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Four communities earn Economic Development Certification
LINCOLN, NEB. (October 1, 2007)—Cozad, Geneva, Gothenburg, and Scottsbluff have been designated as Economic Development Certified Communities through the program sponsored by The Nebraska Diplomats. They join a growing list that includes Auburn, Fremont, Grand Island, Holdrege, Lexington, Nebraska City, Norfolk, North Platte, Ogallala, Ord and South Sioux City.
Each community completed a rigorous application process administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to qualify. The program remains one of only a handful in the U.S. that recognizes communities for economic development preparedness.
“Attainment of the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community designation spotlights those communities that are prepared for business growth and ready, today, to meet the needs of companies seeking new business and industrial locations. The designation sets them apart as communities that have the leadership and commitment to take the necessary steps to allow them to compete successfully for new jobs and new investment”, said Roger Christianson, Nebraska Diplomats president. “Cozad, Geneva, Gothenburg and Scottsbluff are now well positioned to attract new businesses.”
The communities are:
•Cozad (pop. 4,200-plus)—is committed to economic growth evidenced by its voters who passed LB840, the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, for a second time in 2007. “Designation as a certified community for economic development shows the commitment and dedication of our community and our readiness for more projects,” said Ed Boos, president of the Cozad Development Corporation. “Cozad has now laid the foundation to aggressively pursue new businesses and industries that compliment our existing business community.”
Recent projects that have significantly impacted Cozad’s economy include expansion of Colorado Biolabs, a neutraceutical firm, the purchase of a local bakery by Tabora Farms, which now has more than 30 full-time employees, and the addition of a 24-unit assisted living facility. The Cozad Development Corporation has acquired and developed two industrial tracts and recently purchased an option on prime real estate near Interstate 80.
•Geneva (pop. 2,100-plus)—is concentrating on retaining and expanding its base of businesses and industries, and positioning itself to attract new opportunities. The community undertook Business Retention and Expansion surveys this past summer to identify challenges for existing businesses and an analysis by the Tourism Assessment Resources and Growth Evaluation Team earlier in 2007 to explore ways to expand tourism-related enterprises or opportunities. More than $16 million in new investment in Fillmore County and more than $1 million in grants has been accessed for a variety of development needs. Sunflower Marketing, a division of M-C Industries celebrated its 15th year of business in Geneva in June. Built in 1992, the plant added a warehouse in 1998. Fairmont’s Advanced BioEnergy ethanol plant also is well on its way to its production goals for ethanol.
•Gothenburg (pop. 3,700-plus)—“Gothenburg Delivers” is more than a slogan for this central Nebraska community. It defines their approach to economic development. Its aggressive approach to recruiting new business led it to become the first city in the state to implement a sales tax for economic development. These funds have helped attract firms including Baldwin Filters, Frito Lay, Land O’ Lakes, Monsanto Seed Research, and Hoovestol Trucking. “Gothenburg has long been a community of entrepreneurs. [Now] as a certified community for economic development, we will [continue] the tradition of being competitive and enterprising as we continue to grow,” said Anne Anderson with the Gothenburg Community Development office. “Gothenburg is a community that can be proud of its past achievements and will continue to position itself for continued growth for all current and future residents of the city,” said Jennifer Wolf with Dawson Area Development.
•Scottsbluff (pop. 14,700-plus)—was one of the first communities to embrace economic development in 1995 when voters supported passage of LB840 in the form of a half-cent sales tax to help grow new and expanding businesses. Since its passage, more than $3.8 million in incentives have gone toward creating or retaining more than 775 jobs in the area. The city of Scottsbluff also includes funding in the local budget for new infrastructure to keep up with increasing development. The nine-member Twin Cities Development Board of Directors, a local economic development corporation, has been a catalyst in the area of affordable housing, a role usually assumed by other economic development entities. To date, $293,000 in state grant funds has been leveraged to help 25 area families purchase their own homes. Twin Cities also has successfully attracted and maintained jobs in the area. The corporation partnered with Careerlink to create the innovative Web site: www.wehavejobs.net, and hired a full-time employee recruitment manager with the goal of attracting work force to western Nebraska.
“The city of Scottsbluff is proud to be recognized as a Certified Economic Development Community by the Nebraska Diplomats and the Department of Economic Development,” said Scottsbluff Mayor Randy Meininger. “Scottsbluff leads the state in many aspects of economic development and this will make it more visible to those outside of Nebraska as well.”
To qualify for certification, communities must meet certain criteria set out in the application form. The certification process is ongoing and noncompetitive. Communities that exhibit the required documented economic development readiness as specified in the program and approved by a review committee will earn certification. Each applicant is judged against standards that include organization, local industry target identification and work force issues, infrastructure, local financing and business assistance, building and site availability, and other program parameters. Information about the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community program is available at: http://www.neded.org/content/view/380/669/FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:Linda Black at 308-995-8742, or email:
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