four cents – PowerUp Nebraska

home
research
recommendations
four cents

Menu

home
research
recommendations
four cents

"Four Cents"

our two cents, based on your two cents

We’ve shared some overarching strategies that each community can plug into to power the regional vision. But there were also some standout opportunities—businesses, people, assets—unique to each community that stuck with us after leaving your respective corners of Nebraska. Based on what we experienced during our time in your communities (along with what folks shared through visioning sessions, surveys, and various conversations), we’ve come up with some ideas that could add a little “turbo boost” to the regional effort. Keep in mind that if we call out a certain person or business, it doesn’t mean they’re interested in doing what we suggest; it just means we think they’d probably be pretty darn good at it.

here's our two cents...

Polk County Rural Public Power District

The Power District represents a reliable source of capacity and regional connectivity—a grounding presence, you might say.

The PPD team can become the PowerUP Hub offering technical assistance and capacity-building support to each community through:

grant writing services
continued support in website design
facilitation of the PowerUP Committee
community coaching for those interested in pursuing the LCC designation

read on...

Atlas Community Studios has partnered with the Polk County Rural Public Power District (PCRPPD) to develop strategic plan recommendations for Clarks, Polk, Osceola, Silver Creek, and Stromsburg.

Plug in to PowerUP!

clarks

Cafe 2.0

The Cafe in Clarks is one of the most widely celebrated assets in town, according to sentiments shared both in-person during a well-attended public discussion and in writing, through the online survey. The public willingness to support this locally owned business in their efforts to grow was remarkable, not only to us out-of-towners but also to the owner himself.

While the Cafe was touted as a clear community asset, one of the greatest challenges cited in Clarks is the lack of a grocery store. It seems like a simple fix — need a grocery store, get a grocery store — but the list of challenges facing small-town grocers is long. Owning a grocery includes covering the costs of a physical location and maintaining inventory, the ongoing battle to compete with low price points at larger chains, and the struggle to retain a committed customer base. But what if bringing a grocery to town happened in phases? What if it started as a shared service within an existing business and access to the basics (like milk, butter, eggs, produce, meat, cheese — you get the picture) and grew slowly, if and as needed, to meet demand? What if you could use leftover inventory to make lunch for your existing customer base? If the Cafe adds a “grocery” component to their existing restaurant model, the grocery stock could rotate with the restaurant supply, minimizing waste while diversifying revenue streams for the restaurant business and providing a necessary service.

Note: This recommendation isn’t intended to put the Cafe owner on the hook to expand his business or provide this service — it’s just one option. Other operating businesses or organizations in Clarks interested in diversifying revenue streams while meeting a community need could explore this shared-use format. The call-out to the Cafe is based on compatible use and the unique opportunity for scalability and product sharing.

Deconstruction Zone

Another challenge highlighted through this process is the abundance of blighted and/or abandoned properties in Clarks. We all know that blight creates a drain on the economy, but the emotional drain is equally detrimental. Disinvestment sends negative messages about the community to visitors and residents — it’s bad business. And it seems crazy to imagine this scenario as anything but a challenge, but if we’re making lemonade from lemons, there is an opportunity here!

Deconstruction, taking a house apart down to the foundation, has long been regarded as a thoughtful response to blight remediation. There’s an environmental argument to be made, as the majority of what is removed from a house via deconstruction can be recycled or reused. There’s also a business case to be made—everything removed from the house could be used or sold by the property owner or donated to a qualified 501(c)3 charity and claimed on their taxes as a donation.

With the continued disruption to global supply chains and lumber prices at a record high, the idea of reusing (or reselling) valuable wood products represents an even greater opportunity. A deconstruction business could be a new entity in Clarks, an expansion of an existing business, a non-profit organization, or an extension of the Town — lots of models to explore!

An important note — if this idea was developed to serve in a regional capacity (think PowerUP District), it could be eligible for Build Back Better funding through the 2021 infrastructure bill. Click here for a little more info on the deconstruction process.

osceola

Upstairs Downtown

The sense of community is strong in Osceola! While we didn’t get the lowdown from town officials, we did hear from folks during our visit and through our online survey. It turns out that Osceola faces many of the same challenges faced by all of the villages—they need more housing and restaurants, they need daycare, and they want to spruce up the downtown—all changes that could help them keep the population they have and even grow over time.

If we match some of what Osceola needs with some of what Osceola has, we might be able to address a few things at the same time.

From our street view perspective, vacant spaces and boarded-up windows permeate the upper floors of Osceola’s downtown buildings. And this is a missed opportunity, not only for the property owners but for anyone looking for available rental options and the overall health and vitality of the community. These spaces are centrally located, enjoy high visibility, (likely) offer stunning architectural features, are linked to existing infrastructure, and feed an existing (or potential) ecosystem of dining, shopping, and civic life. These vacant spaces are prime candidates for redevelopment.

And, oh, that Opera House…

We did get the chance to pop into one particularly eye-catching building on the square, and the owner was kind enough to give us a tour. West of the Courthouse is the Monson Block Building, built in 1892 as the Morrison Opera House.
The opera house is a true gem currently frozen in time. While it would be a significant investment for full renovations, this space could provide an excellent venue for a wide range of social and cultural events for the community, as well as a huge draw for events and wedding receptions.

