Communities in Holt County, Nebraska were once isolated but started collaborating in 2005 to share resources and accomplish shared goals. Through partnerships and grants, they established an economic development agency that has seen successes like 58 new jobs and businesses, 60 retained jobs, and 11 new families moving to the county. Going forward, they aim to support entrepreneurship through estate gifts, offer more scholarships to attract youth back after college, and engage youth in building communities they want to return to through a new advisory council.
6. In 2005 started working together and sharing resources to accomplish thingsOur Story – Holt County, Nebraska
7. Amazing Resources We Used HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) Framework Effort focusing on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement and Charitable Assets Nebraska Community Foundation, Heartland Center For Leadership Development and Center For Rural Entrepreneurship. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act (BECA) Grant Federal Home Loan Bank Joint Opportunities For Building Success (JOBS) Grant
8. Summary of What We’ve Achieved By Collaborating 100% participation of all communities in our inter-local agreement Corporate sponsors who also believe in our efforts An office with 1.5 paid staff members and a group of committed volunteers to lead the efforts Visits to 98 existing businesses to talk to them about their expansion, retention and transfer needs A countywide celebration bringing residents from all over the county together for a night of fun
9. Numbers Help Tell Our Story 58 New Jobs & New Businesses 60 Retained Jobs
10. 11 New Families Moved To The County 319 mailboxes to each graduating senior in the county
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12. Holt County Economic Development Agency Nicole Sedlacek P.O. Box 543 O’Neill, NE 68763 nicole@holtcountynebraska.com www.holtcountynebraska.com Questions?
Editor's Notes
Past history amongst our communitiesEach community doing it’s own thingLarge numbers of out-migration of youth and young familiesYoung Adults not feeling engagedIn 2005 started working together and sharing resources to accomplish things
HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) FrameworkEffort focusing on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement and Charitable AssetsNebraska Community Foundation, Heartland Center For Leadership Development and Center For Rural Entrepreneurship.Nebraska Department of Economic DevelopmentBuilding Entrepreneurial Communities Act (BECA) GrantFederal Home Loan Bank Joint Opportunities For Building Success (JOBS) Grant
100% participation of all communities in our inter-local agreementCorporate sponsors who also believe in our effortsAn office with 1.5 paid staff members and a group of committed volunteersVisits to 98 existing businesses to talk to them about their expansion and retention needsA countywide celebration bringing residents from all over the county together for a night of fun
$2.3 million estate gift directed towards entrepreneurship$1.5 million estate gift directed towards scholarships for traditional and non-trad students who have expressed a sincere desire to come back to the areaA countywide youth advisory council to help us create communities that young people want to come back to
Community and economic development like this takes a lot of patience!