McCook Economic Development Corporation

MEDC Launches Early Childhood Education Access Initiatives

Responding to the lack of access of early childhood education openings, McCook Economic Development Corporation has launched three initiatives to improve access in the McCook area. The first initiative, New Childcare Provider Smart Start, provides a full tuition, books, and fees scholarship and $3,000 in startup cash to individuals looking to become a childcare provider or start a new early childhood education center. The second initiative, Early Childhood Education Scholarship, provides two, full tuition and fees scholarship to students looking to study early childhood education at McCook Community College and stay in the area and work in early childhood education. The third initiative, McCook Infant Incentives, provides a financial incentive for childcare providers to have more open infant spots available. More information on all three initiatives can be found here.

McCook ranked #27 best small town in the country

Apartment Therapy ranked small towns throughout the country and ranked McCook the #1 small town in Nebraska and the #27 small town in the country. This goes along with the Readers Digest ranking earlier this year as McCook being the nicest place in Nebraska. Read more from Apartment Therapy here: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-small-towns-to-live-in-36677870.

MEDC Advocates for Expansion of Skilled Trades Education

McCOOK, Neb. — The head of the McCook Economic Development Corp. pledged support and suggested uses for McCook Community College’s new “East Campus,” the former Elks Club.

Read more at the McCook Gazette here: https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2643797.html

McCook ranked as one of the safest cities in Nebraska

1st Floor Retail/Commercial Kitchen Space for Rent.

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Click here for more information: 1st floor retail commercial space

MEDC Partnership leads to Down Payment Assistance Program

MEDC has partnered with Southwest Nebraska Community Development Corporation (SWNCDC) to apply for a state down payment assistance program. Last week, the Department of Economic Development (DED) announced that SWNCDC received a $295,000 grant to provide at least 10 homeowners down payment assistance. It will take a while to work out the details with DED, but if you are interested contact Andy at 308-345-1200 or andy@mccookne.org. To read more about organizations awarded the grant click here for the DED press release.

July 2019 Director Update

MEDC continues to work to expand McCook housing.

Earlier this week, we hosted University of Nebraska-Omaha/University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold. Dr. Gold has had an accomplished career, first in pediatric heart surgery, now in higher education administration. His leadership has pushed UNMC forward nationally and earned him the chancellor position at UNO. This is rare in higher education for two institutions to have one chancellor. His leadership has stood out and made him the obvious choice for both institutions.

I’m sure he has a busy schedule, but he made the trip to McCook along with a team of seven of his colleagues to explore future partnerships with the McCook community. It is important for us to cultivate these partnerships and we have worked at the MEDC to develop local, regional, and state partnerships.

Regionally, we have developed partnerships to improve our housing stock. Last week, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced the Southwest Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation (SWNCBC) was one of about a dozen organizations to receive housing trust fund dollars. Southwest Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation covers the counties of Perkins, Chase, Dundy, Hayes, and Hitchcock and has one of the top state housing grant writers and administrators in Amy Thelander.

For their grant this year, MEDC partnered with them. Through this partnership, they were awarded $295,000 for down payment assistance for purchasing a home. McCook residents will be able to participate in this down payment assistance program that can provide up to $20,000. It takes a while to iron out the details, but if you would be interested in learning more, please contact me.

This was our second regional housing win this year. Earlier, we received a $405,000 grant as an innovative housing proposal with Benkelman and Cambridge. Under the guidance of Benkelman CRA Coordinator Megan Spargo, the three communities were able to come together. It takes a while to get the details in place, but this will result in new housing.

Another partnership helping meet local workforce needs is our early childhood education partnership with Nebraska Children through the Community 4 Kids initiative. After conducting our community survey with over 200 responses, we have identified increasing access to infant care, increasing the number of students in early childhood education, and helping new childcare providers get started as our top initiatives. Our core team continues to meet to work out the details on these projects. Through this project, we’ve worked closely with Tasha Wulf, University of Nebraska Extension Educator, and may have the opportunity to partner more with research being done at the university.

Along with our state and regional partnerships, our local partnerships are important. One local partner we work with is the McCook Chamber of Commerce. It has taken me a while to understand the differences between the chamber and MEDC. Our mission is to facilitate the formation, retention, attraction, and expansion of businesses in McCook and the surrounding area. This includes recruitment and assistance with the formation of new businesses. This is aimed at improving the entire community. The chamber offers training, education, networking, marketing, advocacy, and promotion designed to benefit members of the chamber. They would not be involved in recruiting new businesses and that allows more focus on helping members of the chamber succeed.

