Holdrege's Largest Employer Begins Next Stage of Growth
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GROWING OPPORTUNITIES Volume 15 Number 1 | Winter 2020 PHELPS COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL GROWING OPPORTUNITIES Working Together to Grow a Vibrant Phelps County Economy GO! HOME UPDATES Changes are coming to the GO! HOME program in 2020 to Holdrege’s Largest Employer focus on bringing new residents to Phelps County. PCDC will Begins Next Stage of Growth no longer offer Renter Relocation BD Makes Additional $40 Million Investment in Holdrege Grants. Instead, PCDC Hiring has started at BD after the syringes to the Holdrege plant. BD Construction is already in will focus efforts on helping October announcement of 35 new already produces general syringes progress on the internal and newcomers buy homes with jobs and a new product line at the at other plants, but they are new to external modifications to create the down-payment assistance Holdrege manufacturing plant. Holdrege. manufacturing areas needed for the grants. Brian Deakin, Human Resources BD Holdrege previously focused general-use syringes. PCDC will match employer Manager at BD, said some of the on manufacturing smaller insulin BD completed a 14,000-square- funds of up to $2,500 to help technical and engineering jobs syringes for diabetes care. The foot expansion in 2014 and then employees living outside of the associated with the new product line Holdrege plant is the world’s announced a $100 million expansion county purchase a home in have been posted, and they are now largest producer of insulin syringes, project at the Holdrege plant in Phelps County. starting the selection process. manufacturing more than 2 billion 2016. The final stages of the 2016 each year that are distributed around In 2019, PCDC received 19 Another wave of hiring will begin investment are almost complete. the world. applications for down-payment in February when BD will advertise With the announcement of the assistance grants. This resulted the equipment operator positions. “We have demonstrated that new product line, BD is making an in 40 new residents and a total The salary for operator positions we can make it happen here additional $40 million investment in investment of $1.7 million in ranges from $17.50 to $21 per hour. performance wise,” Deakin said. the Holdrege plant. “We are just excited to bring the local homes purchased. For information on the new jobs at “They won’t hit all at once,” product on. I think it’s a good vote PCDC will also continue Deakin said of the new jobs. “They BD, visit www.jobs.bd.com. the residential exterior of confidence from our corporation roll out over a year-long process.” The new additions are expected to improvement grants for new headquarters about what we can bring BD’s employment in Holdrege home owners and the grants The new jobs are the result of BD do in Nebraska, especially here in to more than 650 people. for new construction, major adding the production of general-use Holdrege.” renovation and lot clearing for contractors. FOLLOW PCDC ACTIVITIES ONLINE & ON SOCIAL MEDIA PhelpsCountyNE.com | facebook.com/PhelpsCountyDevelopmentCorporation | #GROW37 GROWING OPPORTUNITIES Phelps County Communities: Atlanta | Bertrand | Funk | Holdrege | Loomis Executive Director Ron Tillery [email protected] Director of Business Services Carley Bruning [email protected] Restaurants is just one of the four areas identified as an opportunity for growth in a recent study completed for PCDC. Director of Administrative Services Stacy Pafford [email protected] Retail and Restaurant Recruitment GO! NEWS Editor Top Priority for PCDC In New Year Kristine Jacobson Send news releases, A new year marks a new focus on retail and showed opportunities for Phelps County in three news tips and story ideas to “amenity” recruitment for the leaders of the areas: restaurants/food and beverage, apparel [email protected] Phelps County Development Corporation. and general merchandise. or call (308) 995-5561 “Part of what we are hoping to accomplish Tillery noted there was room for growth in the with retail is also commonly referred to as place gas station/convenience store category as well. PCDC Officers making,” said PCDC Executive Director Ron The report is a “starting point to begin the Reed McClymont - President Tillery. “People often make a decision about proactive marketing to a national network of where to live before they make a decision about Phil Hinrichs - Vice President retailers, brokers, developers and key industry where to work. They want to be in places that Michele High contacts on behalf of the community.” have amenities and cultural activities that are - Secretary/Treasurer PCDC’s newly created Retail Recruitment attractive. Retail is an important component of Committee led by PCDC Board Member Nate that. We are prioritizing retail development as DeWald met in December to review the report Board of Directors part of our overall campaign to make Holdrege a and will begin formulating an action plan. Janet Boehler compelling, attractive place to live.” Nate DeWald “Our goal is be ready to hit the