Nebraska Department of Economic Development Staff Visits
Fillmore County was host to visitors from the Nebraska
Department of Economic Development (NEDED) staff on September 1st.
Patt Lentfer, FCDC Executive Director, Jodi Kleinschmidt, FCDC Public Relations
Co. and Gene Fischer, Fairmont Village Board Chairman welcomed the guests near
Fairmont.
The visit included NEDED’s newly appointed Director,
Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, who was chosen by Governor Pete Ricketts after a
national search that began in December. Hicks-Sorensen previously held a
position as a Wisconsin business recruiter. Lynn Kohout and Deb Eggleston,
NEDED Field Representatives, accompanied the NEDED Director.
The visit included a tour with facts about CPI-Lansing,
The Andersons, and Flint Hills Resources and a short drive through of their
facilities. Gene Fischer shared information how Fairmont used TIF (Tax
Increment Financing) to help those companies locate near Fairmont which created
70 new jobs. The group stopped and toured Metal Tech Partners before meeting at
the Heartland Bank conference room where Jason Rippe, plant manager, told the
story of Bioiberica Nebraska and Bio-Tee USA. The afternoon concluded with Kyle
Svec, Geneva City Administrator, giving an overview of Geneva and FCDC Board
members meeting the NEDED Director and asking her questions.
Picture: L-R Patt Lentfer, FCDC Executive Director,
Jason Rippe, Bioiberica Plant Manager, Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, NEDED Director