The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has recognized the City of West Point (pop. 3,473) for continued efforts to encourage local and regional growth. The City’s partnerships to foster business, housing and recreational opportunities solidified West Point’s recertification in Nebraska’s Economic Development Certified Community Program (EDCC). Christine Rasmussen, DED’s Northeast Housing Program Representative, honored local leaders during a special presentation to the West Point City Council on Wednesday, July 5th.
West Point is one of 40 Nebraska communities to earn EDCC status in the program, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Diplomats and administered by DED. State officials established the EDCC program in 2005 to recognize communities for preparedness to attract new industries and grow existing businesses. A qualifying city or village must identify well-defined programming, specific to the community’s local and regional economic needs, to create a welcoming environment for new development. This includes documenting available sites and buildings, establishing local financing and incentive programs, and implementing strategic planning for economic growth. West Point became Nebraska’s 39th EDCC community in 2017 and earned recertification in early 2023.
Over the past several years, the City has developed partnerships with community investors, the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) and DED to create regional housing opportunities. Funding from Nebraska’s Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act (LB840), which allows for a portion of local tax dollars to be utilized for economic development, has been integral in the construction of new housing. West Point’s voter-approved LB840 program contributed to the creation of a duplex project, which was completed in December of 2022. The community has also renovated a former nursing home to create 22 housing units known as the Prospect Ridge Apartments. DED and NIFA supported the project through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program Fund and with Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Local leaders cut ribbon on the new apartments in October 2022.
Community leaders continue to focus on recreational development opportunities to retain and attract families to Cuming County. Voters passed a half-cent sales tax for construction of a $7 million pool renovation project, which began last fall. The pool project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.
An all-inclusive playground at Neligh Park in West Point was made possible by Franciscan Healthcare Physical Therapy Department and by the support of local donors. Community leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the park’s grand opening in the fall of 2022.
West Point City Administrator Tom Goulette said the park has been a vital resource for local families. He said new recreational and housing projects will play important roles in youth retention and attraction efforts.
“As a partner to the State of Nebraska, the City of West Point is dedicated to promoting and attracting economic opportunities to thrive in the EDCC program,” Goulette said. “Our community also values its existing businesses, which makes recruiting talent to our workforce a top priority. By doing so, we will continue to help attract youth back to West Point to work and raise their families.”
In February of 2023, Cuming County Economic Development (CCED) opened an Innovation Station, located in a vacant former jewelry business. The Innovation Station includes a co-working/incubator space with five offices, four open workspaces and a conference room. It is open for residents who need a quiet place to work. Additionally, CCED has just finished working with community leaders in Bancroft, Beemer, Wisner and West Point on a regional entrepreneurial analysis.
“Creating new spaces to foster our entrepreneurs will provide new tools to help West Point thrive in Nebraska’s EDCC program, which promotes creativity in talent retention and attraction,” Goulette said. “As interest in entrepreneurship, business and housing projects continues to gain momentum, it’s important to provide new ways to encourage growth in our community.”
For additional information on the Economic Development Certified Community Program, contact Ashley Rice-Gerlach at 308-655-0919 or ashley.gerlach@nebraska.gov, or visit https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/edcc/.
