2021 Annual report 1 page_Layout 1

Hadar Osmond Pierce Plainview 2021 Annual Report FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 PIERCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIERCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Tel: 402-992-2535 111 W. Court Street Email: [email protected] Website: www.pcedne.com Pierce, NE 68767

2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pierce OUR MISSION Josh Sirek, President Chad Anderson, Secretary To sustain and grow the Shannon Stuchlik county’s economic and out- standing quality of life, by pro- Hadar viding leadership and resource Robert Wehrer, Vice President for business creation, expan- sion, retention, new business Osmond recruitment and community de- Jim Schmit velopment. Kelly Hodson Plainview Jeremy Tarr Municipal Partners City of Pierce City of Plainview Village of Hadar Village of Osmond Business Partnerships University of Nebraska – Lincoln Rural Prosperity USDA Rural Business Development Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District (NENEDD) Nebraska Department of Economic Development Five Rule Planning Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA)

3 PIERCE COUNTY: BY THE NUMBERS MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME $56,620 2018 VALUE ± $3,576 2.17% 1 YEAR GROWTH ± 9.32% Households in Pierce County, NE have a median annual income of $56,620, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $55,417 in 2017, which represents a 2.17% annual growth. The following chart shows how the median household income in Pierce County, compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies. Data from the Census Bureau ACS 5-year Estimate.

4 PIERCE COUNTY: BY THE NUMBERS Population Labor Force 2010: 7266 3,787 2020: 7775 (+.07%) 4,125 High School Diploma Associates or Bachelor’s Degrees 95% 23% Median Age 41.5 COUNTY 2020 NET 2019 NET PERCENT 2020 2019 OR CITY TAXABLE TAXABLE CHANGE SALES SALES SALES SALES TAX TAX 5.5% 5.5% PIERCE CO. $3,274.199 $3,693,518 11.4 $180,081.23 $203,143.74 PIERCE $1,159,975 $1,202,332 3.5 $63,798.72 $66,128.34 PLAINVIEW $581,538 $584,555 0.5 $31,984.67 $32,150.60

5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Fiscal year 2020-2021 was a year of great change for Pierce County Economic Development. Our organization was founded in 2012 and operated as an independent development corporation. In 2020, the board moved to dissolve the corporation and partnered with Pierce County Nebraska. PCED is now a full-time county office with office space in the Pierce County Courthouse. PCED also created a 501c3 non- profit, PCED, Inc. Our non- profit status provides new opportunities to our member communities and organizations. This year brought several economic challenges due to Covid-19, but Pierce County emerged as a leader and example to other counties and communities due to the successful businesses that thrive in our communities and our great leadership. Pierce County continues to shine in the Nebraska Thriving Index. Pierce County and the North 81 region, ranked 1st in Quality of Life, 1st in Growth, 2nd in Social Capital, 2nd in Education and Skill, 2nd in Demographic Growth and Renewal. The county welcomed 26 new business owners in 2020/2021. Twenty are new businesses, and six were existing businesses that transitioned to new owners. Together, they created 95 jobs and re- tained 14, for a total of 109 jobs. Of the jobs created or retained 52 are full-time jobs and 57 are part- time job. Several new businesses and expansions are currently planned for FY 2022-2023. Numerous articles have been written about the success of the people and businesses in Pierce County. Our Economic Development Department has been featured in publications across the State, had the honor of being a featured session during the 2021 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference and panelist for the 2021 Nebraska State Chamber Economic Development summit. We were recognized by NACDEP, the National Association of Community Development Extension Profes- sionals, with the 2021 award for National Excellence in Community Development. PCED also won the NACDEP 2021 Regional Excellence in Community Development award for work completed in Plainview, NE utilizing ECAP, an Entrepreneurial Communities Activation Process. People are noticing that we have something special to offer in Northeast Nebraska. We are cap- italizing on that by utilizing local programs like LB840 to leverage grants and economic development opportunities. We have an internal lending capacity of $605,000 for new businesses and business ex- pansion through revolving loan funds, and have been awarded $1,779,705 in grants this fiscal year, for economic development projects. With the opportunity for growth in our sights, in 2022-2023 we are focusing on some of the issues that hold us back; housing and early childhood education. Each community is taking steps to correct this. By continuing to work closely and share our resources with county and city leaders, community boards, employers, and key stakeholders, we will be successful. Susan Norris, Executive Director

