment opportunities utilizing adaptive technology training, including incorporating technology, manufacturing, and other related services. Founded in 2000, Outlook has enriched the lives of the visually impaired through a variety of programs, but notably utilizing adaptive technologies for tissue production and back office services. Today, the organization is the largest employer of the blind in over a 7-state region. Outlook and White Lotus Group (“WLG”) have established a joint venture for the development of the 11.7 parcel located at 6935 F Street in Omaha. The project would leverage WLG’s industrial expertise to expand Outlook’s mission by providing added space for manufacturing, distribution and warehousing. Over 35,000 Nebraskans report blindness or sever difficulty seeing even with glasses. As a result of the disability, the majority face poverty, and only a fraction is offered program assistance. This will work towards: • Lowering unemployment rate for the blind and visually impaired workforce • Building greater independence among those without sight or those losing their sight • Guiding those beginning their journey of self-discovery and self-reliance • Teaching our communities how to embrace those with varying needs • Connecting with other organizations who share our vision • Educating business leaders on inclusivity and workplace adaptability • Working with elected officials in creating more opportunities for the blind or visually impaired • Raising the quality of life for those with no vision or low vision The Project would facilitate the expansion of that mission by provided a 150,000 sf expansion on top of a brownfield site on the Outlook campus. The Project team has been assembled, city entitlements and approvals have been received, and given an allocation of Omaha Economic Recovery funds, it is ready to start. Lastly, the Project represents a rare opportunity to build industrial/manufacturing product within the center of the city which expands jobs availabilities within the city's core.

Timeline

Pending approval of an allocation of grant funding, the project could start immediately.

PercentageCompletedByJuly2025

1.0

FundingGoals

Long-Lasting Economic Growth (i.e., a proposal that will foster gainful employment opportunities and financial investment in the area, leading to the creation of generational wealth and widespread economic vitality in North and South Omaha) Transformational (i.e., a proposal that will help energize, recharge, or spur significant and favorable advancements in North or South Omaha's function or appearance)

Community Needs

Other Infrastructure (i.e., develop or improve broadband, business districts, roadways, sewer, etc.) Policy (i.e., develop or improve context-sensitive education, finance, health, training, zoning, etc.) Quality of Life (i.e., create or enhance natural spaces, mixed uses, parks, safety, etc.) Sustainable Community (i.e., create or enhance housing, services, education, civic uses, recreation, etc.)

OtherExplanation

ProposalDescriptionAndNeedsAlignment

The Project aims to solve poverty for the visually impaired by creating educational and employment opportunities. Currently this is conducted adjacent to the Project site, and at its peak employed over 100 blind or nearly blind employees for the production of tissue products to the federal government as well as recently offering back office services to businesses. Providing an opportunity to improve the quality of life to the nearly 35,000 Nebraskans that suffer vision disabilities could be aided by the expansion of Outlooks's mission. The location is on a major multimodal site, and would address environmental challenges to the area by solving historic toxic materials.

VisioningWorkshopFindingsAlignment

Educates and Enhances Employment (in this case to an already vulnerable poplulation) Successful implementation would mitigate the need from public support. Redevelops a troubled piece of vacant ground with environmental challenges

PrioritiesAlignment

Employment - there is a lack of new distribution and warehouse space within QCTs (or nearby). This would be a rare opportunity. Economic Development Safe redevelopment of unsafe area (environmental) Utilizes multimodal transportation which will improve Project success and mitigate historic disparities

EconomicImpact

We believe the project will create 100s of jobs over time.

EconomicImpactPermanentJobsCreated

100s

EconomicImpactTemporaryJobsCreated

50

EconomicImpactWageLevels

$30000 to $150,000

EconomicImpactAlignProposedJobs

WE would implement a 5% project set aside for minority and disadvantaged subcontractors

CommunityBenefit

This project will diversify economic development and support to an often forgotten population that currently relies on financial support. By creating educational programs and ultimately employment opportunities both inside and outside the organization, the Project will improve the lives of our community.

CommunityBenefitSustainability

Expands our current workforce Creates job opportunities for the visually impaired Will improve the quality of life greatly for those in need Solves the redevelopment of a environmentally challenged brownfield site.

BestPracticesInnovation

Design for the facility would include an energy enhanced building envelope as well as source energy efficient systems. Equally important, it would

OutcomeMeasurement

Job Creation, Improved Education for both employers and visually impaired employees

OutcomeMeasurementHow

Outlook Nebraska can measure patrons served and placement (they produce an annual impact report), and the Department of Labor should be able to track jobs created.

OutcomeMeasurementCoinvestment

yes in that it expands employment potential for visually impaired, and facilitates new businesses to join the manufacturing/distribution facility.

Partnerships

Yes

PartnershipsOrgs

White Lotus Group / Outlook Nebraska

PartnershipsMOU

Outlook Nebraska / WLG

Displacement

No

DisplacementExplanation

PhysicalLocation

6935 F Street Omaha, NE 68127 the Site map is included and the site is owned by Outlook already.

QualifiedCensusTract

Adjacent to one or more QCTs

AdditionalLocationDocuments

yes, the site is brownfield - see attachments. Note there are Permit Set ready, file is too large to upload.

PropertyZoning

Yes

ConnectedToUtilities

ConnectedToUtilitiesConnected

Yes

ConnectedToUtilitiesUpgradesNeeded

Yes

DesignEstimatingBidding

Yes

DesignEstimatingBiddingPackageDeveloped

Yes

DesignEstimatingBiddingCostsDetermined

GeneralContractor

Yes

GeneralContractorPublicCompetitiveBid

Yes

GeneralContractorPublicCompetitiveBidWhyNot

RequestRationale

Due to 501c3 nature, the project is oversized to introduce other users and subsidize the overall cost of occupancy to the organization. Given the size of the project, the environmental challenges, and the inflationary pressures (cost of debt and cost to build), the project requires assistance

GrantFundsUsage

It will be used for Site improvements, environmental monitoring and compliance, and development of the facility.

ProposalFinancialSustainability

Yes

ProposalFinancialSustainabilityOperations

Outlook Nebraska and WLG both have reporting requirements. WLG would facilitate the reporting requirements associated with the physical development of the Project, and how the set aside was implemented and achieved. Funds would be drawn and paid for monthly payment applications, and then reimbursements would be sought from the ARPA program. Outlook would report separately its 501c3 programming and associated grant reporting requirements.

FundingSources

Outlook has raised funds for the acquisition of the Land. TIF has been approved by the Omaha City Council. Debt would be guaranteed by WLG & Outlook Additional investment as required by the Partnership.

FundingSourcesPendingDecisions

They are already approved.

FundingSourcesCannotContinue

ARPA

Scalability

No.

ScalabilityComponents

FinancialCommitment

The Partnership is committing already invested Equity, new equity and sponsorship of debt to facilitate this project. Additionally, Outlook invests in the associated programming of its mission.

ARPAComplianceAcknowledgment

1.0

ARPAReportingMonitoringProcessAck

1.0

LB1024FundingSourcesAck

1.0

PublicInformation

1.0

FileUploads

Additional Location Documents (see application for list) Data table of uses (breakdown of how the requested funds will be used for your proposal) Documentation of site control (proof of ownership, option, purchase contract, or long-term lease agreement) Environmental assessment of subject site. Is the property a brownfield site? Organizational Chart Plans and detailed descriptions, including pictures and a map of the site location/surrounding area Pro Forma Proposal Budget/Sources and Uses Request Rationale Documentation Schedule