Winter quarterly report

We’re neck deep in report season:  reports on this, that and just about everything in between.  You can download our quarterly report here.  Highlights include End of Year usage for sales tax, a current fund balance, program and project activity and more.

A conversation about the economy

A new effort we’ll be embarking upon is a weekly column in the Ord Quiz about economic development and the community.  You can have a read from our first effort below.  You will see quite a few similarities with our message in our blog, but we’re trying to also reach a new audience with the print media.  Let me know what you think – and please, this is a two way conversation.  Feel free to comment, flame, whatever!

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What does economic development mean to you?  Why is it important?  What has been its impact on our community?  These are all important questions to ask when thinking about community economic development and your life.  A Conversation about the Economy is a new series intended to open dialogue about the impact of economic growth and development in Ord and Valley County.  Each week I will talk about trends, projects and outcomes within our community and how they play a role in larger economic issues found in our state, our nation and our world.  I also invite you, the reader, to comment on these trends through the Quiz and on our blog.  A recap of these comments will be posted on our blog:  www.ordsunshinepumpers.wordpress.com so in-depth discussion of economic development trends can continue.

Many of you may ask, “What is economic development’s role within the community”?  Some of you may even be asking “Why should economic development exist in the first place”?  To put it bluntly: because we need to be.  In 1999, many in Ord believed the community was in a downward spiral.  Economic data and general attitudes about the community, at the time, would serve to confirm this.  Many main street businesses were closing.  Then, in 2000 as efforts to generate interest and support for economic development grew fruitful, things began to turn around.  A major reason was due to the efforts of the Valley County Economic Development Board which was created by an innovative use of community collaboration:  the inter-local agreement law.  This gave local units of government the ability to collaborate in ways of benefit to local taxpayers.

Representatives from Valley County, the City of Ord, the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Loup Valleys Activities, Inc. were appointed to develop the capacity necessary for economic stabilization, and then growth in Valley County.  Let me be clear about the goals of Valley County Economic Development.  We do not create jobs.  We create opportunities for growth and development.  Economic development comes from the growth and prosperity within local businesses and the community as a whole.  Economic development’s main priority was to create an environment ready for growth.

The positive, can-do attitude has led to the growth of 100 new businesses in our county since 2000.  Citing from a newly released Economic and Demographic Trends Report by Nebraska Public Power District, Valley County’s growth isn’t just anecdotal in the 100 new businesses.  Since 2001, one year after economic development had begun in the county, positive growth exploded.  “Total non-farm wage and salary employment in Valley County increased 15.9 percent (239 jobs) from 2001 to 2008, compared to a 5.6 percent increase for Nebraska as a whole, a 3.7 percent increase in metropolitan Nebraska, and a 2.2 percent increase in non-metropolitan Nebraska.” (Overhue, 2010).

We beat the state average for job growth.  We also beat our rural competition.  Most importantly, we beat metro Nebraska in total job growth over that same time period.

Other highlights include a total labor force that grew 9.0% between 2001-2008.  We also saw wage growth of about $2,000 between 2006-2007.  And our retail sector continues its strongest presence since 1991.  Results in the community have been new businesses, community improvements and a municipal sales tax program for economic development.

We do have our challenges as well.  Too many local folks have to commute for work.  Our overall per capita wages need improvement.  The recession will begin to show its full effect in reports released later this spring.  And out-migration and population decline will continue to present real threats to all these economic gains.  Yet, challenges facing us can also be opportunities.

Our area youth lead the outmigration from our county but most of them are leaving for an education.  A newly expanded community college Learning Center can assist with retaining those that want to stay.  Most importantly, what can be interpreted from the trend report is that local community attitudes can predict the success or failure within a community.  If Ord and Valley County want to succeed and thrive in the future, we need to believe we can.  What I find most enlightening in the data is that while population decline continues to impact our community, it may be a misleading economic trend when you see corresponding growth in jobs, retail pull and overall wages.

