Kearney, NE - 2003 Community Profile

Partnerships are the key factor in maintaining a strong economy. The Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce sees its mission as working with other entities to position the Kearney area for the future. Chamber members have worked with local, state and federal government officials to develop such entities as Buffalo County Community Health Partners, The Development Council, Kearney Industrial Park, Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance, Kearney Area Community Foundation, Kearney Visitors Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic, Wellness Works, Gateway Farm Expo and Leadership Kearney.

Services provided by the Chamber include referrals, publicity and exposure, as well as professional development and business services. You know that the right business tools can make the difference between profit and loss. One vital tool is membership in the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce. Membership provides immediate return on your investment with networking and marketing opportunities, small business and professional support, information, and governmental representation.

The Kearney area economy has developed with an enviable balance to include manufacturing, medical services, agriculture, regional retail and wholesale, tourism, and higher education. Building on the spirit of the people who have contributed to its history, Kearney is a community in harmony with growth and change; yet Kearney remains a livable example of “Main Street” America, where people find affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, a bustling economy, and recreational and cultural attractions that enhance the quality of life. But what really makes Kearney unique is the way people work together to make things happen and to see opportunities that often go overlooked.

Kearney has a population of more than 28,000 and provides the amenities of urban life while remaining rooted in strong agricultural traditions. The city is home to a university, major hospital, regional shopping and services, numerous corporate headquarters, and other major employers. Businesses may choose from a number of excellent commercial, industrial and office sites, with assistance available from The Development Council and the Chamber of Commerce.

The majority of residents work in the trade, retail, wholesale and services areas, but several thousand are employed in manufacturing and construction. Major employers include Baldwin Filters, Eaton Corporation, Coleman Powermate, Morris Press, Marshall Engines, West Company and Chief Industries Inc. Companies continually praise the efforts of the local workforce.

Manufacturing employment in Nebraska has grown at a significantly faster pace than in the U.S. as a whole, as well as in the neighboring states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming as a group.

The Development Council of Buffalo County, a regionally focused organization, conducts a variety of activities to encourage and support continued economic development in central Nebraska. Formed in 1986 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation, the council has a full-time professional staff to carry out its mission.

Forward-thinking and focused on economic diversity, the council has fostered partnerships that promote communications and information technology, transportation initiatives, housing development, infrastructure development, and innovative business retention and recruitment strategies. The council also manages a local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income loan portfolio, designed to assist qualifying projects.

The Development Council works closely with other organizations such as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the City of Kearney, the County of Buffalo, the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska Public Power District and others to ease the transition of new or relocating businesses.

Approximately 2,000 acres of land near Kearney are zoned for manufacturing or industrial uses. About 350 acres are controlled by the Kearney Airport Authority and may be available for appropriate industrial use.

Today, in the information age, the community is a center for communications infrastructure and features digital switching, fiber optics, SONET ring, DSL, wireless and complete business network telecommunications services. Modern pioneers continue to blaze technology trails through partnerships like the Community Networking Institute, the Technology Learning Center and numerous initiatives to promote info-tech literacy.

You will also find the benefits of the information age in Kearney by checking the Chamber’s website at www.kearneycoc.org.