Economic strides lay groundwork for future

Patricia Rengifo

 

Economic development efforts in Otoe County have made strides in the last year, despite setbacks such as the closing of Arnie’s Bakery in November.

The staff of the River Country Economic Development Corporation has created the groundwork for attracting new businesses by completing three major studies. Officials are also optimistic that the passage of the Nebraska City LB840 plan bodes well for the future of the community.

“The Arnie’s Bakery closing was a definite setback for the area, but we’re continuing to market the factory to potential employers, and it appears the employees affected by the closing of Arnie’s Bakery have been absorbed into new employment positions within the area, ” said Pat Haverty, executive director of RCEDC.

One of the places of possible absorption is Pharma Chemie, located outside of Syracuse. Currently the total number of employees at the plant is 45 people, however this number is on the rise as the plant hires additional staff for the newly-opened 36,000-plus square-foot facility located adjacent to the existing building.

The nutritional supplement manufacturer, which specializes in making palatable supplements for animals, added several new customers in the past year and expanded its operations. The new building will provide additional warehouse space (see page B7 for a photo of the new construction).

The number of new employees that will be hired is unknown at this time.

Mark Pieloch, president of the company, explains during the hiring phase he does not have a pre-determined number of spots to fill.

“I never specifically say how many new positions I want to fill,” he said. “It just depends on the people.”

In the last year the plant has added new jobs and its payroll exceeds $ 2,000,000.

 

Economic development studies

Strides have been made by RCEDC in attracting new industry to the area through LB840 and the completion of several key studies of the Nebraska City area.

The studies examine downtown redevelopment, blight area designation and housing in Nebraska City.

The revitalization plan provides proposed improvements for the downtown business district and designation of a redevelopment area. The housing study provides an in-depth investigation of current and future housing needs.

“These are all quality of life and community issues that companies look at as they consider relocating or expanding in the community,” Haverty said. “There are a number of other factors: schools, medical care, parks, recreation, etc. These are also factors that are considered by companies; the studies allow us to attempt to improve those particular issues. “

One component of the housing study examined the local economy and employment trends.

The study shows that, since 1990, the labor force in Otoe County has grown by 26 percent and the number employees has grown 25 percent. On the flip side, the unemployment rate has increased from 2.6 in 1990 to 3.4 percent today, which is a decrease of 0.9 percent in the last 12 months.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Otoe County is still below the national unemployment average of 4.6 percent.

According to the study, “A low unemployment rate suggests a healthy local economy that will generate new employment, further increasing demand on the city’s housing supply. In order to support future economic growth, the housing supply must be expanded.”

 

LB840

The passage of LB840 is another economic booster to Nebraska City. Voters approved the plan, which calls for using new sales tax revenue specifically for economic development.

The LB840 funds will be used in the following areas: Downtown Redevelopment, Business Development, Industrial Recruitment and Retention and Tourism and Administration.

Pat Haverty explained, “LB840 is a specific Nebraska City tool that can be used for not only existing businesses to expand but to start new businesses in the community.”

He said in addition to helping with tourism and downtown development, LB840 will help the community’s industry.

“The Industry component will allow us to provide finance incentives which are unique to Nebraska City as we attempt to attract new employers,” he said.

This does not mean RCEDC is not working outside Nebraska City as well.

“We’re currently working on several projects in the Syracuse area,” he said. “ We’re working with Syracuse Area Economic Development on those projects.”

Haverty said RCEDC is also working on some land development in the western part of Otoe County in cooperation with Lincoln economic development groups.

“There have been strategic planning meetings with community leaders outside Nebraska City to receive their input on challenges they’re facing and their economic development needs,” he said.

Haverty said the construction of the OPPD power plant has been an economic boon for the community.

“Not only are (workers) staying at area motels but they are spending their money here in the community as well,” he said.

The Nebraska City sales and lodging taxes have boomed in the past year.

Nebraska City deposited $190,000 in sales tax in the month of April alone. The April deposit (for sales the month of February) beat the record, which was set in January for November sales.

Haverty says these numbers are sure to increase with the opening of Wal-Mart.

In the year to come, RCEDC will continue to work with potential employers and established businesses in an attempt to bring quality jobs to the area. Haverty said.

 

Maverick Media tunes up presses

dan Swanson

 

When GateHouse Media purchased Maverick Media in May, one of the first orders of business was upgrading the Syracuse facility with new press equipment aimed at improving the quality of print work.

A $350,000 investment in a Tensor four-high tower allows the company to print four broadsheet pages of process color on two simultaneous press runs and positions the company to contribute its expertise to publications and advertising inserts nationwide.

“It has allowed us to improve our overall print quality while increasing our productivity by 25 percent,” said Tim Larson, publisher of the Syracuse Journal-Democrat and Nebraska City News-Press.

“We have spent a tremendous amount of time tuning up our existing equipment but we knew coming in that would not be enough. The addition of the new Tensor units guarantees the production of consistently excellent print work here at Maverick Media.

“All of our customers, new and old alike, will receive the best quality and the best customer service we can deliver and always at a fair price for both of us,” Larson said.

Since it was founded in 1971, Maverick Media has kept pace with emerging printing technologies and expanded its facilities. The company moved to its current location, 123 W. 17th St., in 1978. The 10,000-square-foot building was expanded in 1998 to 15,000-square-feet to make room for additional press capacity.

The current web press line consists of two folders with two four-high towers and a combination of six Goss units. Two eight-hour shifts Monday through Friday on both folders cover the company's commercial customers and its own publications.

Maverick Media specializes in mail prep services with over 500,000 pieces prepped for postal delivery each week. An in-house postal station was added in 2002 to provide more immediate service to its customers who use the mail.

With its own in-house creative staff, Maverick Media can build and design professional publications ranging from a single page advertising insert to local and regional newspapers, magazines and shoppers, said Dick Little, head of production.

Maverick Media also added a five-pocket stitcher/trimmer in 2005 to provide bindery services for customers needing finished magazines.