Ord revitalizes itself with a fresh workforce
by
Julie Tork
Story Created:
Jul 28, 2010 at 8:54 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 28, 2010 at 9:17 PM CST
Sticking out of the crowd. While many of Nebraska's rural areas lose young adults to big cities the town of Ord is making a comeback. A study in Valley County shows an increase in the population of 20 to 34 year olds countywide.
Megan Carghill grew up in Ord and, like many other young adults, left the rural area to go away to college.
But she decided it was back in her hometown she wanted to set up her hair salon and raise a family.
"I knew that I wanted to raise a family in a small town," said Carghill.
In the past two years more and more young people have settled down in Ord helping businesses like Megan's thrive.
"Business I have noticed in the past three years or four years it has picked up a lot of that is the younger people moving back," said Carghill.
Come mid–day downtown is hopping.
Caleb Pollard from the Chamber of Commerce said the town has poured $1.6 million of economic development tax funds to encourage business in the area.
"So we focused on building entrepreneurs and growing our existing opportunities and then really just kind of cascaded into investment across the board for the community as a whole," said Pollard.
As striking signs of growth, tax payers approved a $9.8 million school bond to remodel the local high school. A new fire hall is going in downtown. And a new hospital will be the hub for surrounding areas and attract young professionals to the area.
"We have made systematic investments within the community and the county on a whole that has increased total county and city valuations and has decreased taxes a lot of people have not seen tax decreased but we have seen tax decreases," Pollard said.
The total valuation for Ord has gone up nearly $30 million in the last 6 years.
Pollard said it is proof that economic development works especially when you do it right and invest internally. And for residents like Megan...
"It is all very exciting," said Carghill.
Exciting as Ord makes rural towns all the rage.
Pollard said the town also uses social media like Facebook, Twitter and blogs on Ord's web site to attract newcomers and keep the local community involved.
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