Beatrice, Neb. is recertified until November 2019
JANUARY 6, 2015 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—Beatrice, Neb. (pop. 12,157), has earned its recertification in the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community Program. The city was originally certified in October 2009 and recertified this past November.
The program is sponsored by the Nebraska Diplomats and administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). Designation as a Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community indicates that Beatrice is prepared for business growth and ready to meet the needs of companies seeking new business and industrial locations.
“I congratulate Beatrice for all of its hard work and efforts that have paid off in its evident record of tremendous growth and activity,” said Annette Wiles, Nebraska Diplomats President. “The City of Beatrice, like all of our other certified and recertified communities is planting seeds of growth and prosperity that will well serve its citizens for decades to come.”
“It’s great news that Beatrice has met requirements for recertification in the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community Program,” said Beatrice Mayor Stan Wirth. “I plan to work closely with and support Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage) as the organization contracted to lead economic development here. Beatrice leaders together with Gage County supervisors look forward to continued positive economic development results in the coming months and years.”
“With support from the City of Beatrice and Gage County, NGage has worked hard over the last two years to establish a comprehensive economic development program to serve the area,” said NGage Executive Director Glennis McClure. “NGage’s objectives include retention of existing businesses, attraction of new businesses to the area, and supporting local small business development. This recertification confirms that NGage is moving in the right direction.
“The recertification of Beatrice as an Economic Development Certified Community highlights all of the hard work that elected officials and community leaders in Beatrice have been doing,” said Tobias Tempelmeyer, City Administrator. “Through cooperative efforts, Beatrice has been able to bounce back from the great recession and make great strides in the areas of economic development and community revitalization.
Accomplishments in Beatrice during the past five years include:
The City and Gage County entered into an inter-local agreement in 2012, and funded the newly-formed Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage) as its new economic development organization. Earlier that year, Beatrice citizens voted to renew the City’s LB 840-Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act until 2023 for economic development projects.
The City provided the utility infrastructure for the new Beatrice Community Hospital and Healthcare Complex (opened in 2012), and the Northgate Development area along Highway 77 at the City’s north entrance.
Funding from DED’s Community Development Block Grant program supported a two-phase Downtown Revitalization project. The revitalization project included installing new paving, sidewalks, decorative concrete planters and historical lighting along 5th St., from Court to Ella streets. The Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Beatrice partnered to provide a brick mural and historic clock.
The historic Carnegie Library Building was renovated in 2011 using a combination of private funding, grants, and LB 840 funds. The building is now home to the Gage County Tourism office, Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, and NGage offices.
The Beatrice Public Library is undergoing current renovations, including the addition of new meeting rooms for adult education and genealogy research, thanks to a donation from the Beatrice Library Foundation.
Three new manufacturing businesses have located in the City, resulting in 77 new jobs.
Forty-nine new small businesses have opened throughout the county, resulting in 142 new jobs.
Nine existing businesses have expanded resulting in new capital investment and 299 new jobs. One major employer, NEAPCO, has undertaken multiple facility expansions in recent years and is currently planning an office expansion.
Dacia Kruse, DED acting director, was on hand at the January 5 city council meeting to recognize Beatrice Mayor Wirth, NGage Executive Director McClure, City Administrator Tempelmeyer and other members of the Beatrice community for their continued involvement in the Economic Development Certified Community program.
Contact Lynn Kohout at lynn.kohout@nebraska.gov or 402-440-2599 or visit http://www.neded.org/economic-development-certified-community for additional information on the Economic Development Certified Community Program.
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