Recently, Jamie Mockry resigned as Chamber Director. Under his leadership, chamber events have moved to a higher level. With his absence, it gives the board a chance to look at what direction to go with the next director. The chamber board is inviting input from chamber members and I encourage you to attend one of the focus groups next week at the following times:

• Monday, August 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the MCC Student Union
• Tuesday, August 6 at 8:00 a.m. at Sehnert’s
• Wednesday, August 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the Keystone 3^rd Floor Training Room
• Thursday,  August 8 at 12:00 noon at Citta’ Deli

Rural Nebraska is changing. We need to work to control our destiny locally. We can’t wait for someone from the outside to come in and save us. With this being the case, it is important for us to continue to look to regional, state, and national partnerships where we can work with other organizations and institutions to keep moving McCook forward.

McCook, Benkelman, and Cambridge chosen for Innovative Housing Program

Sporting Goods Store is Aiming High and On Target

Written by the Nebraska Business Development Center.

Planning for and opening a first business brings many challenges, and Matt and Larry Eden of McCook found an advocate and guide in the Nebraska Business Development Center.
Matt was a heavy equipment salesman and Larry, his father, was semi-retired from farming and transportation when they decided to act upon a thought they’d been kicking around for more than two years. “The idea of a sporting goods store appealed to us because we have been hunting and fishing our entire lives,” says Larry. “In McCook, we had no other option than Walmart.”
The Edens say they felt they could offer a level of personalized customer service that isn’t found in a large chain store. Additionally, Walmart self-prohibits sales of firearms to anyone under 21 years of age. However, Nebraska law allows for sales of rifles and long guns to anyone 18 and older to be used in hunting and sporting events.
When the Edens took the concept for their new business, Armadillo Arms & Sporting Goods LLC, to their banker to discuss a loan, they were directed to Charlie McPherson, director of the McCook NBDC office.
“They already had purchased the land, and put a down payment on a building, but needed additional funding for the remainder of construction along with inventory, equipment and supplies,” McPherson says. “A lender referred them to me to assist with the development of a business plan and financial projections for the loan.”
Matt Eden says they had the framework of a five-year business plan. “We got with Charlie about three months before the building was done and he helped us refine our plan,” he says. McPherson conducted research into the sporting goods industry to compare projected revenue, profit and sales margins against figures the Edens had compiled. “We were about spot on,” Larry says. “It was encouraging to know that we were on the right track.”
Armed with McPherson’s figures and advice, the Edens were able to obtain the necessary funding. They opened Armadillo Arms in June 2017 once they had their live bait operation in place, adding inventory over the next few months. They held the grand opening of their just under 5,000-sq-foot sales building at 210 Airport Road in October.
They draw customers from a roughly 200-mile radius, Matt says. “We’ve had people come from all the way down into Kansas,” he says.
Featured products include a large selection of firearms and archery supplies, with Armadillo Arms serving as dealer for Glock handguns, as well as Xpedition Archery and Mudhole Custom Fishing Rods. The store also houses a 20-yard shooting range for bows, crossbows and BB guns. Other services include custom rod building and bait sales.
“We try to treat everybody like we would want them to treat us,” Larry Eden says.
That is the kind of care they found with the NBDC and McPherson, he says.

May 2019 Director’s Update

Every year the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce travels the state talking about their priorities for the state legislature. Every year that I’ve attended, the message has been the same on the need to lower our state taxes. When they came to McCook last fall, I was ready to hear the same message. I was surprised. New State Chamber president Bryan Sloan said the lack of a qualified workforce is now the most pressing economic issue in the state.

Last month, the State Labor Department said there were more than 36,000 open jobs in Nebraska, across nearly all fields. Currently, the unemployment rate is at 2.8 percent and Red Willow County’s unemployment rate is 2.6%. Most people who can keep a job are working. The challenge will only become larger as the number of working-age Nebraskans actually peaked in 2018 and is set to decline for the next decade.

As I meet with employers in the area, I hear the same thing. If you go to Parker’s web page you see the following job openings in McCook: Product Engineer, Material Manager, Value Stream Manager, Production Openings, Electronic Maintenance.

At Community Hospital’s website, they currently have seven open job postings. If you are an auto or diesel technician, almost any business who employees technicians is hiring. In certain subject areas, it is difficult for our local schools to generate any type of applicant pool.

