The Omaha Inland Port Authority unveiled the location for its headquarters Tuesday morning, a major step in the publicly funded entity’s mission to grow economic opportunity in north and east Omaha.
The group’s headquarters and innovation district will be built near Ames and North 28th avenues on a site zoned for commercial and light industrial uses.
A “creative construction campus” will be the highlight of the district. The campus will develop training and businesses in 3D-printed homebuilding.
Commercial development, office space and new housing will also take shape on the site, said Inland Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Gary Clark, one of several city and inland port leaders to speak at an unveiling ceremony Tuesday morning. He asked attendees to close their eyes for a moment and picture the future.
“Close your eyes and think about a time where you can come to 30th and Ames, and there is a connection to walk into a bank and get service,” Clark said, “but also a connection to go and do some research and development to learn how to build your own 3D print home.”
Clark said the port authority aims to break ground by mid-2027, with newly constructed buildings open by 2029. The location in North Omaha was identified by a consultant hired by the inland port authority.
Omaha City Council member LaVonya Goodwin said the community is ready for new investment.
“This is a monumental opportunity to say that North Omaha matters, that this community matters, that the residents here matter, that our students matter,” Goodwin said, “and that we’re building something that can bring us all together, not just for now, but for decades to come.”
Created in 2024, the Omaha Inland Port Authority supports business growth and community revitalization by transforming land and infrastructure into long-term economic opportunities. With an initial $120 million investment from the state, it has the power to provide grants, revenue bonds and workforce training in the metro’s poorest communities.
The dry port’s footprint is expansive and includes about 3,000 acres near Eppley Airfield. The port authority reports about 6,800 people within those boundaries and an average per-capita income of $22,643. Of the area’s 2,333 housing units, it said 42% are owner-occupied; 44% are rented and 14% are vacant.