The City of Hastings, Nebraska, held its "Thursdays with the Mayor" meeting on March 19, 2026, focusing on community development and upcoming city initiatives. Key procurement-related discussions included approvals for drawdown requests related to community development block grants and updates on ongoing and future business developments such as the Hartwell Renewables plant, Casey's Truck Stop, Les Schwab Tire, and Tommy's Car Wash. The mayor emphasized a strategic shift toward promoting industry, retail, and job growth while continuing housing development. Additionally, the city is actively working with the Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) and Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) to revitalize downtown assets with a $40 million project. Public meetings were announced to discuss zoning code updates, which could impact future development and procurement activities. Other topics included emergency preparedness drills, summer recreational programs, and community events, but no new contract awards or vendor selections were detailed during this session.

Thursdays with the Mayor, March 19, 2026