Why?  From 2000-2010, the net economic gain for our community has been overwhelmingly positive.  The economic growth has been part and parcel of an attitudinal shift of epic proportions.  You the community have been responsible for this growth.  And congratulations are in order.

These trends extend beyond data reports and the musings of economic developers.  They translate into real world impacts that affect you, the reader.  They also extend into the community’s belief in self-led investment.  In December 2009, local shoppers purchased over $20,000 in Chamberbucks.  That’s one month in a small community.  $20,000 that will be reinvested into local businesses that are buy local services, goods and pay local wages.

Another example of those real world impacts stem from the closure of Hamilton Communications and the expansion of Central Community College’s Ord Learning Center.  After losing 25 jobs, 400 survey takers assisted economic development reach an agreement in expanding higher education in our community.  You, the community, were central in taking a loss and turning it into an opportunity.  The community bought into the idea that participation could directly affect the community in a positive manner.  That opportunity has turned into an operational Learning Center which has already doubled enrollment from last year.  More is planned for the future.

Our future is bright and many great things are before all of us.  The bright future requires your participation.  I hope you’ll join me on this conversation about our economy and our community.  Until next week, be well.

J&S Diesel Ribbon Cutting

One year ago a local business, J&S Diesel, was burned to the ground by a faulty electrical cord within the business.  While the business forged on, I’m sure being without a home was more than inconvenient.  Fast forward to 2010, one year later:  J&S Diesel is hosting an open house and ribbon cutting at their new facility which was rebuilt at the same location.  The ribbon cutting will be this Friday, January 29 @ 3pm.  Directions to the ribbon cutting can be found here.  I’m pretty excited for Joel and his gang, so join us as we celebrate the perseverance of a local business over tremendous adversity.  See you there!

County consolidation redux

I mentioned about a week ago a new bill, LB826, that would introduce an effort to consolidate the rural counties in Nebraska.  As a reminder, the public hearing will be tomorrow, in Lincoln, and I’ll be on hand to testify against the proposed bill by Senator Pahls.

As part of my testimony, I’ve been able to work with a few statewide partners to understand the economic impact of the bill if it passes.  Recall that the Platte Institute recently released a study that looked at the government savings of consolidated counties.  What they neglected to even acknowledge was the economic fallout created by a redesignation of county seats, including our own.

My testimony will entail the research that county consolidation writ large does nothing, in the long run, to save money at all.  You can read the details on the *facts* here, here and here.

Furthermore (what irks me the most) is that the urban senator paints all of rural Nebraska with one broad brush when places like Ord and Valley County are fiscally viable AND economically thriving.  Our economic growth rate outpaced the statewide average by over ten percent in the past ten years alone.

Later today I’ll post my testimony for your viewing pleasure.  More to come!

UPDATE:  You can download my testimony here.  Enjoy!

$20,000

One thing that I failed to mention was the total tally of ChamberBucks sold in Ord this past December:  over $20,000 worth.

That’s investment in local business and an investment in our future.  This is made possible by all of YOU.  Your support is phenomenal – thank you.

Strategic planning

Today marks our annual strategic planning effort with the involvement of both the Ord Area Chamber and Valley County Economic Development boards.  This sets the stage for our 2010 Action Plan and program of work, which keeps me sane in an otherwise chaotic environment 🙂

We will also hold joint meetings of the economic development and Chamber boards.  You can download an agenda and minutes for the ED board here.

We’ll post our results of the planning effort as soon as we compile the input from each board.  You can see last year’s plan and accomplishments here.  Unfortunately, our fearless leader for the day, Rick Nelsen from NPPD, can’t make it to Ord due to road conditions.   Nonetheless, we shall forge on!

