Our View:

On Feb. 16, business owners and managers, City officials and the curious met at the Elks Lodge to discuss the possibility of a Downtown Business Association.

The concept as presented is to promote growth and work together as a business community, supporting each other, sharing resources and experiences. Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard stressed the Downtown Business Association (DBA) is not to compete with or replace the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce. It is to further stimulate the downtown business community. It also needs to be asked if what is sought can be done within existing agencies. Why re-invent the wheel if it just needs trued?

Our thoughts: a DBA concept has merit, as does a strong chamber of commerce. The Sidney business community has people who have had a storefront for a couple of generations, and those who staked their retirement on a dream. Offering suggestions to one retailer does not mean hurting your business. The method of success for one company does not mean success for its neighbor. However, the insight offered to one might keep the lights on in the other.

One comment made at the meeting is we need to consider all of the businesses in Sidney, not just downtown. We couldn’t agree more. If we are all in this together, as we must, then we need to consider the corporate locations by the interstate as well as the historic storefronts downtown, and everything in between.

Discussions such as the DBA proposal needs everyone to set aside their differences, their generational memory, and focus on moving Sidney ahead as a collective. We’re not going to agree on every decision. Candidly, some of the process might be painful. However, nothing stays the same; a community either moves forward, or it falls behind. The real question, and the one that will take more meetings and commitment to answer, is what will “future Sidney” look like, and what do we have to do to get there. In a sense, it is a moving target because a population is ever-changing. Sidney needs to aim for the stars knowing wherever we land below that will be worth the effort.

Plan to attend the meetings. Stay aware of surveys and research done regarding economic development and the Sidney business community. Be willing to share your opinion, and to hear other viewpoints. Be willing to plan just past what you can see.