Now that our 2011 Annual Banquet is wrapped up (a recap here if you’re interested) and our annual planning efforts are complete, we’re forging ahead with new 2012 priorities. What are those you say?

First stages of Valley Cinema Renovation

First, we’re pushing ahead with a major marketing effort for our community and economic development campaign. Over the past three years we improved our marketing and communications infrastructure with major investments in two new websites (www.ordnebraska.com and www.visitvalleycounty.com), the 3rd Edition of our ESCAPE Travel Guide, and a totally new social media brand on Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. We want to shout from the hilltops about all the career opportunities, the subtle yet powerful natural beauty of the Loup Valley and the superior way of life out here. And we’re ready to make the investments to do so.

Second, we’re pushing forward with an awareness campaign of the City of Ord’s municipal option economic development program, better known as our sales tax program for economic development. Our program income for 2011 was $430,000 with $180,000 of repayment income that provided of $610,000 for Valley County economic development efforts. These funds have been used for direct business loans, site and infrastructure development, community housing, community promotions and program administration costs (to read more, visit here). Our goal is to provide a clear understanding of how this program has financed our economic turnaround. Local taxpayers have a right to understand how these funds are being invested. They also deserve an explanation that their local shopping habits can directly support accelerated community betterment. The more that is spent in our area, the more that can be reinvested with the sales tax program.

16th Street Salon Ribbon Cutting

Third, we will become much more aggressive with new business recruitment to the community than in the past. I believe 2012 will see several new business development activities that will create more jobs, more investment and an increase in the tax base for the benefit of our area.

Finally, you will see the Chamber push forth with a serious integration plan for our eCommerce platform, ShopOrd.com. This new resource will provide our members, at no cost, a direct to market eCommerce solution to sell products and services online. Expect to see that site launch this spring.

2012 will be a big year for us. 2011 certainly was and I am incredible excited to continue the great work in service to the citizens of Valley County. Here’s to continued success – cheers!

The Valley County Economic Development Board will be meeting this evening at 7:00 pm at the Economic Development office.  Topics on the agenda include:

-Adoption of the strategic plan
-Committee structure
-Proposal for 1501 Development Plan
-Recycling

You can download the complete agenda and the minutes from January’s meeting.

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!

Local businesses reap several benefits when they belong to the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce.  Basic partnerships include sponsorship of the annual community celebration, ExtraORDinary Days, the Christmas Promotion and WinterFest celebration, and the buy local campaign, the Ord Area Option.  In addition to these sponsorships, Chamber businesses also have the exclusive benefit of utilizing ChamberMaster.  ChamberMaster allows businesses to update their contact information, share upcoming event details, post job opportunities, and promote Hot Deals which are all directly linked to www.ordnebraska.com, a website which receives thousands of local and non-local viewers.

The benefits of Chamber membership also include:
–Business referrals
–Monthly newsletters and weekly emails
–Promotion of ribbon cuttings, open houses, and business after hours
–Business information included in relocation and newcomer packages
–Chamber trainings and workshops
–No-interest storefront improvement and virtual storefront loans

The Chamber continually strives to increase the value of membership for its businesses.  An additional benefit that is currently in the works is an eCommerce website that will allow Chamber business members to sell their products online.  This website will be exclusive for Chamber members and will allow them to expand their markets and increase their sales by having the ability to sell products to customers located outside of our local trade area.

Another new benefit for Chamber members is the opportunity to be featured for an entire month in various online and print publications as a part of the Chamber Business Spotlight.  With the information collected from the form which you can download here, Chamber staff will promote the featured business in the monthly newsletter, on www.ordnebraska.com, on the Ord, Nebraska Facebook page, in Chamber weekly emails, and several other outlets.

You can find more information on Chamber membership here.  Feel free to contact the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce at (308) 728-7875.

