LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Backers of a proposed state-of-the-art medical facility in Omaha asked Nebraska lawmakers Thursday to contribute $300 million in state money to the project, describing it as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity."The proposed Nebraska Transfomational Project would create a new teaching hospital and research and education tower on the campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. It would be a partnership of state and federal agencies to respond to natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks and other crises.The proposal would cost a total of $2.6 billion, making it potentially the largest economic development project in history.Sen. Mark Kolterman, of Seward, who introduced the proposal, called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" for the state that could create nearly 42,000 jobs, including 8,700 permanent jobs at the medical center. Under Kolterman's proposal, the state money would only be spent if the federal government and private donors meet certain funding commitments.

Nebraska weighs proposal for major medical facility project