Grow Your Business.....Grow Your Family in McCook

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and office staff are pleased to announce that the website developed to market McCook to entice businesses and individuals to relocate here went on line recently. You can access the site at www.McCookOpportunities.com or from the Chamber home page at www.aboutmccook.com. The website, made possible by funds allocated from the city budget, is a one-stop shop for valuable information in addition to links to other sites that will help relocating or start-up businesses. The easy-to-maneuver site features interesting success stories, a large photo gallery and valuable links to resource information. As a work in progress, even more information, photos and stories will be added to the site in coming months.

Chamber Executive Director, Pam Harsh stated, “The Chamber recognizes the need to fill empty retail locations and other buildings in McCook. It is our belief that our marketing plan will provide the results we are looking for. However, at the same time, we are well aware that this is a long-term project and not a magical overnight cure to the challenges we face. We are also utilizing the website to promote McCook as a wonderful location to grow a family.” As a first step, the Chamber’s Market McCook Promotion Committee (MMPC) developed a flyer directing readers to the website which was inserted in the spring edition of the Bison Alumni Newsletter. The newsletter is distributed to 7,300 alumni. Harsh continued, “People who were from here are looking for opportunities to return home. We wanted to send them a personal invitation!” The attractive and colorful flyer invites readers to grow their business in a community where there are endless possibilities for success. “McCook – The Right Move” touts a community with small-town charm and a focus on family.

Members of the MMPC are currently outlining “next steps” as they develop marketing campaigns to continue the recruitment effort. Committee members invite you to visit the site and to share it with others. Questions or comments can be directed to any Chamber Board member, MMPC Committee member or the Chamber office.

“Did We Do That?”

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Heritage Days Committee is now meeting on a regular basis to make plans for the 37th Annual Celebration on September 27-28. At a recent meeting the theme, “Did We Do That?” was selected for the 2008 event. The theme idea was submitted by Maggie Repass, New York Life Insurance, a new member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Days Committee. The Committee is excited about the possibilities that the theme presents for those who wish to enter the parade. Ideas may range from the funny, the embarrassing, or the unbelievable to the celebration of 50 years in business, graduation memories, or other accomplishments. We encourage members of the community and surrounding area to enjoy the theme and to create a parade entry. Trophies are awarded in ten categories as follows: Small Business, Large Business, Youth Division - Small Group (10 or less), Youth Division - Large Group (11 or more), Community Organization/Church/Civic, Antique Car, Classic Car, Antique Farm Machinery, Class Reunion, and Equestrian. Parade entry forms are available at the Chamber office and must be received by the Chamber no later than September 19, 2008 to be eligible for judging consideration or to be included in the announcer’s narration.

100th Legislature Adjourns

The 100th Legislature drew to a close April 17 following 60 legislative days during which lawmakers addressed a number of issues and witnessed the departure of Nebraska’s longest serving senator, Ernie Chambers of Omaha. Fifteen senators are term-limited with their service ending in January 2009. One of the most prominent of the 150 bills enacted during the session is moving the Nebraska State Fair from Lincoln to Grand Island. Others include enhancing the state’s primary business tax incentive program, requiring statewide student assessment, implementing a compromise on stem cell research, enacting a statewide smoking ban in many public buildings and providing additional funding for roads. Legislators considered 471 new bills.

Chamber members attended the weekly, 8:00 a.m., telephone conference calls with Senator Mark Christensen at the Chamber office throughout the legislative session. Attendance for the conference calls varied from eight to fourteen Chamber members on any given Thursday. We appreciate these members for their interest in monitoring legislative activity and sometimes asking the ‘hard’ questions of our State Senator. We also appreciate Senator Christensen’s commitment to the people he represents and his willingness to research answers. The conference call provides an opportunity to gauge the ‘pulse’ of those he serves. A wrap-up breakfast has been scheduled for Thursday, May 8, when the Senator and the members of the committee will review both the challenges and the accomplishments of the session.

Leadership Institute Assists Citywide Clean-up

Members of the Leadership Institute Class of 2007-08 pitched in a couple of hours to pick trash up in Kelly Park on Saturday, April 12. Organized by McCook resident, Peg Andrews, the community wide effort was a huge success with several organizations and youth groups contributing time. Everyone doing a little means a lot. The Leadership group tackled the entire Kelly Park area as well as Bolles Canyon. Those participating were: Brenda Gillen and children, Leigh Ann Miller, Lisa Felker, Sue Hageman, and Pam Harsh (not shown).