Iowa wooing Omaha-based insurer Woodmen of the World

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - State and local officials in Nebraska are trying to counter Iowa's efforts to lure Woodmen of the World and its 400 headquarters jobs away from Omaha.

Marty Bilek, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert's chief of staff, told the Omaha World-Herald (http://bit.ly/1IQr7Bd ) that Stothert is concerned about the potential loss of jobs and a longtime corporate citizen.

"The conversations are serious - if for no other reason, they involve people at the highest levels of government on both sides of the river," Bilek said.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, officials approached Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society last spring, after the insurer was denied a county property tax exemption that's still under appeal.

Woodmen's lawyers argued that the insurer is a fraternal benefit organization exempt from federal taxes and is a charity that's eligible for local tax exemption as well. The company reported $40 million in charitable giving last fiscal year.

Douglas County lawyers said Woodmen is primarily an insurance company, citing its $1.2 billion of gross revenue in 2013.

Woodmen spokeswoman Jill Regester told the newspaper that no formal deal has been struck, but "there is still ongoing dialogue with the state of Iowa." She also said Woodmen is talking to Nebraska officials.

"I'm sure that they are interested in keeping us here," she said. "We have a lot to offer a state, not only from a business standpoint but from the money we give back to communities."

Moving Woodmen to Iowa could be attractive, Regester said, because of its "favorable business incentives and laws" and its appreciation for "the value that we bring, especially the 400 jobs."

Economic development officials for both states said Woodmen hasn't been awarded any tax incentives, but they would not say whether there are any negotiations.

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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com