As we look at our area’s workforce demand, we are working at being proactive to meet our current and future demand. At our last MEDC board meeting, we invited Superintendent Grant Norgaard, Board President Tom Bredvick, and Kelly Rippen, McCook Community Vice President to talk about local workforce needs and what partnership MEDC can provide with education and business to meet the need.

The school district already has a great partnership with Community Hospital on exploring health careers. If you visited with our graduating seniors, you probably noticed a lot of them are going into health careers. Part of that is the careers program these two organizations have developed. As we talked, Superintendent Norgaard said he welcomes businesses to contact the school and see how they can work together to help students be exposed to the opportunities available locally. This past year, the school district held its first set of Bison Days where students got the chance to explore hobbies and local career opportunities.

The college is working on developing a program to help train more local electronic maintenance technicians. The program should be able to use the resources available at the North Platte campus to offer a hybrid education to provide technical training to people living locally in McCook. The college has also hired a new area Career Connection Coach that should assist in helping connect employers with students. MEDC is currently working with the college to develop an internship program that will help line students up with local businesses and provide the resources local employers need to have a successful internship.

This is a good start, but we need to do more. Hopefully, our health career pathways program at the high school level can be extended to the skilled trades and manufacturing sectors locally. The college has a great opportunity with the old Elks building and with area high school partnerships to offer career and technical education locally.

We will move forward at the MEDC to meet local workforce needs, but I could use your help. If you are an employer and have a local job opening, I want to know. Let me know the following:

1. Job Title
2. Amount of Education Required
3. Pay level of the position

Many times the information used to help make decisions come from a regional or state level. We need more data on the specific positions available and education needed to help connect our local educational institutions and students to the opportunities available here. Contact me at 308-345-1200 or andy@mccookne.org if you want to visit more about your local workforce needs.

‘Pure Shrimp’ wins Hormel Business Plan competition

Tyler McCarty of Pure Shrimp is the 2019 Hormel Entrepreneurship Competition champion.

The Hormel Entrepreneurship Competition had seven strong finalist.

(Brent Cobb – MCC News Information) Tyler McCarty’s idea to bring a shrimp farm to the area – “Pure Shrimp” was named winner of the 2019 Ben Hormel Business Plan Competition and $18,000 through McCook Community College’s Business and Community Education.

“Pure Shrimp” was selected from among seven finalists who presented business plans Friday at MCC. McCarty is working with an advisory firm in Indiana who help establish shrimp farms. This one would be located south of McCook near “M” Hill, and some of the work has already been completed in anticipation of the first batch of shrimp.

The other six finalists will all receive $2,000 to help infuse area business startups and expansion in the area. Those six businesses include: McCook Mechanical Services, LLC; Smart Hopperz, Inc.; Woody’s Small Engine; Anderson Sales; Republican Valley Trucking (Harris Trucking); and 308 Coffee Roasters

There were 21 applications in this year’s competition with 14 semi-finalists awarded scholarships to pay for tuition and fees (about $321 worth) to enroll in the mandatory eight-week on-line Entrepreneurship Business Plan writing course offered through Mid-Plains Community College.

The Hormel Entrepreneurship Competition is a partnership with McCook Community College and Southwest Nebraska area business sponsors, to help local business startups or expansion using business plan writing and a business grant and was open to those in seven Southwest Nebraska counties including Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock, Hayes, Frontier, Red Willow, and Furnas.

Gold sponsors include Community Hospital, McCook Economic Development Corp., McCook Community Foundation, MNB Financial Group and the McCook College Foundation and Mid-Plains Community College. First Central Bank and Pinnacle Bank are bronze sponsors.

DED Director Rippe visits McCook

Director of Nebraska Department of Economic Development David Rippe told Rotary members and guests that his department is “trying to best align the resources that we have to achieve the highest return on investment possible for the state and tax payers.” Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Communities that concentrate on quality of life and basics like adequate housing and a trained labor pool are more successful in supporting and attracting businesses, a state official told the McCook Rotary Club on Tuesday.

Read the rest of the story here.

New Owners for New Life

Jeri and Dick Collicott of McCook have purchased the “New Life Christian Book Store” in downtown McCook from Lisa Wilcox. The Collicotts have renamed the store “New Life Christian Store and So Much More.” Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Jeri and Dick Collicott of McCook have purchased Lisa Wilcox’s “New Life Christian Book Store” in downtown McCook, and as of April 1, it became known as “New Life Christian Store and So Much More.”

Read the rest of the article here

New owners of salons ready to carry on a long legacy of style.

