Buffalo County Is Built for Healthcare Growth: Expand with Confidence in a Region Aligned to Serve, Train, and Deliver

Anchored by Major Health Systems

Buffalo County's healthcare industry is led by two regional hospitals that serve as both clinical anchors and major employers:

• CHI Health Good Samaritan is a 268-bed regional referral center in Kearney that provides trauma care, cardiac surgery, neonatal intensive care, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, and rural emergency transport. It employs over 500 staff and serves patients across central Nebraska and beyond.
• Kearney Regional Medical Center (part of Bryan Health) delivers acute and specialty care, employing more than 850 people. It plays a key role in serving the medical needs of Buffalo County and surrounding rural communities.

These facilities generate significant economic impact while providing clinical capacity and referral opportunities for new specialty clinics, outpatient centers, and support services.

Workforce Strength and Labor Market Access

The Buffalo County laborshed draws from a population base of over 196,000 residents across eight counties, with 109,409 individuals in the labor force. Within Buffalo County alone, the population has grown by 33.8% since 1990, outpacing the broader region's growth by nearly double.

This labor market supports a steady pipeline of professionals in:

• Physician and dental offices
• Diagnostic laboratories
• Outpatient surgical and rehabilitation centers
• Home health and elder care
• Physical and occupational therapy clinics
• Behavioral and mental health services

Buffalo County's healthcare sector already supports 13,699 jobs with an average annual wage of $53,990. The sector's size, resilience, and wage structure make it a strong fit for employers looking to grow in a stable market with built-in patient demand.

Rural Health Education and Talent Development

Buffalo County stands out nationally for its focus on rural health workforce preparation.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) are jointly expanding health education opportunities through the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex.

This new facility will train the next generation of physicians, pharmacists, and public health professionals specifically for work in rural communities.

This institutional partnership allows healthcare businesses to access the following:

• Practicum and residency placement opportunities
• New graduate pipelines
• Professional development partnerships
• Applied research and innovation initiatives

This facility is backed by state and institutional investment and exists to serve the very workforce needs that healthcare site selectors prioritize. The region's academic infrastructure includes access to allied health, nursing, and administrative programs at Central Community College and other nearby institutions.

Investment Momentum and Facility Expansion

Healthcare providers looking to build or expand will find shovel-ready options and strategic support in Buffalo County.

Buffalo County is proactively planning for future healthcare growth. One example is the Nebraska Medicine expansion at University Village, a 104-acre mixed-use development that will bring a cancer services facility to Kearney. This project will include:

• Hematology services
• Infusion and oncology
• Radiation and surgical consults

Additional benefits for healthcare developers include:

• Modern zoning policies supportive of medical and healthcare land use
• Infrastructure-ready parcels for new clinic or support center construction
• Competitive development timelines and local permitting support
• Proximity to patient populations, referral systems, and transportation corridors

Buffalo County also offers financial incentives and project support through the Development Council and its partners, including state and federal programs targeted at healthcare access and rural development.