The Ord Area Chamber of Commerce and Valley County Economic Development Boards presented Vision Valley County 2020 at their Annual Banquet on February 25.  Over 175 people were in attendance including special guests Senator Kate Sullivan and her husband Mike, Karin Rieger, Associate Dean for Extended Learning Services of Central Community College – Columbus, Lynette Hogelin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, and Professor Kim Wilson and two UNL students that participated in the creation of the Vision Valley County community development and improvement plans.  Representing the youth of our community were Bryant Els, Melani Hagge, Katie Peterson, Molli Hagge, Johnny Ference, Devin Cronk, Kirby Sheets, Madi Hagge, Dusty Staab, Dillon Smedra, Cody Drudik, and Brett Waller.

The crowd enjoyed a social hour before the evening began with dinner and a presentation from the guest speaker, Aaron Davis.  Aaron was a member of the 1994 National Championship Husker Football team, and is currently an author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur.  Aaron spoke about the importance of creating a sustainable community by engaging youth, embracing innovative ideas, and encouraging community collaboration.  The audience enjoyed his motivational message, as well as his light-hearted humor.

Aaron Davis speaks at the Annual Banquet. Photo by Lynn Griffith, Quiz Graphic Arts

The evening proceeded with the presentation of nine Chamber awards.  Members of the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to nominate deserving individuals within the community.  Once nominees were submitted, Chamber members then voted online.  The results were tabulated using Survey Monkey.  All nominees were very deserving of these awards.  Congratulations to all of the winners:

Interactive Media and Website Development Award – Wolf Auction and Real Estate: www.wolfnebraska.com
Rising Star Award – Misko Sports: Clay & Jennifer Ramsey
ExtraORDinary Organization – Make Christmas Happen: Plain Valley Extension Club
Partner in Progress – Sue Blaha
Community Development and Improvement Award – Ord High School Renovation and Addition
ExtraORDinary Young Citizen – Johnny Ference
Silver Citizen Award – Dale Zadina
ExtraORDinary Citizen – Heather Sikyta
Honorary Lifetime Member – Carol Leggett

In honor of the invaluable leaders in our community, retiring members of the Chamber board were recognized for their service.  The outgoing board members include Ashley Woodward, Kiley White, Mark Hagge, and Megan Cargill.  New Chamber board members include Jennifer Remmereid, Teresa Lange, Heather Zaruba, and Kristi Hagstrom.

The night of the banquet was also the final drawing for the Ord Area Option campaign.  Mary Dennis was the winner of $500 in Ord Area ChamberBucks.  The Ord Area Option has been a campaign to increase awareness within the community on the importance of buying locally.  The Chamber truly appreciates the local businesses and customers for their support of this program.  The new ecommerce website and new Chamber promotion opportunities will be valuable in taking our buy local efforts to the next level.

The Ord Area Chamber and Valley County Economic Development 2011 Annual Report can be accessed here.  The report contains details on the $629,390 loaned to Valley County businesses, jobs created in 2011, a New Neighborhoods update, and various Chamber and tourism projects.  For more information on Valley County Economic Development and Chamber efforts for 2012, feel free to contact (308) 728-7875.

2011 was a big year for the residents of Valley County. When you look at what our efforts produced in 2011, we all have reason to be very hopeful for the future. The organization that I am blessed to direct, Valley County Economic Development and the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce, has released our annual report for 2011. In the report, we document the success of the past year. Highlights are included below. You can read the full report by clicking HERE. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me directly at (308) 728-7875 or calebpollard@ordnebraska.com.

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2011 brought forth significant private sector growth in Valley County. In the past year, $601,600 was loaned to seven businesses from the Ord City Sales Tax Loan Program. An additional $17,790 in 0% interest business corridor improvement loans were funded to two businesses. Two $5,000 façade improvement loans were made to two downtown Ord businesses, bring the total 2011 loan investment in Valley County to $629,390.

