What Has Been Accomplished in the Last 5 Years?

In 2006, the sales tax was passed to allow for the creation of an LB840 Fund.  With this money the Valentine Cherry County Economic Development Board was created, a part-time director and an assistant were hired.  There has been many projects that have been completed.  So what are those projects you ask.  Read on for more information.

1. BECA grant that allowed for the update of the Heartcity.com website.  This site was first created by GD Media group.  It has now been taken over by the ED group and is maintained on a regular basis.  This website has updates that show job opportunities, tourism information, directory listing of all the businesses in Valentine and Cherry County, along with information on the ED program.  This grant also allowed for Business information to be purchased and available to be checked out from the Public Library.

2. VAAG (Value Added Ag Grant)  - This grant helped with the development of a Website to be taken over by a person to have as a business.  This website is www.sandhillswesternvacations.com.  There is also an RBEG grant from USDA that is still in effect that is helping for the research time used to finish this website.  This will then be turned over to that person as a job going forward and will not be funded by any grants. 

3.  Currently in place is our last BECA grant.  This is used to do funding for Entrepreneurship classes in Cody and Valentine Schools.  This is allows for people to come in to the schools and put on the programs. Cody Schools have been learning Entrepreneurship through their program to create a Grocery Store based off Financial Plans created by student projects. 

4.  The LB840 funds are created from the Sales Tax.  This money goes for Revolving Loans and two grants given out from the fund.  Each year this fund generates around $120,000 in sales tax revenue.  4 Loans have been given out to local businesses to either expand are start new.  One loan was a business that relocated in town.  One grant was given to the Deer Park Golf Course to help with machinery improvements to the course.  One grant was given to the Cherry County Fair Board for improvements to the Show Barn and surrounding buildings to draw more business to the Fairgrounds.  This sales tax will go up for renewal in 2016.

5.  Valentine Cherry County Economic Development program has created an award.  This is the Beautification Award that is given out to a business who is trying to improve the community by doing improvements to their stores.  Recipients are shown on the website.  You can go online at www.heartcity.com to get a form to Nominate a business.

6.  The Economic Development Program has helped assist in putting on classes for Businesses and local people learn things that will help with their business.  REAP has helped put on a class showing how to write a Business Plan, learning Quickbooks Software, etc.

Many other projects have been completed in the last 5 years.  Current projects that are being worked on is a Housing project, Community Center project, and other opportunities to help our existing businesses.

If you are interested in knowing more about the ED program, please look at our website.  Or you may contact Director Mike Burge at director@heartcity.com or Kari Shaffer at assistant@heartcity.com.