DED recognizes Mr. Holdrege for his 18 years of leadership in the Economic Development Certified Community program.
Councilman Holdreage and Phelps County Development Corporation leaders celebrate reaccreditation through the EDCC program.
For nearly 20 years, the State of Nebraska has worked with the City of Holdreage (population 5,555) to encourage business and community development opportunities. This week, the Department of Economic Development (DED) recognized city and county officials for their recent efforts to help attract new industry and grow the workforce.
Continued economic investment in Phelps County contributed to the City of Holdreage's fourth re-accreditation in the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Communities (EDCC) program. DED Central Nebraska Business Development Consultant Kelly Gewecke recognized city leaders and members of the Phelps County Development Corporation (PCDC) on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Holdrege is one of 41 communities in the statewide program sponsored by Nebraska Diplomats and administered by DED. Nebraska leaders established the EDCC program in 2005 to recognize communities ready to attract new industry and expand existing businesses. The City of Holdreage first achieved EDCC status in 2006 and received recertification for the program in 2009, 2014, and 2019.
Eligible communities must develop clearly defined programs that engage business leaders to support an environment of economic growth. This includes documenting available sites and buildings, implementing a strategic plan, and developing online marketing efforts. PCDC was recently recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its online presence in Holdage and Phelps Counties. The organization won the “Outstanding General Purpose Website Award” in the Community with a Population of Less than 25,000 People category.
PCDC recently announced the potential development of a $5.5 billion sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in rural Phelps County. DG Fuels, a US-based SAF company, selected the county for its first facility in the Midwest, expected to produce by 2030. The plant is expected to produce 193 million gallons of SAF annually at full capacity.
In 2023, DED announced a $600,000 grant from the state's Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF) for the Holdrege and Bertrand projects. Investments from the City of Holdreage and PCDC are also supporting the construction of a 33-unit housing project planned for the Northern Meadows area.
“We are grateful for the continued opportunity to work with the State of Nebraska as local and regional partners continue to commit time and resources to developing Phelps County's growing housing stock,” said PCDC Executive Director Ron Tillery. ” “The Rural Workforce Housing Fund helped provide Northern Meadows with critical infrastructure such as lighting and water, expediting the construction process for the project.”
Tillery and his team are also prioritizing efforts to improve existing infrastructure. Over the past five years, PCDC has funded nearly 50 building facade projects downtown and generated more than $3.5 million in private investment through the organization's GO! dream program.
Recent efforts to strengthen the region's workforce include the successful migration of 295 new residents to Phelps County, resulting in more than $19 million in real estate sales. Ta. The organization awarded 109 “in-demand employment scholarships” to help local business owners fill vacancies. PCDC has invested more than $300,000 in the employment scholarship program, which grew out of relationships built with local employers through Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) visits. DED works with local leaders to implement BRE programs in communities across the state and plays a critical role in the EDCC certification process.
“PCDC is grateful for the partnership we have built with DED, which adds value to everything we do in Phelps County,” Tillery said. “Re-certification gives each partner confidence in the other's abilities, while also testing their ability to respond quickly, accurately and completely to real-world situations.”
For more information about the Economic Development Certified Community Program, contact Ashley Rice-Gerlach at 308-655-0919 or ashley.gerlach@nebraska.gov or https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/edcc Please visit /.