Want to win $10,000 for your business idea? Check out the latest announcement from our partners at the UNK Center for Rural Research & Development:

Central NE Business Plan Competition

The deadline is quickly approaching, all entries must be submitted by Midnight, Sunday, March 11, 2012 How to enter:
- Mail or email one (1) copy of your business plan to the Center for Rural Research & Development. Go to www.unk.edu/crrd for rules, guidelines, helpful links and additional application requirements. Contact Carrie Stithem (stithemcl@unk.edu or 308-865-8199) with questions.
- All business plans submitted by the deadline will be evaluated and the top five (5) ideas will be asked to give a 10-15 minute presentation in the UNK Nebraskan Student Union, Room #312-overlooking Foster Field on Wednesday March 28th at 7:00 PM.
- A panel of business professionals will evaluate the presentations based on specific criteria and award the prize money* in the form of support for the company which will vary dependent on the winner.
It’s that easy and it’s FREE! Hurry and get your plans in before the deadline. All business stages are welcome to submit plans but you must be able to present in person on Wednesday, March 28th in Kearney.
- Applicants may submit multiple business plans, but only one business plan per proposed business is allowed. Applicants must be 18 years or older and a legal resident of the United States.
- Businesses (proposed and existing) must be located or willing to locate in rural Nebraska, defined as any county outside the Omaha and Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The event on March 28th is FREE & open to the public.

The $10,000 1st place prize will be awarded after the competition when a background/credit check, additional due diligence, and final negotiations with the owners have been approved by all parties. The University has no interest in becoming a majority owner of the company (we want to help grow your company, not run your company). The 2nd place prize in the amount of $3,000, is sponsored by the Nebraska Business Development Center. The 3rd place prize in the amount of $500, is sponsored by the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County.

The February newsletter of Valley County Economic Development and the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce can be downloaded here.

In the newsletter, you will find information on the upcoming awards banquet (featuring Aaron Davis as our guest speaker), the new e-commerce website (ShopOrd.com), and our first featured business in the Chamber Business Spotlight: Loup Valley Web Design.

St. Paul Development Corporation Director Mike Feeken provides a recap of the upcoming legislation gaining an official position from the Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA). A number of proposed laws for economic development saw NEDA take affirmative, oppositional or neutral positions on several issues in 2012.

The NEDA Board of Directors SUPPORTS the following legislation:
- LB 830 – Provide a sales and use tax exemption for biochips
- LB 850 – Create the incentive area tax credit program and authorize tax credits
- LB 872 – Change provisions relating to apportionment of income between states
- LB 955 – Appropriate funds to the Department of Economic Development
- LB 983 – Change provisions relating to a research tax credit
- LB 1043 – Eliminate provisions relating to contracts or agreements for discounted rates involving public
power districts
- LB 1075 – Provide for assessment of rent-restricted housing projects by the Property Tax Administrator
- LB 1080 – Provide a property tax exemption and a sales and use tax exemption relating to data centers
- LB 1108 – Change provisions relating to a sales and use tax exemption for manufacturing machinery and
equipment
- LB 1115 – Authorize construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities by jurisdictional utilities
- LB 1118 – Provide tax incentives for large data center projects
- LB 1055 – Appropriate funds for a Kearney Division nursing and allied health professions facility
- LB 1065 – Appropriate facility construction funds for the Lincoln Division of the University of Nebraska
Medical Center College of Nursing
- LB 1066 – Appropriate funds for planning and design of a veterinary diagnostic laboratory facility
- LB 1089 – Appropriate funds for construction of a cancer research facility

The NEDA Board OPPOSES the following legislation:
- LB 918 – Change provisions of the Community Development Law
- LB 971 – Merge the Department of Labor into the Department of Economic Development
- LB 1017 – Transfer funds to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
- LB 1098 – Repeal the Build Nebraska Act and change distribution of sales and use tax revenue
- LB 1138 – Change community betterment organization and tax credit provisions under the Community
Development Assistance Act

The NEDA Board will MONITOR the progress of the following legislative bills:
- LB 796 – Adopt the Outdoor Outfitters and Guides Registration Act
- LB 1053 – Create Nebraska Tourism Commission and transfer powers and duties from the Travel and
Tourism Division of the Department of Economic Development
- LB 1110 – Provide for assistance for temporary and permanent housing after a natural disaster
- LB 1132 – Change the Community Development Law