Vision Task Force - South Central PPD

June 5, 2003

Attending:

Pete Olson	City Administrator, City of Sutton
Scott Stmper	Mayor, City of Nelson
Sam Shuck	Mayor, City of Edgar
Merle Ilian	Director, Trailblazer RC&D - Red Cloud
Floyd Tucker	Business Owner, Nelson
Merrill Duntz	South Central PPD
Pam Maynard	South Central PPD

After introductions, Pam and Merrill welcomed attendees to the first South Central Nebraska Vision Task Force meeting. This Task Force is an outcome of the Economic Development briefing held by South Central PPD on April 22, 2003 at Tucker’s in Nelson, NE. One intent of this Task Force is to identify, discuss and develop action plans or solutions that address Economic Development needs and issues for the three-county area.
The following Economic Development Needs/Issues of the Area were discussed:
- Entrepreneurship Training, including exposure at the High School level
- Dissemination of information on Job Opportunities in the area, including a possible presence at college Job Fairs
- Use of Private Investment Clubs to stimulate Business Development
- The role of the local bank plays in supporting non-agricultural Business Dev.
- The use of a Redevelopment Authority in supporting Business Development.
- The need to Market the positive attributes of our community/area to the residents
  and businesses of the area so they can market the community/area to visitors.
- The use of existing resources from such groups/agencies as the Dept of Econ. Dev.
  t o assist in Business Surveys to identy issues, expansion and possible jobs.
- The need to support Grant Writing expertise in our communities.
- The need for an Economic Development District in the area. An informational
  meeting on the topic is scheduled for June 12, 7:00 p.m. at CCC, Dawson bldg
An Action Item was developed by the Task Force to sponsor/present a Grant Writing Workshop for individuals from the three-county area for an October time-frame.
Next meeting: July 15, South Central PPD Board Room