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MEDC chief wants best possible 'us'
McCOOK, Neb. -- It has been slightly more than 100 days since Kirk Dixon took over as the Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corp. His tenure spearheading the bustling business center has flown by thus far and his enthusiasm has grown, he told the McCook City Council Monday evening.
"It's hard to believe that it's been 100 days," said Dixon, adding it felt like he had just recently been introduced to city leaders. Dixon indicated he has kept busy with a variety of meetings, both locally and outside the area, ranging from state officials to business leaders in both large and small operations.
Dixon also spent a significant amount of time in recent meetings with focus groups emphasizing the Marketing Small Town America Initiative, resulting in a lot of great feedback and data identifying what is better for McCook.
"We don't want to be Kearney, we don't want to be North Platte, we don't want to be Grand Island. We want to be the best small town we can be. The best McCook we can be," said Dixon.
Economic development enthusiasts hope the City of McCook's 135th anniversary next year, coinciding with the State of Nebraska's 150th anniversary, will serve as a calling card for area businesses and communities to come together and advance the ideas formulated in recent months.
"The things we have identified as priorities, let's work together to make those things happen," said Dixon.
Dixon indicated he was encouraged by the reception he had received from community and business leaders and was as excited as ever with his role.
"After 100 days, I'm more excited than I ever have been. And it's because I do feel, in a very short amount of time, some real progress," he said.
City Councilwoman Janet Hepp seemed to agree with Dixon's enthusiasm and said describing the McCook MEDC office as a busy place was an understatement.
"I filled in for [MEDC Administrative Assistant] Angela. The number of connections occurring in that office blew my mind," said Hepp. She said the MEDC office was an exciting place to be and she was looking forward to helping out again in the near future. "I was amazed, so amazed."
Dixon provided his economic development update as part of the Citizen's Advisory Review Committee's quarterly report to City Council. The committee is tasked with reviewing the functioning and progress of the city's economic development program and advising City Council on such.
Committee member Troy Bruntz recapped highlights from several financial reports provided to councilors. Revenue sources for the Industrial Park paving project completed earlier this year included $24,000 from the city's Motor Vehicle Sales Tax and $43,000 from LB 840 sales tax, according to the report.
"Payments in the last quarter besides that are just your standard ones that you're going to see each month. The bridge loan for Clary Village and you'll see the administrative costs that are paid for administration at the MEDC," he said. The Clary Village loan payment is slightly more than $4,190 monthly with administration costs just more than $10,070 monthly, according to a provided check register.
The McCook City Council approved slightly more than $316,000 in financial assistance for the Clary Village project in March 0f 2015. The assistance included two loans from the McCook Economic Development Corporation's sales tax funded LB 840 Revolving Loan Fund. The loans were divided into a $120,000 equity loan and a second $196,750 loan which will allow MEDC to purchase Tax Increment Financing bonds from the City of McCook.
The review committee's report included a synopsis of current loans provided by MEDC through the McCook Growth Fund. Bruntz said data indicated the loans were all still current and doing well.
"Clary Village has started making payments in accordance with their operating agreement," said Bruntz, adding the money received would go back into the fund and could now be used by MEDC for other purposes.