In addition, Valley County employment returned to pre-recession levels. In 2011, 58 jobs have been created, bringing Valley County back to 2007 employment levels. Jobs were added in nearly every sector, with important gains in manufacturing.

The Ord Area Chamber completed several efforts of importance as well. $44,220 in ChamberBucks were sold in 2011. The Ord, Nebraska website helped generate over 114,000 pageviews, or total pages looked at by visitors, in 2011. Top content searched included Work in Ord, Live in Ord, Area Job Opportunities and Ord A to Z. A $25,000 grant was awarded from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, with major assistance from First National Bank in Ord, to build a new eCommerce website for Chamber members.

The Chamber Board of Directors hosted three successful events: ExtraORDinary Days, the Chamber Appreciation Pancake Feed and the WinterFest/Christmas Shopping promotions.

Tourism development and promotion efforts were supported with the release of the 3rd Edition of the ESCAPE to Loup Valley Travel Guide, the relaunch of www.visitvalleycounty.com and a successful community development block grant award for tourism facility development at the Ord Theatre.

2011 was a huge year for us. We are incredibly lucky to have a strong ag economy right now and Valley County is prepared to take full advantage of that. In Valley County, we have resources, dedicated volunteers and incredibly supportive elected officials at the County, the City of Ord and the Village Boards. We are blessed to have engaged business partners that continue to invest in our communities. I really feel like the sky is the limit for us in the Promiseland, and I’m very excited about the future of our communities.

Here’s to a great year in 2011 and to many great tidings in 2012!

If you’ve been around the Ord blogsphere lately, you’ll notice we’ve been light on posting. We’re putting the finishing touches on our upcoming Annual Banquet (to be held this Saturday!), our Annual Report and our 2012 Action Plan. That means you’ll see a deluge of photos, reports and plans coming forward starting tomorrow.

We have quite a bit of new working coming for 2012; big stuff that will continue to reshape the look, feel and operations of the community in a big way. And when we look back at 2011, we’re ready to celebrate a record-setting year for our efforts and thank those that serve. Until then, enjoy this little ditty (a few of my favorite musicians):

When I travel around this great state or even the region, I often get asked what makes Ord and Valley County so special? The question usually goes: “Are you guys doing something uber-creative or innovative that catalyzes long-term economic growth?”

Anne Clausen, Becky Ries and Megan Cargill help at the Chamber Appreciation Pancake Feed

No, not really. What we do is fairly simple and fairly straightforward. We establish a baseline and action plan each year and execute that plan with the help of dedicated volunteers. Yes, you need quality paid staff to make the magic happen, but more importantly, you need engaged stakeholders that understand the reason why we do things.

That’s it. We constantly push our agenda forward with quality people who are dedicated to our community. While we have an economic development philosophy that may differ from others, we have a tremendous core group of volunteers that understands rural economic development in our area is about community survival. That’s motivation which is hard to stop.

Next Saturday February 25 we get to honor those volunteers (check out the details of our banquet here). It marks one of the happiest days I have as a professional: we get to say thank you to those that put their time, energy and effort into propelling our community to greatness. We get to thank them for all the heavy lifting they do to make my staff’s and I’s job easier.

Additionally, Aaron Davis will be our keynote. I’ve been witness to Aaron’s message before: his message will strike right to the core of what we do. Live with purpose and meaning. And in no other place, can you do both. So, help me thank those that serve by thanking this year’s nominees:

Alan Gabriel
Becky Ries
Dahn Hagge
Dale Zadina
Danielle Proskocil
Guy & Jennifer Lewis
Heather Sikyta
Janie Zadina
Kayla Hinrichs
Mark Hagge
Megan Cargill
Russ Blaha
Sally Domeier

Butch Koehlmoos
Dale Zadina
DiAnne Hughes
Dr. Bernie Keown
Eulalia Edwards
Frank Smedra
Gaylord Boilesen
Mary Molle
Paul Markowski
Ray Scott
Rich Klimek
Steve Wolf
Walt Smith

Bryant Els
Devin Cronk
FBLA
Johnny Ference
Katie Peterson
Melani Hagge
Ord High School Drama Team – Cast & Crew

