Case New Holland is seeking $388,000 from the City of Grand Island to add staff to help produce the machine voted to be the coolest thing made in Nebraska.
CNH has redesigned its Axial-Flow combines that are built at the Grand Island plant. The AF series combine was named “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” but the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The company has applied for an economic development grant to help add 45 employees.
According to CNH, the redesigned duel-rotor combine and single-rotor combines now offer more options for row crop and small grain harvesting. The AF series offers the largest grain tank capacity and highest unload rate in the industry with overall improved efficiency by harvesting longer and further in a field pass, the company has said.
Grand Island voters renewed the City of Grand Island’s Local Option Municipal Economic Development Program, known as LB840, for a third decade in November 2023. The Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation (GIAEDC) administers the City’s LB840 Economic Development program and the GIAEDC Board approved the application that now goes to the City Council.
Case New Holland Industrial has an employment base of 680 FTEs this is expected to bring the total workforce to 725 FTEs at the Grand Island facility.
Funds are contingent on a workforce audit showing the company has added jobs.
Economic Development Director Mary Berlie says this will take the available funds in the LB840 program down to near $0, a program benchmark.
“Grand Island has been busy growing and LB840 has been a great tool,” Berlie said in an email.
The City Council recently voted to use that fund to support livestock shows at Fonner Park as well.