6 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2020-2021 Grants Awarded: $500,000 Nebraska Housing Trust Fund- Pierce, NE $452,000 Nebraska Housing Trust Fund – Plainview, NE $435,000 CDBG Downtown Revitalization Grant- Plainview, NE $215,000 USDA Rural Innovation Placemaking Challenge $62,000 Nebraska Crime Commission E-Citation Grant $50,000 Nebraska Community Foundation, Rebuild the Heartland $30,220 Assistance for Firefighters Grant Pierce Fire Department $25,000 Digitally Connected Communities $6000 University of Nebraska Rural Prosperity Grant $2,995 Public School Grants $1,500 Civic Engagement in a digital age- University of Nebraska Omaha Total of Grants Awarded in FY 2020/2021: $1,779,715 2020-2021 City of Plainview Loans and Grants Awarded from revolving funds for start-up, development, and expansion: $1,000 Dance Bright Signage Grant $1,000 Plainview Community Housing Signage Grant $1,000 Priority Family Medicine Signage Grant $1,000 Melissa Smith State Farm $46,500 Plainview 24/7 Fitness Business Transition $62,235 Mary’s Restaurant building acquisition $52,500 Pure Revival Salon & Spa, start up $25,000 Plainview Family Pharmacy (transition) $9,200 Farm Wives Market, start up Return on Investment FY 2020-2021: $803,000

7 LOCAL MATCH DOLLARS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS $100,000 PCED match to Nebraska Housing Trust Fund Grant $50,000 Rebuild the Heartland Housing Grant $35,000 City of Plainview LB840 match for Nebraska Housing Trust Fund $10,000 City of Plainview match for Downtown Revitalization Planning Grant from LB840 Ec Dev fund $16,125 Pierce County match for USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Grant $16,125 Madison County match for USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Grant Return on Investment: $3,777,000 2020-2021 Pierce County Economic Development Donors $25,000 Pierce County, Nebraska $7,000 Midwest Bank $7,000 Security Bank $7,000 Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust $500 Madison County Bank $5,301 City of Pierce $3,600 City of Plainview $2,580 Village of Osmond $536 Village of Hadar

8 2020-2021 - Business OSMOND PIERCE 3rd Street Bar & Grill Rivet Roasters Zen Massage Therapy Mint Julep Boutique Un-Tangled Hair Salon HADAR Gett Nailed Nail Salon Annette Alt State Farm MJ Paintless Dent Repair Next Level Auto Detailing PLAINVIEW Christian Home Health Annette Alt State Farm Dance Bright HWY 20 Hair Studio Tranquil Spaces Counseling Hayly’s Happy Hearts Daycare Pure Revival Salon & Spa Kyle Petersen Law Office Melissa Smith State Farm Farm Wives Market

9 has been booming! BUSINESS TRANSITIONS Plainview 24/7Fitness Mary’s Restaurant, Plainview Evergreen Village, Plainview PIerce Auto Repair Pierce Lockers BUSINESS EXPANSIONS Priority Family Medicine, Plainview Subway, Plainview Curtiss Law Office, Plainview Expressions Floral & Gifts, Pierce J.E. Meuret Grain, Pierce J’s Place, Pierce

