Economic Leaders Converge in Columbus

COLUMBUS - Economic development leaders from the greater 88 counties outside of Nebraska's two biggest cities, converged in Columbus on Thursday. The Greater Nebraska Workforce Innovation Act Board and Chief Elected Officials Board (CEOB) held one of their quarterly meetings at the Ramada, after touring Columbus and getting an inside look at Cargill. Greater Nebraska Workforce Board Chair Lisa Wilson says the group makes sure the funding and policies are up to date around the state, as well as see where other communities are having success. "It's very important so that we keep in touch with what's happening throughout our state, and also making sure that business needs are being met, from a training perspective. We're hitting the right target groups to keep them employed, and to keep them in the state," says Wilson. Hall County Supervisor and CEOB Chair Pamela Lancaster said the tour was a very impressive show of what Columbus has to offer. Lancaster says Cargill's efforts to further educate employees while the plant was going through their recent conversion, is an amazing story. "It's a model that should be shared throughout the country. I don't think anything I'm aware of has ever taken place like this. Now you [Columbus] have numerous fine, fine manufacturing companies here. This is a community to be envied," said Lancaster. The attendees also heard from Loup Public Power CEO Neal Suess and Columbus Area Chamber President K.C. Belitz, who touched on the different efforts the city has made to develop over the past decade..