From the Director:

  

     During the first week of June, I attended a conference in Kansas City on growing local businesses and the support system that helps nurture companies. This conference supported by the Kaufman and Edward Lowe Foundations, spotlighted an economic system that is currently and successfully operating in states across the United States and countries around the world.

   This economic development model called "Economic Gardening", embraces the fundamental idea that entrepreneurs drive our economies.  The program works to create jobs by supporting existing companies in a community.  Chris Gibbons pioneered the concept in 1987 in Littleton, Colorado.  This was a time when the state of Colorado was in a recession and Chris chose to look at alternatives to the traditional economic development practices.  Through his leadership, this business model of providing critical information to businesses has become a recognized and acclaimed program. 

    The idea behind this model is growing local jobs from local businesses.  "Economic Gardening" connects entrepreneurs to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure and providing entrepreneurs with needed information.

    Several states around Nebraska have developed strong "Economic Gardening" programs.  Kansas has defined criteria for accepting a business into the "Economic Gardening" program.

     The business must:

• Be a for-profit, privately-held company
• Have been headquartered in the state for at least the past two years.
• Generate annual revenue or working capital of between $600,000 and $50 million.
• Employ between 5 and 100 full-time employees.   

     The information provided to the companies is comparable to the resources customarily available only to large firms. After the one-on-one counseling, the "Economic Gardening" team develops an action plan for the business owner to implement. It is this comprehensive review and action plan developed by these specialists that makes the difference for these businesses.

     This conference was a great opportunity to learn from other states and communities.  Because the primary goal of "Economic Gardening" is to grow your own businesses, the professionals were more than willing to share tips and successes of their "Economic Gardening" programs.  

     If you have a business or know someone who might be interested in this great opportunity, please give me a call at 402-873-4293.