Logistical Advantage
Grand Island’s central location makes it an easy place to live or work no matter what business you’re in. Our highways provide an easy commute to anywhere in the state, while air service takes you quickly to some of the nation’s biggest business and pleasure destinations — and home again.
Roads
Grand Island and Hall County are centrally located in the middle of the United States. No other community in the state of Nebraska can offer this network of highways to all points in the state. This grid of highways, like the spokes of a wheel, can provide the most efficient commuting time to the entire state from any location. Serving Grand Island directly are Interstate 80, U.S. Highways 30, 34 and 281 and Nebraska Highway 2, with key lateral connections to U.S. Highway 6 and Nebraska Highways 92, 14 and 11.
Grand Island simplifies business transportation with the rails, the roads and the air service to move materials in and products out, as well as making meetings a quick turnaround. It’s all due to our central location and our commitment to keep business moving.
Railroads
Rail has helped to shape the city that Grand Island is today with Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe providing service. The connectivity offered to existing businesses and potential new sites for development in the form of spurs is an advantage for the community.
Motor Freight
Grand Island and Hall County are centrally located in the middle of the United States, right on Interstate 80 and U.S. Highways 30, 34, and 281. The geographic center of the contiguous United States is just 80 miles to the south of Grand Island and the city is the largest population and economic center within this 80-mile radius. Exports can reach the east or west coast in two days by truck.
Transit Times
| City | Days by Railroad | Days by Motor Freight |
| Chicago | 2 | 1 |
| Dallas | 5 | 1 |
| Denver | 3 | 1 |
| Los Angeles | 5 | 2 |
| Minneapolis | 3 | 1 |
| St. Louis | 4 | 1 |
Airport
The Central Nebraska Regional Airport (CNRA) GRI offers direct service to Phoenix/Mesa, Las Vegas, and Dallas/Fort Worth and beyond through American and Allegiant Airlines! The airport is governed by the Hall County Airport Authority and is an important transportation and economic asset for the region, providing over 2,200 jobs, space for industrial and aviation tenants, and more than $171 million in total economic output. Over 60,000+-passengers utilize CNRA annually for business and recreation travel.
GRI has state-of-the-art Passenger and General Aviation Terminals, provides business and general aviation services, and is home to the Nebraska Army Aviation Support Facility, the Nebraska National Guard Readiness Center, and the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center.
Central Nebraska Regional Airport (CNRA) offers residents an important alternative to driving to Lincoln or Omaha for commercial air service. Passenger departures have risen dramatically – by approximately 750 percent – with increased service and connectivity in the last five years.
Central Nebraska Regional Airport website
Private charter flights available through Trego Dugan Private Jet Charter.
Infrastructure
Good infrastructure should just work without you having to think about it. Count on ours to quietly do its work day in and day out — so you can do yours! No matter what your business needs for infrastructure, Grand Island can accommodate you.
Grand Island Utilities
The Grand Island Utilities Department generates and distributes electricity and water to homes, businesses, and industries in and near Grand Island Nebraska. Within the boundaries of its service area, the Utilities Department supplies approximately 26,000 customers with electrical service, and provides water distribution service to approximately 15,000 customers.
The Utilities Department is owned by the customers it serves and is governed by the Grand Island City Council as a financially self-supporting entity of the City of Grand Island. No taxes are used for the operation of the Utilities Department as all departmental operations are financed through electric and water revenue.
To meet the needs of the citizens of Grand Island, the Utilities Department is organized into four (4) major divisions: Engineering, Generation, Electrical Distribution, and Water. Within the Electrical Distribution Division there are two (2) subdivisions: Overhead and Underground construction. The Engineering Division is responsible for services to all Utility Divisions.
Grand Island Public Works
The Public Works Department is comprised of five divisions:
Engineering Division
Fleet Division
Solid Waste Division
Streets Division
Wastewater Division
The Engineering Division oversees the design and construction of street improvements, storm drainage, and sanitary sewer projects, as well as handling Storm Water regulations. The Fleet Services Division keeps city equipment maintained and in good working condition and the Solid Waste Division operates the transfer station and landfill.
The Streets Division takes care of street maintenance operations such as patching potholes, repairing concrete roads, sealing cracks, maintaining signs & signals, and snow removal. The Wastewater Division is responsible for maintenance of the sewer collection lines throughout the city and operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
NorthWestern Energy
Grand Island/Hall County is also serviced by NorthWestern Energy for its gas consumption. Backed by a proud heritage of nearly 80 years of service, a reputation for excellence and professional and talented team members, NorthWestern Energy is committed to exceeding customers' highest expectations. NorthWestern offers an expanding array of products and services designed to make their customers' lives more comfortable and convenient and businesses more efficient.