Ashley Woodward
Dahn Hagge
Heather Sikyta
Kiley White/Grocery Kart
Laura Pokorny
Mark Hagge
Megan Cargill
Sue Blaha

Agland Electric & Irrigation
Misko Sports/Clay & Jennifer Ramsey
Scott’s TV
Technology 1^st
Valley Fire Pottery
Wray Insurance Agency

FBLA – Jennifer Remmereid
Loup Valley Ag Society
Loup Valley Jaycees
Make Christmas Happen – Plain Valley Extension Club
Ord Rotary
Second Hand Rose
St. John Lutheran Church & Bethany Lutheran Church
Teammates
Valley County Community Foundation Fund
Valley County Health System
Veteran’s Club

FBLA
Good Beginnings
New Neighborhoods/Rolling Hills Townhomes
Ord Car Club
Ord High School Addition & Renovation
Ord Volunteer Fire Department
Vision Valley County

Family Resources – www.family-resources.net
Ord Public Schools – www.ordps.org
Ord Township Library – www.ordlibrary.org
Sports Shed – www.sportshedetc.com
Valley County Health System – www.valleycountyhealthsystem.org
Wolf Auction & Real Estate – www.wolfnebraska.com

That’s one heckuva list of volunteers. THANK YOU!

The Annual Ord Area Chamber of Commerce and Valley County Economic Development Banquet is just around the corner.  In conjunction with this year’s theme of “Vision Valley County,” the Chamber of Commerce will be presenting eight awards to individuals and Chamber businesses that have shown remarkable leadership, goodwill, and commitment to our community.  Throughout the past few weeks, Chamber businesses submitted their nominations and voted online.  The nominees for each category are as follows:

ExtraORDinary Citizen:
This individual has made notable contributions to the community through public service, leadership, their ability to effectively work with others, and/or entrepreneurial efforts throughout the year 2011.  This nominee (or their business/organization) must be a Chamber member. 

Alan Gabriel
Becky Ries
Dahn Hagge
Dale Zadina
Danielle Proskocil
Guy & Jennifer Lewis
Heather Sikyta
Janie Zadina
Kayla Hinrichs
Mark Hagge
Megan Cargill
Russ Blaha
Sally Domeier

Silver Citizen Award:
This individual is at least 50 years old, has made notable contributions, and shown outstanding public service to the Ord area over the past 25 years.  Chamber membership is not a requirement.

Butch Koehlmoos
Dale Zadina
DiAnne Hughes
Dr. Bernie Keown
Eulalia Edwards
Frank Smedra
Gaylord Boilesen
Mary Molle
Paul Markowski
Ray Scott
Rich Klimek
Steve Wolf
Walt Smith

ExtraORDinary Young Citizen:
This individual is 18 years old or younger and has made notable contributions to their school and community.  Chamber membership is not a requirement.  

Bryant Els
Devin Cronk
FBLA
Johnny Ference
Katie Peterson
Melani Hagge
Ord High School Drama Team – Cast & Crew

Partner in Progress:
This individual has donated their time to help with Chamber projects and activities.  They provide valuable input and are active participants in Chamber efforts.  This nominee (or their business/organization) must be a Chamber member. 

Ashley Woodward
Dahn Hagge
Heather Sikyta
Kiley White/Grocery Kart
Laura Pokorny
Mark Hagge
Megan Cargill
Sue Blaha

Rising Star Award:
This award is to recognize a business that has been established within the past five years.  This could also include a business that has pursued a new venture within this time period.  They contribute to the community and actively participate in the Chamber.  This business must be a Chamber member.

Agland Electric & Irrigation
Misko Sports/Clay & Jennifer Ramsey
Scott’s TV
Technology 1^st
Valley Fire Pottery
Wray Insurance Agency

ExtraORDinary Organization:
This organization (non-profit or not-for-profit) has demonstrated good stewardship of dollars and exhibits community impact and involvement.  This organization must be a member of the Chamber. 

