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Hometown Competitiveness Meeting HeldAs printed in the Ord Quiz on May 21, 2003Over sixty persons attended a Hometown Competitiveness meeting at the Ord Elks Club Fri., May 16. A power point presentation was given by Don Macke and Jeff Yost. The presentation explained that the Nebraska Community Foundation, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Nebraska Rural Development Commission and the Heartland Center for Leadership Development work together to make an integrated community and an economic development strategy that is called Hometown Competitiveness. Macke explained that youth retention is very important and that jobs must be provided that provide a good living. The four building blocks for success include strategy, youth, capital and leadership. Entrepreneurs create new businesses and jobs. Fifty-five percent of new jobs come from expanding businesses and 44 percent come from new businesses starting up. Entrepreneurs are the most important key that allows communities to grow. Valley County has a lot of entrepreneurial talent, plus business owners that will expand their businesses. Valley County has 4,600 residents and is a farm and ranch based area. There are 750 businesses. There has to be a fifteen to twenty percent growth potential to increase the chance for the area to grow. Jeff Yost took over the presentation saying that we have a good leadership and volunteer base. Over the next 50 years 41 trillion dollars will transfer from one generation to the next. Over the next ten years the county wealth transfer will be $129,400,000. At this time current endowed assets are $1,450,000, current expectancies are $5,250,000 for a total endowment and expectancies of $6,700,000. Yost went on to say, "Be sure and remember Valley County in your will." He explained that other counties have people who care about their hometowns, giving examples of Bassettt, Spencer, Shickley, Red Cloud, Brown County, and Tekamah. Aurora has endowed money of $20,000,000. They have been doing this for over thirty years. Don Macke then finished the presentation saying that youth is critical to Valley County. In the last 10 years we have lost 10 percent of our population. We must retain our youth to turn that around. Ken Collins, Chairman of the Valley County Board of Supervisors and Jeff Yost handed out the 2003 checks from the Wozab Trust. Twenty-three recipients received $41,570 from the fund. This is the fourth year of funding with 98 grants given totaling $201,329. A panel including Don Macke, Angie Svoboda, Bethanne Kunz and Bob Stowell discussed the future of Ord and Valley County. Svoboda talked about the Leadership Quest 2003 program and what she gained from it. Svoboda told the audience that there were twenty participants in the program and she said, "I can assure you that the leadership of Valley County is in great hands." Don Macke talked about Nebraska in the 1860s to the present and town and community building. If you believe in the people of Valley County there can be a strong future. You must support existing businesses and help them grow. Bob Stowell talked about philanthropy and how to fund Home Town Competitiveness. Grants have dried up, and we must use philanthropy to fund entrepreneurship. The Wozab Trust Fund has jump started philanthropy in Valley County. There are existing estate plans that will amount to $5,000,000. Stowell said, it is important to participate, it does not have to be a million, any amount will help so that we have a vision and a roadmap. Bethanne Kunz talked about Leadership Quest and what it did for the participants. The Leadership Quest 2004 was discussed. Her long-term goal is to have more people participate. She also discussed Valley County Economic Development. The panel then fielded several questions from the audience and the meeting concluded at 4:30. Return to TOP |
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Nebraska Community Foundation PO Box 83107 Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 323-7330 Fax: (402) 323-7349 E-mail: webmaster@nebcommfound.org |
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