2009 Valley County economic trend report released

Nebraska Public Power District has released our 2009 economic trends report in preparation for tomorrow’s joint strategic planning session with the Valley County Economic Development & Ord Area Chamber boards.  If you’re a stats guy like me, you’ll find the report fascinating.  Some interesting tidbits to note:

• From 2001-2008, non-farm employment grew 15.6% in Valley County, 10.3% greater than the Nebraska average.
• The total Valley County workforce increased by 9.0% in the same time frame.
• Total population decreased by 10% in the same time frame.
• Ord’s retail pull factor continued to be one of the strongest in the state for communities of like size.
• Valley County’s per capita income grew by $2,000 from 2006-2007.

You can read the entire report here.  I’ll chew on the data to see what more I can conclude from it.  What I do find rather enlightening in the data is that while population decline continues to impact our community, it may be a misleading economic trend when you see corresponding growth in jobs, retail pull and overall wages.  I’m not saying it doesn’t matter, but it could be overstated.  When new figures on the 2009 recession are released, it will be interesting to track the impact on the area economy.  I don’t expect as rosy a report in a year’s time.  You can also compare this year’s trends with those from the past year here.

One final item:  KNLVradio.com reports some promising news from the UNL Bureau of Business Research.  The Nebraska Forecst Council predicts strong growth in the rural economy for 2010 and 2011.  You can download the full report here.  Another economic forecasting organization, The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, seems to agree.

Let’s hope it happens.

2009 Economic Trends:  https://ordsunshinepumpers.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/new-economic-trends-for-valley-county/

VCED offices closed Monday

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Valley County Economic Development offices will be closed January 18th.   We have a fun week coming up with strategic planning AND a new economic trends report that shares some good vibes about our local economy.  Only we economic development nerds like trend reports…but it does help justify our existence!

Happy Birthday OSP!

Leave it to me to forget our blog’s birthday.  Ord Sunshine Pumpers turns the big ONE this month and over a year ago today, our innocuous little blog began its first shout to cyberspace with this post.  What’s transpired since that time?  Quite a bit.  Total pageviews have topped 42,000 since that day, NPR picked up on a story about winetasting in Central Nebraska, the Omaha World Herald ran a story about our positivity campaign…and recently we were acknowledged by our blogging peers in the Omaha metro.

All in all, its been a very successful year for this little slice of internet real estate.  The next year will encompass many changes for the blog as it integrates with our new website launch.  This year’s been a blast for me and I’ve enjoyed interacting with a great many of you in cyberspace.

Here’s to another year!

Ord Learning Center Update

Central Community College’s Ord Learning Center held an Open House/Registration for the Spring 2010 semester January 13, from 6 – 8 p.m.  Over 35 people toured the newly remodeled facility, registered for door prizes, and shared refreshments.  Registration numbers for classes through the Ord center’s Extended Learning program for the Spring 2010 semester is currently at 27, more than double the total number from the previous fall semester.

Furnishings and equipment including tables, chairs, computers, and software are all scheduled for delivery and installation later this spring.  Final cleaning and polishing of floors are scheduled for late January.  Installation of a new phone system and Internet capability for access to the college system will further complete the initial services provided by the Ord Learning Center. On-site, instructor-led classes are planned for the 2010 Fall Semester.

Central Community College-Columbus has also obtained a Worker Training Grant, which enables the Ord Learning Center to offer another educational service at no cost to the individual. Scheduled later this winter and spring are three in-service training classes offered at no cost to area patrons and business employers and employees.  They are titled Leadership Development Series, Celebrating Diversity, and Sales & Customer Service.  For more information and to register, stop by the Learning Center and talk to Lu Lansman, OLC Manager, available also at 728-7875 or llansman@frontier.com.

Door Prize winners from the January 13^th Ord Learning Center Open House include:  Sally Domeier, Alex Farrens, Lisa Farrens, Cindy Gabriel, Jan Howard, Kelsey Howard, Christy Hruza, Dave Kaslon, Diane Kaslon, Kim Newquist, Randy O’Brien, Vicki O’Brien, Christina Pollard, Mick Puckett, Nancy Puckett, Father Tom Ryan, Eileen Sliva, Carl Streeter, and Michelle Stunkel.  These individuals may collect their door prizes at the CCC Learning Center.