FBLA – Jennifer Remmereid
Loup Valley Ag Society
Loup Valley Jaycees
Make Christmas Happen – Plain Valley Extension Club
Ord Rotary
Second Hand Rose
St. John Lutheran Church & Bethany Lutheran Church
Teammates
Valley County Community Foundation Fund
Valley County Health System
Veteran’s Club

Community Development & Improvement Award:
This award is to recognize a project that has helped to improve the Ord area and/or benefited Ord area residents.  Please indicate the individual or organization responsible for the success of the project.  Chamber membership is not a requirement.

FBLA
Good Beginnings
New Neighborhoods/Rolling Hills Townhomes
Ord Car Club
Ord High School Addition & Renovation
Ord Volunteer Fire Department
Vision Valley County

Interactive Media and/or Website Development Award:
This award is to recognize a business that has taken on the challenges of creating an interactive website(s) or social media site(s) to improve their business.  This business must be a Chamber member.

Family Resources – www.family-resources.net
Ord Public Schools – www.ordps.org
Ord Township Library – www.ordlibrary.org
Sports Shed – www.sportshedetc.com
Valley County Health System – www.valleycountyhealthsystem.org
Wolf Auction & Real Estate – www.wolfnebraska.com

All nominees are very deserving of these awards.  Winners will be announced at the banquet on Saturday, February 25 at the Ord Veteran’s Club.  Social hour will begin at 6:00 pm and dinner and awards will begin at 7:00 pm.  This year’s guest speaker is Aaron Davis, motivational speaker and member of the 1994 National Championship Husker Football team.  Tickets are $30 per person or $50.00 per couple.  Corporate tables, which seat six, are also available for $200.  You can purchase your tickets from the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce, 1514 K Street, or from any Chamber or Economic Development board member.

We are excited to announce the details and guest speaker for the 2012 Annual Valley County Economic Development and Ord Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet.  Join us for an exciting social hour, delicious banquet dinner, presentation by Aaron Davis, awards ceremony, and much more on Saturday, February 25. 

The final Ord Area Option drawing for $500 in Ord Area ChamberBucks will also take place at the banquet.  The more Ord Option cards you fill before the banquet, the better your chances of winning! 

Contact the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce for infomration on the Ord Area Option or to purchase your advance tickets. 

Congratulations to the two winners of the final photo contest of 2011.  Megan Kallhoff received 1st place and $200 in Ord Area ChamberBucks for her photo, Winter Serenity.  Katharine Schudel received 2nd place and $100 in ChamberBucks for her photo, A Puppy’s First Snow. 

All photos from the 2011 Photo Contest are posted on Flickr.  Thank you to all participants who submitted photos and to those who voted for their favorites!  Photos will be used in various online and print tourism publications in order to promote our area. 

Winter Serenity, 1st Place, Photo by Megan Kallhoff

A Puppy's First Snow, 2nd Place, Photo by Katharine Schudel

Over the past two years we’ve blogged about two special places (here and here) in the Loup Valley that I call gems: special places of respite that offer the wary traveler (or local resident) a place to unplug. The Loup Valley is a series of braided rivers that flow from the northwest to the southeast, eventually emptying into the Platte River, then the Missouri and finally on to the Mississippi and out to the Gulf of Mexico. In Ord, the North Loup River flows directly through town on the eastern edge of the community. The Loup River system is called the “ladder of rivers” and offers a really nice introduction to the Nebraska Sandhills.

Red Tail Lights - Ord @ Sunset

The white-sand bottomed river is one of my personal favorite slow meanders through life and offers a perfect example of why a former city dweller (me) loves living in the Loup Valley. The Valley itself is a microsm of the great things afforded by slowing down and living deliberately. I, along with my wife and two boys, have spent many hours on the river canoeing, swimming and just lazily loafing as the water flows past, as it has for thousands of years. The river’s flow is like the beauty of our area; subtle, expansive and quiet.

