# State economic development official moves to Omaha's mayor office  
**Published:** 2026-06-05T22:38:01.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ded-official-who-guided-multimillion-dollar-state-grant-program-leaves-for-omaha-post/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/state-economic-development-official-moves-to-omaha-s-mayor-office

A key administrator of Nebraska's $235 million North and South Omaha Recovery Grant program has left state government to join Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr.'s administration.

Javier Saldaña Jr., formerly the [economic recovery division administrator for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ded-official-who-guided-multimillion-dollar-state-grant-program-leaves-for-omaha-post/), is now Omaha's deputy chief of staff for economic development. The position, which Saldaña assumed May 26, involves steering real estate development projects and implementing mayoral priorities.

Omaha officials recruited Saldaña for the city role, recognizing his experience managing one of the state's most significant economic development initiatives. At the DED, Saldaña oversaw the [North and South Omaha Recovery Grant program](https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/), which awarded approximately $235 million to about 130 groups and businesses in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program, approved by the Nebraska Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen in 2023, aimed to spur job creation and reverse decades of disinvestment. [Multiple projects funded through the program are now advancing](https://www.hastingstribune.com/news/state/nebraska/5-8-million-state-award-helps-launch-global-market-in-south-omaha/article_5fb7ee6a-c1a0-54d1-a9a9-382a3b552361.html), including OneWorld Community Health Centers' training facility, the South Omaha Global Market, and various youth and cultural centers.

Saldaña fills a position vacated when Jacquelyn Morrison shifted to Ewing's director of transformation and strategic partnerships. Morrison, like Saldaña, previously worked for the state DED before joining city government.

Born in Grand Island and raised in Columbus, Saldaña is a University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate and Nebraska National Guard veteran who served two overseas combat deployments to the Middle East and Afghanistan. He previously helped lead UNO's Office of Military and Veteran Services and worked with organizations including the Metro Young Latino Professionals Association and OneWorld Community Health Centers.

Ashley Drake, who has worked for the state for more than 12 years, is serving as interim administrator of the DED's economic recovery division. The [mayor's office emphasized Saldaña's expertise in economic development and military service](https://mayors-office.cityofomaha.org/news-announcements/), noting his background aligns with Ewing's priority on intentional economic growth across Omaha.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ded-official-who-guided-multimillion-dollar-state-grant-program-leaves-for-omaha-post/)
- [North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program official page](https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/)
- [Hastings Tribune coverage of NSORG project groundbreaking](https://www.hastingstribune.com/news/state/nebraska/5-8-million-state-award-helps-launch-global-market-in-south-omaha/article_5fb7ee6a-c1a0-54d1-a9a9-382a3b552361.html)
- [City of Omaha Mayor's Office news and announcements](https://mayors-office.cityofomaha.org/news-announcements/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ded-official-who-guided-multimillion-dollar-state-grant-program-leaves-for-omaha-post/.