ground running Tillery said PCDC learned some interesting in January,” Tillery said. “We’re going to be Fred Diedrichsen statistics from its new partnership with Retail aggressive in the pursuit of new and expanded Jared Engelbert Strategies, a nationwide data, marketing and businesses.” Grant Hinze recruitment firm. Tillery said PCDC’s work with Retail Strategies Thomas Nutt Retail Strategies presented its first report to will also benefit current local retailers to help Tim Rehm PCDC staff in mid-November. The report details them better understand their market, see where Doug Stevenson the county’s demographics, current businesses, their customers come from and how large their Shane Westcott local real estate options and compares Phelps potential market could be. County’s retail offerings to similar-sized areas. “We can drill down into purchases and PCDC Offices “One of the surprising things to me is that products sold with great detail,” Tillery said. “This 502 East Avenue, Suite 201 despite the fact that we have a few fine grocery is helpful to existing businesses who want to add PO Box 522 stores in town, there’s a lot of money going out more product.” Holdrege, NE 68949-0522 of town in that category,” Tillery said. ph (308) 995-4148 Tillery said as part of the retail recruitment Retail Strategies reports that annually, a retail strategy, PCDC will put an emphasis on fax (308) 995-4158 leakage of $13 million exists in the grocery downtown revitalization. He said towns are www.PhelpsCountyNe.com category. often judged based on the appearance of Besides groceries, based on consumer buying their downtowns, and that a strong downtown patterns both in and out of the county, the report indicates a strong community. 2 PHELPS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PHELPS COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL Phelps County Communities: Atlanta | Bertrand | Funk | Holdrege | Loomis Eleven Chosen for Inaugural Leadership Holdrege Class Eleven community leaders have been selected 31/Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce; Leah to participate in the first Leadership Holdrege Gleason, Fye Law Office; Mark Kraus, Lost class. Way Brewery/Real Estate Connection; Shaun The new program aims to inspire, connect, Keeshan, Black Hills Energy. educate and engage leaders in Phelps County to Leadership Holdrege is a project of the make a stronger impact in their workplaces and in Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce and the community. is supported financially through participants’ Cory Steinke, Hydraulic Project Operations Kelsey Stevenson, who just celebrated her fifth class fees, by the Phelps County Development Manager at Central Nebraska Public Power and year of owning Salon 31 in downtown Holdrege, Corporation and through a grant from the Irrigation District, is among the inaugural class said she has always had a heart to serve Nebraska Department of Labor Worker Training members. Holdrege and to be a part of the community. Program. “It thought this was a good opportunity to be “I applied for this program to become a better able to execute better and work with people Central Community College is a partner in the program, and several area businesses are also leader and possibly expand my involvement better and get a foot in the door,” she said. within the community,” Cory said. “I am most involved by providing tours or speakers, including She described the kick-off retreat as looking forward to gaining community contacts the City of Holdrege, Phelps County, Phelps “incredible.” and learning from other area leaders.” County Community Foundation, South-Central “It was really interesting to see the massive Economic Development District, Glion, Central The Leadership Holdrege class met for the impact you can have on a community by being Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, first time in early December for a kick-off retreat, involved and putting yourself out there and being Phelps County Sheriff’s Office, Holdrege Police which was partially in Grand Island. They heard kind of risky,” she said. “You can truly thrive in Department, Educational Service Unit No. 11 and from Grand Island area leaders and from local whatever you want to do in a small community.” Phelps Memorial Health Center. business leader Robert McCormick. They also Those selected and their employers are: The class will continue to meet monthly participated in the Gallup Strength Finders survey Ashley Popple, Popple Construction; Ben through May with sessions on government, to discover their top five strengths. Loberg, FSB Investments; Carley Bruning, education and community investment, industry “I think the strength finding exercise will be the PCDC; Chris McQuillan, First State Bank and agriculture, natural resources, and economic most impactful lesson so far,” Cory said. “Knowing Loomis; Colby Gray, Country Road Realty; development/medical. your strengths, and working to those strengths, can Coni Park, Young at Heart Senior Center; Cory help you overcome your weaknesses.” Steinke, CNPPID; Kelsey Stevenson, Salon A graduation ceremony is planned for May 8.