Ruth and Gary Lucas, left, have sold Aphrodite Hair Design and Uncle Amos’ Crop Shop to Anna and Tanner Powell. Courtesy photo.

McCOOK, Neb. — It just feels right. There was a lot at stake, not only the future but also a history … a legacy. But it’s been a good decision.

Read the rest of the article at the McCook Gazette: https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2592248.html

February 2019 MEDC Director Update

Last spring, the college hosted a one day leadership conference with a variety of local speakers. I still think about Clark Bates and Kyle Dellevoet talking about the thoughtful leadership transition at McCook Christian Church. They used the illustration of the 4×100 relay race and successful baton hand offs. For a relay team to be successful, they have to execute clean baton handoffs .It happens with both runners being at full speed when the exchange happens.

This isn’t just a good illustration for leadership transitions, but also local business transitions. Fortunately, I’ve seen this happen multiple times in the last couple months in McCook. McCook Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has approved two Growth Fund loans as gap financing to help in the transition of two businesses. In each case, the owner selling has worked with the new buyers to get them up to speed. It has been a partnership to make this happen as opposed to just a straight transaction.

It is exciting we are able to provide assistance in making these business transitions happen. Through the Growth Fund loan fund, we provide gap financing for business startups, expansions, or transitions. An individual or business needs to work with a traditional lender for the majority of financing, but then MEDC is able to fill the extra gap to allow the transaction to happen. It is more complicated than this, but is a resource to local people who are looking at start-up, expansion, or transition.

Another exciting event last month that showed a transition of small business knowledge was the Hormel Competition Advisory Night. Twelve (12) contestants in the Hormel Competition attended a two hour session where first, they heard from professionals in banking and law. Then, we had half a dozen experienced entrepreneurs meet with the contestants in small groups. This allowed the contestants to talk more about their business idea. They received feedback from someone who has been successful in starting and running a business. The veteran entrepreneurs were able to give advice, caution, and help create partnerships with others in the community. It was exciting to see the knowledge passed from one generation of business owners to the next.

Along with assisting with transitions and entrepreneurship, we are also working to develop components of our strategic plan. Here’s a quick update:

Retail Recruitment – The board heard proposals from two companies that help communities connect with national retailers. The board will consider moving forward with one of these companies at the March meeting. MEDC also is continuing to look at developing programs to help new local retailers get started strong.

Housing – MEDC has worked with the communities of Cambridge, Benkelman, and with Southwest Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation to submit two state trust housing program grants to try to earn awards that will provide for new housing construction and additional down payment assistance for first time homebuyers. These regional partnerships make for stronger grant applications and allow us to learn from the expertise of housing experts throughout southwest Nebraska.

Workforce development and recruitment – We have received positive feedback on our McCook promotion video that is available on-line. We encourage everyone to share to get our name out digitally. We continue to meet with the McCook Community 4 Kids team. We have strong daycare providers in McCook already and we’re looking at how we can improve access to early childhood education as it is difficult to find infant care in the community. This has created a challenge for working parents and their employers. There will be a community survey available in the near future and we hope you will take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Keystone – Most of floors 1-4 of the Keystone are full, but we still have two spots available for rent. If you are looking for space, let us know.

As always, if you have thoughts or questions, let me know at 308-345-1200 or andy@mccookne.org.

SmartAsset ranks McCook as Most Tax Friendly for Retirees in Neb.

In its fifth annual study, SmartAsset analyzed sales, property, income, fuel and Social Security tax data to rank locations on how financially favorable they are for retirees. The study analyzes a retiree with $50,000 in annual income to see how much they will pay in income, property, sales and fuel taxes – click on the link to see the table for the cities that lead Nebraska in retirement tax friendliness.

Councilman, retired police officer finds new Tex-Mex career

Right, Robin and Jerry Calvin of McCook have purchased the Taco Johns’ Restaurant in McCook from Randy Harper, second from the left, shown here with his right-hand-man, his brother, Dan. Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook City Councilman Jerry Calvin stopped by Taco John’s 21⁄2 years ago, in a hurry to get to a meeting. When Jerry got his order, Taco John owner Randy Harper asked him, in essence, “Do you want a restaurant with that?”

Read the rest of the story at the McCook Gazette:  https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2581197.html

MEDC – MHS partnership develops leaders, explores community.

This fall, McCook Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and McCook High School have partnered for a new leadership program to expose seniors to area opportunities. A group of 15 seniors involved in Interact was chosen to participate in this new program.

