Looking back, looking forward

This last month, the MEDC board spent time looking back on what we have been working on and then looked at where we want to be in the future. Even though we live in a time of uncertainty, there are opportunities for McCook as we look forward.

Two years ago, we identified business recruitment, workforce development, and housing as our top three priorities. We’ve had some wins, but a few projects have taken a little longer than expected. Here’s a few successes:

In the last two years, we have worked with local banks to provide gap financing to help with business transitions and start ups to create or retain 22 jobs.

A partnership with Southwest Nebraska Betterment Corporation helped 7 McCook homeowners receive $87,000 in down payment assistance.

A state grant has provided $400,000 to help McCook, Benkelman, and Cambridge start building homes on infill lots. We’re hoping to release requests for proposals on the McCook house in the next two months.

We’ve worked with two local developers to have TIF agreements approved to help with $400,000 in development.

We created a fiber to the home incentive and have been working with telecommunication companies to improve our local internet network.

Our programs have helped create or retain 60 childcare spots with assistance in transitioning ownership of one facility and the expansion of another childcare center.

While reviewing our strategic initiatives, our board has decided we want to keep working on the three major initiatives and take advantage of opportunities presented with the pandemic. One of the major workforce initiatives we’re undertaking is developing a recruitment plan to attract individuals who are looking to move to rural areas. Overnight, millions learned how to work remotely. I believe this is our time to promote the quality of life we have to encourage people with ties to McCook and others who want a higher quality of life to relocate.

To do this, we’re undertaking two initiatives.

First, we’re developing a cowork/digital makerspace space in the 4th floor of the Keystone. We’ve learned that people enjoy working remotely, but not always working from home. This will provide remote workers, solopreneurs, audio/video/digital creators, and others a professional place and tools they don’t have at home to be successful. We’re striving for this to be the most affordable cowork space in the country and it takes the Keystone to its core mission of being a business incubator. If you’re curious to see the space while under development, let me know.

Second, we’re developing a digital marketing campaign. We have great opportunities and a great quality of life. The challenge is getting that message to the people who want to hear it. We’ve started developing the concept of creating a group of McCook advocates. There are people who live all across the country and have a deep love of McCook. We’re hoping to identify these people and then have them help us get our message out to their social networks. This is in development, so let me know if you’re interested or have thoughts.

Our current economic situation presents a variety of challenges. There is local, state, and national data that is discouraging. Despite that, through looking at opportunities, MEDC is looking to build on our success to find new ways to grow our local economy.