Phelps County Development Corporation
Vision 2020 Strategic Plan for the Years 2011-2012
An asterisk (*) denotes the PCDC goals that specifically complements one of the eight goals developed for Phelps County’s Vision 2020.
Retention & Expansion
Goal:
PCDC is the go-to organization when primary-job businesses face challenges that hamper profitability, hinder expansion, or predispose the company to closing its doors.
Strategies
Conduct at least 25 company interviews, determining business and economic health, creating relationships, and identifying areas of common concern. High priority will be given to: 1) primary-job businesses with nationwide and international sales and 2) businesses that sell goods and services in a multiple-state region.Provide immediate assistance to interviewed companies, addressing issues that can be resolved with existing resources.
Engage in meaningful dialogue with local management of primary-job companies at least twice each year and with corporate headquarters of local facilities at least once every five years.
Seek renewable energy solutions to retain or grow local companies while exploring the advantages of over-sizing capacity, creating a business & industry park to meet the needs of the “green” niche market.
Continue to engage with primary-job companies that have the potential to expand.
Business and Industry Park
*Goal:
PCDC has created an attractive business and industry park environment with good local highway access that attracts light industry, value-added agribusinesses, technology-based businesses, and office/back office operations.
Strategies
With the assistance of an outside consultant, identify an appropriate site for the development of a mixed-use business/industrial park near Holdrege.Secure funding from either the GRO fund or from the City of Holdrege to hire the outside consultant.
Purchase, or at the minimum control, the land identified as the appropriate site for a business & industry park.
Investigate potential sources of property acquisition and development grants and loans, which could include the EDA, USDA Rural Development, State funds, etc.
Grants, Incentives, and Finance Tools
*Goal:
PCDC has identified and made available an attractive range of grants, incentives, and finance tools that have stimulated local business and industry.
Strategies
Continue to set aside 45% of LB840 monies collected each year through 2017, building a revolving loan fund to $1.25 million. The revolving loan fund is available for a wide variety of business classifications including retail and restaurants, high-priority items in Vision 2020.Acquire at least a portion of the land dedicated to serve as the Business & Industry Park, offering it at reduced price or at no cost to businesses and industry that create primary jobs.
Industry Recruitment
Goal:
PCDC regularly provides tours for site selection consultants and small business owners as they consider relocating to or expanding operations in Phelps County.
Strategies
Actively market the inbound call center facility being vacated mid-March.Respond to Requests for Proposal (RFP) from DED, NPPD, and business owners.
To remain competitive while the business & industry park is being developed, secure options on multiple properties and market to industries that desire the parcels’ location and infrastructure. Historically, those have been the bio-fuels and other value-added agriculture industries.
Actively build a site inventory to include parcels owned by others in addition to sites controlled by PCDC.
Collaborate with existing businesses to identify recruitment prospects within the business’ supply chains.
Annually attend at least one function designed to establish connections with site selection consultants.
Improve the industry recruitment portion of the website, making it more user-friendly and adding more interactive features for the use of site selectors and businesses seeking a new or additional location.
Research and consider back-office and data centers as target industries to complement the existing targets: supply-chain manufacturers, wind energy component part manufacturers, warehousing & distribution, and biofuels..
Distribute the Phelps County Business Journal to connect with local businesses, enhance visibility with economic development allies, and promote our area to site selection consultants.
Entrepreneurship
*Goal:
PCDC stimulates entrepreneurial activity by providing startup information, referral services, technical assistance, and networking opportunities.
This goal supports the Vision 2020 goal that states “The Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce has successfully assisted in developing a more diverse and sustainable retail and restaurant base as well as aiding in the retaining of current retail that reduces the leakage from the community of retail expenditures.”
Strategies
Refer individuals interested in starting businesses with the appropriate resources and educational opportunities necessary to move from an idea to profitable business.Provide entrepreneurs with online business startup information and the opportunity to bounce ideas off PCDC’s volunteer business coaches.
Promote PK Partnership's EDGE classes by generating referrals from local business service providers including lenders, accountants, and attorneys.
Match entrepreneurs with business owners considering retirement or otherwise seeking a successful business transition.
Actively market PCDC’s entrepreneur tools including JustThePlaceNebraska.com business resources, volunteer business coaching sessions, and the revolving loan fund.
Workforce Development
*Goal:
PCDC invites families, talented and skilled workers, and “active” retirees to live and work in Phelps County.
Strategies
Continue to work with partners to update JustThePlaceNebraska.com pages specific to workforce development.Routinely update information pages, load newsworthy articles, and change the featured links to adapt to the needs of both frequent and new visitors alike.Develop a Memorandum of Understanding between PCDC, Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce, and equal marketing arms of Bertrand, Atlanta, Loomis, and Funk.
Continue marketing JustThePlaceNebraska.com utilizing a combination of methods including, but not limited to Nebraska Rural Living, social media, direct mail postcards to alumni and online advertising.
Housing
*Goal:
PCDC supports the Holdrege Development Corporation with its goal to provide an adequate supply of quality housing, including rental, low-to-moderate income, and executive level.
This goal supports the Vision 2020 goal that states “Phelps County has an adequate supply of housing, including rental, low-to-moderate income, and executive level.
Strategies
Partner with HDC to form an investment group specifically for executive level single-family homes.
Collaborations
*Goal:
The political and business leadership in Phelps County cooperates and collaborates to solve community problems and work toward common goals.
Strategies
Regularly engage with the Vision 2020 steering committee to drive activity toward fulfillment of the goals outlined in the Vision 2020 strategic plan.Provide an annual or semi-annual report on PCDC’s activities to members and Vision 2020 partners to keep the lines of communication open
*Goals tie into the Phelps County Vision 2020 goals. While PCDC plays a role in six of the eight Vision 2020 goals, PCDC has accepted the leadership responsibilities for the following: 1) Business & Industry Park and2) Grants, Incentives, and Finance Tools.
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