VisitValleyCounty.com

This installment of “Gems in the Valley” is our attempt at celebrating the valley itself. One of the first projects in 2012 is the official launch of our new travel website, www.visitvalleycounty.com. Our hope is that travelers use the website to navigate the special wonders found in our area; our primary focus is not to tell you about our special place but to show you with photography. In 2012 our contracted professional photographer will be back to help us document our natural splendor. That pesky Nebraska weather threw a monkey wrench in our plans last year. That’s why we’re also holding a photographer’s online showcase that will give our local professional photographers a place to promote their work and also help us celebrate the natural wonder of the place we call home.

The new site is soft-launching as a beta version early as we work out the kinks and also update photography over the next year, which means it is a bit incomplete. We wanted our online readers to have the first look. So please be patient as things begin to roll-out over the next year. If you have time, please give us feedback on our new website. How do you like it?

Until then, Happy New Year! ~ Caleb

The Mira Valley, south/southwest of Ord

How much good news can you handle? How about more evidence of strong economic growth in Valley County? Today we release our quarterly report which details the past three months of economic development, Chamber and tourism promotion activity in Valley County. We have helped guide strong economic growth into 2011 and have detailed the year-end expenditures of the economic development fund. A few key projects we’re proud of include:

– $7,500 in economic development loans to two businesses ($2,500 for start-up; $5,000 for facade improvements)

"Thankful for the Opportunity to Raise Our Kids on a Farm" photo by Angie Scheideler

– New Neighborhoods: Phase I infrastructure has been completed. Phase II homebuilding has commenced with one market rate home currently being constructed. One home has been contracted to begin, weather permitting, in early 2012. The second home constructed by New Neighborhoods Developer, LLC will call for bids in March 2012.

– Vision Valley County 2020 Plan Completed: Valley County Economic Development and UNL’s College of Architecture have completed project development recommendations for local leaders. Among the proposed projects include Downtown Revitalization Phase II, riverfront development along the North Loup River, green seams safe walking paths, Anderson Island improvement and countywide tourism development along the North Loup River. VCED will meet with leadership in January 2012 to begin strategic planning for suggested projects.

– VisitValleyCounty.com Website Update: A new tourism website for Valley County has been completed and will launch 1/3/2012. The redesign effort has moved the website to a content management system and is built to sell the Loup Valley’s beautiful physical attributes to potential travelers. In addition, primary emphasis was placed on the local hospitality industry and retail so travelers are aware of the options available in the local business community.

A Moonlit Harvest, 1st Place Photo by Megan Kallhoff

– A refund claim of $198,977.62 was approved by the Nebraska Department of Revenue for a qualified Nebraska Advantage economic development project. Nebraska Advantage, a statewide incentives program, makes available tax incentives for business development projects that meet certain employment and investment thresholds. The amount will be subtracted from monthly sales tax collections for economic development until paid in full.

You can also see how we use our economic development fund (made possible by a 1% sales tax levy) to grow the local economy. In 2011, 93% of the $838,295 has been spent on project-specific outcomes. Those expenditures include direct loans to businesses, economic development site improvements and marketing/promotions. Only 7% of program expenditures support staff salaries at VCED and the City of Ord for program administration. Have a peek for yourself (the full report can be found here):

2011 Sales Tax Fund for Economic Development Expenditures

As always, we love to hear back from you: what questions do you have about our programs?. Do you agree with how we use our fund for economic development?

Until then, Happy New Year!

The final survey for the 2011 Photo Contest has arrived.  December’s contest theme was Snowy Days.  You can vote for your favorite photo by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.  The first place winner will receive $200 in Ord Area ChamberBucks and the second place winner will receive $100 in ChamberBucks.  Voting will end Friday, December 30 at 5:00 pm.  Stay tuned for more photography contests that showcase Valley County in 2012. 

A Puppy's First Snow

All Bundled Up

 

Morning Take Off

 

Sledding Fun in the Hills

 

Winter Serenity

 

Vote for your favorite Snowy Days photo HERE.  Thank you to all of those who have submitted photos for the 2011 Photo Contest.