(Press release from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development)
North Platte, Neb. is recertified through 2020
JULY 22, 2015 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—North Platte, Neb. (pop. 24,534), has earned its recertification in the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community Program. The city was originally certified in February 2007 and recertified in February 2010.
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 North Platte is prepared for business growth and ready to meet the needs of companies seeking new business and industrial locations.
During the last five years the City and the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation have helped attract two new manufacturing facilities bringing 55 new jobs to the community; locate 28 new service- and retail-based businesses along with 292 jobs to the area; and assisted 27 existing businesses with expansions, resulting in new capital investment and 334 new jobs.
Additional accomplishments during the past five years include:
- More than $250 million in new construction activity since 2009.
- The recent expansion of a 44,000-sq.-ft. Fortune 100 logistics firm with an anticipated completion date of August 2015.
- A $100 million expansion of Great Plains Health that will triple the size of the existing building and include a new medical clinic, exam rooms, X-ray services, and onsite pharmacy, as well as expanded parking lot. The project is slated for completion this summer.
- Completion of fiber to the home build-out making North Platte a Gigabyte-connected community.
“North Platte is leading the charge to become a lightning-fast, fully-connected community that is sure to secure its position far into the future of growth and development possibilities,” said Diplomats President Annette Wiles. “Considering the most recent location of a Fortune 100 logistics company here, I predict this may be just the beginning of many more companies realizing the great potential that exists here.”
“The North Platte community is truly pleased to receive our re-certification as an Economic Development Certified Community. This exhibits North Platte’s commitment to a potent Economic Development strategy and continues to align us with the ongoing efforts of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development,” said Ty Lucas, Chair of the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation.
DED Director Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, CEcD, attended the July 21 city council meeting to recognize the efforts of the City and the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation.
Contact Lynn Kohout at 402-440-2559, or lynn.kohout@nebraska.gov, or visit http://www.neded.org/economic-development-certified-community for additional information on the Economic Development Certified Community Program.