New mayor pleased with outdoor tradition staying in Sidney

New mayor pleased with outdoor tradition staying in Sidney
(Photo Courtesy: Highby Outdoors)

SIDNEY – The great outdoors tradition remains engraved in Sidney, Nebraska.

Highby Outdoors announced the launch of their online retail store Monday. The website – HighbyOutdoors.com – features outdoor products and information for hunting, firearms, shooting, fishing, knives, tools, camping and optics.

Roger Gallaway, who was appointed as mayor in January, says the city council is excited for the new company to get started and equally excited they’ve chosen to be a part of Sidney

“We were trying to identify what we could to help them through any of our LB840 economic development means. Just try to provide that type of support and framework that would allow them to get off to a good start.”

Another outdoor gear venture, NexGen Outdoors, announced they will also be based in Sidney.

The southern Nebraska panhandle town took challenges head-on when a hedge fund, Elliott Management, revealed an 11.1 percent stake in outdoor retailer Cabela’s – based in the town of 6,620 people. They called for changes, including selling the business, in Oct. 2015.

Sidney Mayor, Roger Gallaway (Courtesy Photo)

Cabela’s moved from Chappell to Sidney in 1969 and employed more than 2,000 people at the time it was purchased by Bass Pro for $5 billion in 2015. Since then, many jobs or functions have shifted to Bass Pro’s headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.

The city council, along with the Cheyenne County Economic Development and Cheyenne County Chamber, continued to promote the city, attract new businesses and encourage people to make Sidney their home.

The opportunity for Highby Outdoors to grow is tremendous, according to Gallaway – who is also the Media Specialist at Sidney High School. He says Highby Outdoors employees are passionate about the outdoor recreation industry and are people who share a love for Sidney.

“It’s been really fun to watch. These are people that are passionate about what they do. For them to be adamant that this is something they want to carry-on, those type of traditions here in Sidney, has been fantastic.  We’re really looking forward to having them move forward in the community.”

Highby Outdoors President Matt Highby says future plans call for adding more merchandise categories, retail locations and catalog operations.

Follow Hunter on Twitter: @TheBurnRadio 

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