Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Pictured from left: council member Kelly Utley, Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard, council member Roger Gallaway, council member Wendall Gaston, Mayor Joe Arteburn, Brittany Hardin (State Department of Economic Development), council member Bob Olsen and City Manager Ed Sadler.
The Sidney City Council Tuesday approved an agreement supporting Agri-Plastics through LB840.
LB840, also known as the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, authorizes incorporated cities and villages to appropriate and spend local sales and property tax revenues for certain economic development purposes. These expenditures must come under compliance of the procedure as defined in LB840. LB840 was approved by Cheyenne County voters from 2007-2017, according to the presentation by Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard, and renewed for another an additional 10 years (2017-2027).
Norgard said Agri-Plastics are expecting to have 22 people hired by the end of March. The agreement with the City is to hire at least 12 new people per calendar year. Norgard said the agreement is for a $400,000 forgivable loan, disbursed at $80,000 per calendar year the company increases staff over five years. The final number of new employees is expected to be 60. The application says the loan is based on 20 percent of the payroll.
The program was started in 1990 when the Nebraska Legislature adopted Legislative Resolution 11 CA which placed an amendment to the Constitution on the state ballot. The amendment would allow the Legislature to authorize any incorpored city or village to appropriate funds from local option sales and/or property taxes levied by the municipality for economic or industrial development programs.
Norgard also announced the City was recertified in the Nebraska Economic Development Certified Community (EDCC) program.
The program identifies communities who are actively promoting their areas. The Economic Development Certified Community (EDCC) program showcases the communities in nebraska that have positioned themselves for economic development opportunities. There are currently 39 communities with the designation. These communities have demonstrated preparedness for business growth and are ready to meet the needs of companies seeking new business and industrial locations.
Btittany Hardin of the Governor's Field Staff was at Tuesday's city council meeting to present the council an award recognizing the City's recertification.
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