The group meets every Wednesday at 2:00. One week the students will learn a leadership lesson and the next week, they will visit a local employer to learn more about career opportunities.

Already this fall, the group has toured Community Hospital, Parker Hannifin, and First Central Bank. In the leadership class, the students have already examined the principals of character, prioritization, and entrepreneurship.

Throughout the program, the message being delivered to this group is there are great opportunities for the students to return to McCook after college. MEDC director Andy Long said, “There are great opportunities available in this area. Growing up in Grant, I didn’t realize all the opportunities available. We want to spend time with the seniors to connect with them and help them explore how they can make their future in McCook.”

Local organizations have seen the benefit of having these students visit their businesses.

“Anytime we can expose students to all careers in health care it is a win for all of us,” said Karen Kliment Thompson, Vice President Ancillary Services at Community Hospital.

Jeff Crick, Human Resources Specialist, said “It’s exciting to see the students enthusiasm to explore new fields.  Many high school and college students are unaware of the tremendous opportunities in manufacturing.  The senior leadership program allows them to learn about the careers available.”

The students have also seen the value in participating in the program.

Senior Mollie Tate said, “I can see how what I’m learning in the leadership lessons will be beneficial to improve my life and community in the future. It has also been great to see the opportunities available locally.” Ryan Wilson has been impressed by what he’s seen and said, “The hose at Parker-Hannifin was cool!”

If there are questions about the workforce development projects McCook Economic Development Corporation are engaged in, contact MEDC director Andy Long at 308-345-1200 or andy@mccookne.org.

Business Park Growth Spurs Road Upgrades

Growth of McCook’s business park has triggered a nearby street improvement project, with the majority of costs paid for by the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Read more here: https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2568697.html

AFAN Awards First Livestock Friendly County Grant to Red Willow County

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) awarded its first $5,000 Livestock Friendly County Grant November 26 in McCook to Red Willow County, in care of the McCook Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

To learn more visit AFAN’s website: https://becomeafan.org/afan-awards-first-livestock-friendly-county-grant-to-red-willow-county/

Lopez Family Purchases Business Park Lot

Maria and Luis Lopez stand next to the entrance of the McCook Business Park, where they have begun work to open their auto/diesel shop next spring.

This May, McCook Economic Development Corporation welcomed the newest owners to the Industrial Park when Luis and Maria Lopez purchased #1 Industrial Park Drive. The Lopez family has moved to McCook from Denver with their four children, Felipe, 19, Anthony, 16, Maria Giselle, 12, and Isabel, 10.  They are planning to have their auto mechanic and diesel shop open in the spring of 2019.

Luis and Maria became familiar with McCook thanks to a good friend, Omar Carbajal. During their visits to McCook, the idea of moving to a smaller community grew for the Lopez’s.

Luis has owned his own repair shop in Denver since 2013. They sold their shop in Denver and have used the proceeds from the sale to move, buy and fix up a home, and now start to build their shop in McCook. They are doing most of the work themselves to get up and running and are excited for the opportunity to become a part of the community.

The Lopez family purchased the fourth business lot sold. Silverstone was the first occupant who came in 2002. Eleven years later, in 2013, Booe Machinery and Salvage became the second owner. Then, last year Next Generation made a major investment into the industrial park to expand their network of liquid storage for the agriculture industry. There are still four lots for sale at the industrial park.

McCook Employee Recruitment Video Available to Local Organizations

In an effort to assist businesses who recruit workers from outside the area, the McCook Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) released a McCook Recruitment Video to improve the on-line presence for prospective employees. The four minute video features area amenities and testimonials of individuals who are proud to live, work, and play in the McCook area.

The idea of the video was initially formed by former Executive Director Andrew Ambriz and Acme Printing and Design owner Jared Muehlenkamp. Lexi Gross, who is studying Media at Fort Hays State University, was hired as a summer intern to capture the material and develop the video.

Andy Long, MEDC Executive Director said, “For the last couple years, I have heard from major employers who said it was difficult to attract qualified candidates to McCook. When all you see is a little dot on a map, it is hard to attract candidates. We can use this video to help us put our best foot forward and highlight the great quality of life found in southwest Nebraska, it helps make the right first impression to people considering employment here. Coordinating this effort seemed like a great way to provide a service to area employers.”

MEDC welcomes businesses and to link or embed the video on their website that can be found here: https://youtu.be/99vv4EdtGt0. If anyone has questions or needs the code to embed the video, they can contact Andy at andy@mccookne.org or 308-345-1200.

America’s Demographic Future