Iowan tabbed for Sidney's economic development post

The City of Sidney has filled its economic development director position with a person with more than 20 years of experience. Tina Hochwender will take over the position effective June 15.

Hochwender brings experience in economic, community and business development in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri. Most recently, she has spent the past 15 years with the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa , as its community development project coordinator.

Hochwender takes over for Megan McGown, who is relocating with her family to Brady, Neb.

“Tina brings the type of experience we were looking for in working with business and housing developments and a diversified portfolio of community development talents,” said Sidney City Manager Gary Person. “Those additional talents include being a Certified Community Development Block Grant Administrator as well as having certifications previously in the ‘HOME’ program and Housing Development Finance through the National Development Council.”

Hochwender received her degree from Iowa State University in Community and Regional Planning. Prior to her work in Council Bluffs, she worked as a property manager in Omaha, a development assistant in South Dakota and as a city planner in O’Fallon, Mo. She has also worked with site development and marketing for Wal-Mart, Menards and Michaels.

In 2015, she was recognized as the “Alumni of the Year” for the Leadership Council Bluffs Association and was recognized in 2009 by the local newspaper as one of the “20 Most Influential Citizens Under 40” in Council Bluff.

“We are in the midst of millions of dollars of new projects in Sidney and the Cheyenne County area and we feel confident Tina can hit the ground floor running with her diversified experiences,” Person said.

Hochwender said she has family in the Sidney area and is familiar with Western Nebraska.

“For the last two years, I would visit family to decide if that’s where I wanted to be, so this really was the perfect opportunity,” Hochwender said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better position.”

She said she is looking forward to the new experiences and challenges that the new position will bring and hopes to help Sidney continue to grow.

“I am very excited to get to work with Mr. Person and the rest of the Sidney team. There is a great deal of development activity taking place in Sidney, and I am eager to put my knowledge and skills toward the continued successful growth in Sidney and Cheyenne County,” Hochwender said.“ Mrs. McGown is leaving some big shoes to fill and I look forward to working with her through the transition.”