Holt County Economic Development Celebrates Successes

​After winter storm conditions forced a rescheduling, Holt County Economic Development was able to celebrate the past year’s successes and Class 11’s HomeTown Leadership Institute graduation on Friday, December 4th at the Atkinson Community Center.
 
Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley was the keynote speaker.
 
“Nebraska is doing very well in cattle and pork production, we’re second in ethanol production; third in corn production.  Nine million acres of irrigated farm ground – no other state in the nation can touch us in that category.  We’re blessed with the Ogallala Aquifer – a tremendous asset, right under our feet. We’re positioned for the future,” said Foley when talking about how to grow the state’s economy. 
 
University of Nebraska students Kate Likens and Brianna Meyer gave comments on their experiences this summer as they worked in Holt County through a grant funded by the Rural Futures Institute.  
 
“This internship helped me figure out that rural Nebraska is where my heart is at, and helped solidify where I want to be when I finish my education,” said Likens.
 
Quana Kelly was nominated by her class to give Class 11’s remarks on the HomeTown Leadership Institute.
 
“Everyone that knows me, knows that I’m proud to be a Holt County resident, but after participating in the HomeTown Leadership Institute program, I love it even more,” said Kelly.
 
She continued to say, “The one that thing that we all learned is that none of us can survive without each other. We really need to be cheerleaders for each other and cheering each other one. Every community in Holt County offers something unique and different and we need to celebrate that.”
 
Graduating in this year’s Institute program are Maxine Fonseca and Matt McGrew, Atkinson; Holly Cole, Page; Abby Barta, Stuart; Kathy Benson, Nikki Cook, Kris Harvey, Robert Jensen, Quana Kelly, Michelle Liewer, Stephanie Prouty, Mike Walker, Susie Walters, and Jon Wolf, all of O’Neill.
 
The HomeTown Leadership Institute is an eight month program where participants meet one full day a month to help educate participants on different areas in Holt County and further develop their personal leadership skills and talent.
 
The 2015 HCED Annual Report was also released. Holt County saw three business expansions, thirteen business start-ups, five business transfers, and 104 new families move into Holt County. The full report can be found on the HCED website at www.growholt.com, under News.