Business is Booming in North Omaha

Wal-Mart breaks ground in a poverty stricken area.

By Rebekah Rae

CREATED Feb. 13, 2013

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  • Jobs are on the way for one of Omaha's poorest areas. Video by kmtv.com

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 Omaha, NE - Jobs are on the way for one of Omaha's poorest areas.  A big business will soon open its doors, but it won't be the only change for the neighborhood.  For years, businesses have trickled in and out along Ames avenue but now, a more permanent solution.  Wal-Mart is one of many settling in north Omaha.  Wednesday, Wal-Mart broke ground at 50th and Ames.  Currently the location was a Baker's square and it has been vacant for years.

Neighbors are happy one more vacant lot will be put to use.  They say lately, they've seen more businesses leave than stay.  According to residents, it's one reason north Omaha sees so much crime.  The more jobs that are created, the sooner Ames avenue will be restored to a thriving business community.

"There's been a lot of poverty in north Omaha,"  says Eric Burgin who is president for one of Omaha's neighborhood alliance groups.  "These new jobs are going to bring a lot of people out of poverty, we've had people looking for this for a long time," Burgin knows change will not happen over night, still he's hopeful.
 
Wal-Mart is not the only business investing on Ames.  Other nearby development includes Northstar's boys center, an after school program that is currently being built right across from the Wal-Mart location.  Planet Fitness and Workforce Solutions recently moved into the Ames plaza a few blocks west and all this is part of a 70 million dollar investment plan to revitalize north Omaha.