Chamber Director Updates City Council

The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce is aggressively seeking funding sources to continue downtown Sidney improvement projects.

That is according to a presentation Chamber President and CEO Hope Feeney gave to the Sidney City Council Tuesday.

Feeney said she is working on grant funding to support the Hickory Street Square project. The Chamber and the Library applied for a grant but did not qualify. She said she is applying for a reimbursement grant from Nebraska Game and Parks, a grant she describes as appropriate for the project. The Chamber is also looking into a WalMart Community Grant. Feeney said the WalMart grant is valued at about $5,000 and would be primarily for “finishing touches.”

The Hickory Square project involves converting 10th Street between Hickory and Illinois Streets to a permanent pedestrian venue including an amphitheater and possibly a water park.

Feeney also updated the council on membership with the Chamber. She said the Chamber is averaging five new members, more than in 2017.

“It seems like we have a lot of momentum,” she said.

Feeney also said she is meeting with area businesses and toured the Potter community, including meeting wth the Potter Community Improvement and the Potter Car Bowl committee. She is meeting with businesses in the Sidney community, hear business owners’ concerns and needs.

“I really want them to give me their ideas,” she said.

She said she will spend the next months exploring more grant funding. One of the concepts under consideration is a person within the Chamber who could assist businesses with promotions, including social media.

She also talked with the council about the “leakage report,” a report on how much business is done outside of the Sidney area by Sidney residents.

The council also approved an agreement with Exponential Engineering Company for electric system planning ad analysis. Mike Palmer of the city’s electric department recommended supporting a 10-year master plan. The agreement would include Exponential Engineering representatives reviewing the City’s power system.

“They’re hoping to have this (list of jobs) wrapped up in a few months,” Palmer said.