10 PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES Pierce County Economic Development is active in community placemaking and development and regularly creates and funds programs that provide lasting value to our communities. FY 2020-2021 PCED Funded Programs & Activities: TOTAL VALUE OF PCED PROJECTS: $78,425.00 $28,000 UNL Rural Futures Intern Program, PCED (summer 2020 and 2021) $8,000 New PCED website $5,000 Development of the Pierce County Leadership Program $5000 Summer Community Events (Osmond Pool Celebration, Plainview Sidewalk Chalk contest, Pierce Scavenger Hunt, Movies in the park). $5,000 UNL Extension Intern Program, UNL $5,000 PCED Youth Entrepreneurship program $3,500 Pierce Entrepreneurial Community Activation Process (ECAP) $3,500 Osmond Entrepreneurial Community Activation Process (ECAP) $2,925 Best of Northeast Nebraska Backroad Tour $2,500 Shop Where I live e- commerce market place website for Pierce County Businesses $2,000 Hadar Entrepreneurial Community Activation Process (ECAP) $1,000 Development of County wide promotional videos and community videos $1,000 Development of Business Spotlight and community story telling videos $1,000 Development of Pierce County Tourism activities $1,000 Development of PCED social media marketing program $1,000 Development of Willow Creek Pierce County Passport Program $1,000 Willow Creek Economic Development Impact Project $1,000 Gallup BP 10 Builder Assessment and Training- Pierce Advancement Committee $1,000 Rural is Cool Podcasts featuring Pierce County business owners

11 Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Placemaking Projects *Digitally Connected Communities, Increasing civic engagement in a digital age, $25,000 *Shop Where I Live e-commerce market place website for Pierce County businesses,$3,500 *Rural Innovation Placemaking Challenge- Providing updated comprehensive plans, strategic plans and the ECAP process to nine rural communities in Pierce County and Madison County, $215,000 *Downtown Revitalization Planning Process, Osmond, $50,000 *Osmond ECAP Priorities, $3,500 *Hadar ECAP Priorities, $3,500 *Downtown Revitalization Planning Process, Plainview, $50,000 *Downtown Revitalization Construction Activities, Plainview, $522,000 *Four townhome housing unit, Plainview, $1,500,000 *Six townhome housing unit, Pierce, $1,500,000 *Community Building, Plainview, $11,000,000 *Development of Pierce Advancement Committee projects (fresh food market, LB840, Splash Pad/park improvements, early child hood education), $250,000 *Development of Plainview Brunswick Community Fund, $30,000 *Housing and planning- Hadar, NE, $50,000 Estimated Value of PCED Placemaking Projects: $15,202,500

12 RURAL FUTURES INSTITUTE INTERNS, 2020 PCED Rural Futures Interns Marie and Judith had a big impact on the County in a short period of time. They met all of our community leaders and major stake- holders, immersed themselves in our projects, and had a good understanding of how their projects would affect each community. They wrote bi-monthly columns for all area news- papers which brought awareness to county residents about Pierce County Economic Development and what we do. Marie and Judith also created a new Instagram page for the PCED, we are now seeing engagement from younger adults, ages 18-30. The PCED Facebook page also saw a significant increase in social engage- ment. Our student fellows worked on marketing and story- telling by developing community and county wide pro- Judith Grey and Marie Meis, PCED Rural Futures Student Fellows 2020 motion videos. The county videos promoted statistics and data about the county, for example, being 1st in four quality of life categories on the Nebraska thrive index, as well as in the top 10% for youth economic mobility. Not only are area residents learning about how highly ranked their communities are, outsiders are seeing it too. It has been a huge marketing tool for us. The true impact will be seen over the course of time, but the response so far has been beyond our expectations. Another big impact project for Marie and Judith was claiming the majority of county businesses on Google. Many of our business owners do not have websites and primarily use Facebook to communicate with their customers, which means they don't show up on google searches. The majority of business owners now have updated address and contact information along with hours and links to websites and social media. Our county businesses are now more accessible online. Our interns also created a new logo for Pierce County Economic Development. We wanted a logo that would unite all four communities in the county and spark conversation and interest with those who saw it. Judith and Marie accomplished that and displayed the new logo at community events to bring awareness. Judith and Marie developed three community activ- ities as part of their volunteer service. These activities replaced festivals that had been canceled due to Covid- 19. Helping area residents celebrate why they love where they live and incorporating main street and major community amenities was very important. One of their projects that will have a long-lasting eco- nomic effect on the community is the promotion of a mar- ketplace website for Pierce County that allows business owners to sell online, locally. Marie and Judith were incredible assets to the PCED office and the county at large. We will benefit from their hard work this summer for years to come. PCED Rural Future’s Interns Judith Grey & Marie Meis, pictured with PCED University of Nebraska Extension Intern, Alex Alderson

13 RURAL PROSPERITY INTERNS, 2021 Benjamin, Lillian, and Brianna spent ten weeks in Pierce County this summer. In that time, they collaborated with our local communities, business leaders, city leaders, and local residents on ways to improve economic development, civic engagement, tourism, entrepreneur- ship, leadership, and communication in the county. Benjamin focused on PCED’s digitally connected communities project to increase engagement on PCED websites and social media platforms by updating and ex- panding the content with current information. Benjamin also concentrated on creating business spotlight videos to boost social media engagement and traffic for local business owners. These videos can be found on the PCED You Tube channel. Brianna worked on our Willow Creek SRA project. She visited lake-goers and developed programs to bring lake visitors and Pierce County businesses and attrac- tions together. Brianna also created a photo library of Pierce County communities, businesses and attractions for use on our social media platforms and newspaper ar- ticles. In addition, Brianna took control of our Facebook Lillian Uwanjye, Brianna Gable, Benjamin Niyodusenga, and Instagram platforms to create new content and mon- PCED Rural Prosperity Interns 2021 itored those analytics to determine what information and content increased engagement. Lillian focused on the county’s youth and tourism. In 2020, PCED surveyed area high school students to capture their input and desires for the county’s future growth. We discovered more than 70% were interested in taking entrepreneurship and leadership courses. Working with the University of Nebraska Engler Entrepre- neurship Center, Lillian created a summer entrepreneurship and leadership workshop we plan to roll out in 2022. Lillian also increased tourism in the county by creating a countywide Geocache with over 40 hidden treas- ures. Cache’s can be found in each community and in our area parks and attractions by utilizing the Geocache app. This free app can be downloaded to your smart phone from Google Play or the Apple Store. Our interns also hosted a sidewalk chalk contest and a series of movie events throughout the summer that included a family movie night, couples date night, and teen movie night. The work completed by our 2021 interns has already produced measurable outcomes regarding the effec- tiveness our website, social media platforms. We have also realized economic gains in increased traffic to our e-commerce marketplace website, tourism activities, and talent development.

14 PIERCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: IN THE NEWS The University of Nebraska Plainview Thrives under entrepreneur program: https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/not-clowning-around-plainview-thrives-under-entrepreneur-pro- gram Rural Prosperity 2020 Thriving Index Pierce County (North 81 Region) 1st in Growth, 1st in Quality of Life, 2nd in Social Capital, 2nd in Education & Skill, 2nd in Demographic Growth & Renewal https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/thriving-index-pdfs/ThrivingIndex_2020.pdf Norfolk Daily News Plainview & Pierce lead the way for regrowth: https://norfolkdailynews.com/commentary/plainview-pierce-could-lead-the-way-for-regrowth-am- bitions/article_e2e98c0a-4786-11eb-87bf-2bf985ae35e6.html News Channel Nebraska Pierce receives $500,000 grant for Housing project: https://northeast.newschannelnebraska.com/story/44906586/pierce-to-spend-dollar500k-address- ing-housing-shortage?fbclid=IwAR2ikyTw3bibGO9_B2zbT5oNQTCKJnKt-djB-j4tJhxBayrxQLEFS- gofhTE Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Pierce County Economic Development featured guest panelist: https://web.nechamber.com/events/EconomicDevelopment%20Summit-140/details

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16 Stronger. Together.