The auditorium could serve as a multi-purpose space, including theatrical, musical, or dance performances, as well as wedding receptions. The front of the building could include an apartment space which could be short-term lodging for local guests and/or a bridal suite as a part of a wedding package. The downstairs would have plenty of room for various options, including a grand entrance, lobby, retail space, a gallery, restaurant, and multi-purpose classroom/meeting room spaces.

In addition to the improvements and happenings on the inside, restoring the exterior of the building would make a noteworthy splash in the beautification of the square. Facade improvements also have a way of inspiring more improvements, so the ripple effect of such a project could be a huge leap forward in the downtown revitalization efforts.

Funding for such a large renovation project could be creatively sourced as a public-private partnership and supported with grants and donations. Still, it would require a team of invested leaders dedicated to the vision of bringing the Morrison Building back to life.

Drawing Inspiration from Minden, NE

A couple of hours down the road is an excellent example of what the Morrison Opera House could be if fully renovated and operational. The Minden Opera House was built in 1891 with three separate storefronts and had a similar exterior to the Morrison building.

In 1997, the Kearney County Community Foundation purchased the building and began major renovations, including installing a grand stairway, Gift Shop, Art Gallery, and meeting rooms. The foundation continued to work for years on the $2.8 million project supported by grants and donations and celebrated a grand opening memorial day weekend in 2020. Today the Opera House is in full operation with high-quality performances, gallery exhibits, and events of all kinds.

polk

Pop-up Events
When you’re trying to get something started, sometimes the most effective thing to do is just start! Events don’t have to be highly organized. In close-knit communities like Polk, a quick shoutout on social media on a particularly beautiful Thursday evening could bring everyone together on the downtown green—folding chairs, snacks, and favorite bevies in hand—for some face time and a few laughs. Pop-up events like this bring their unique energy to a place and generate powerful ideas and creative solutions. With a bit of intentional focus, these events could provide the inspiration (and the backdrop for planning) for a next-season event or series of events. Maybe an impromptu lawn party in October leads to a New Year’s Ball Drop on the green, complete with music and festive winter fun, with all proceeds going to the bandstand preservation fund!

Collaborate with The Meat Hook
The Meat Hook is a true community gem. This business—unique to Polk and an asset for the region—could be central to a series of “workforce opportunity” events if they’re interested partners. When you start using food and agriculture to promote visitation to your town, you’ll find there are partners and service providers excited to help you do it! Your community partners at Nebraska Extension could plug into this work through their entrepreneurship programs, the food and nutrition programs, beef systems programs, and possibly others! There are several agents dedicated to Polk County, and a quick call to share the following ideas could result in added capacity:

Offer weekend workshops teaching hunters how to process meat.
Host a dinner event featuring a “masterclass” in preparing game hosted by area chefs. The community could match these efforts by turning downtown into a showplace with art vendors, beer and wine, music on the bandstand, and dancing on the green. Proceeds from ticket sales could be used to support ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

Leverage Your Resources
The people of Polk think the downtown has a lot of potential, and the bandstand is a point of pride! Following the recent success of Polk’s second “Save the Bandstand” fundraising event in August 2021, the community is in a position to go after other resources. For example, the USDA offers financial support for projects like the bandstand restoration through their Community Facilities program.

In the meantime, inquire with the Polk Education Pathways program about possible hands-on learning projects. The Building Trades and Construction Design program offers coursework relevant to the stabilization and rehabilitation of the bandstand. Invite program participants to make one (or all) of the needed repairs to restore the bandstand. It might take a little salesmanship, but if you connect with the right person in the right program, you may be able to introduce a model service project in Polk that could be replicated elsewhere and even serve your community again in the future. This could be a mutually beneficial, creative, and affordable solution. Modest grants to support efforts using this approach are available at Home Depot.

Another resource through the higher education system is to request architectural support from the architecture program at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. Usually, these programs will look to the community for semester projects, and it could be worth getting the bandstand on their radar as an option for student review.

shelby

Kid Power

The interest in engaging Shelby’s kids in a revitalization strategy didn’t just come from educators; it came up in conversations across the community! The inherent human capital in youth is an excellent answer to Shelby’s workforce challenge. Embrace your student population while inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Introduce a student-run business to Shelby’s downtown! Working with a school business club, a willing teacher or administrator, regional business development service providers, and/or the local business community, invite students grades 8-12 to participate in an entrepreneurship program. The kids can decide the type of business and develop a business plan. The type of business could change every 2-4 years (successful out-going businesses can move to other vacant buildings downtown), so all students have the opportunity to participate in different phases of development. Identify a city-owned building downtown (or owned by someone open to creative solutions), and that’s close to move-in ready. The kids will be responsible (alongside their adult counterparts and volunteers) for the accounting, staffing the store, handling the marketing, etc. This program will create a connection between the kids and the community while teaching them how to be small business owners, introduce new business(es) to the community every couple of years, and put vacant properties back into productive use.

And Food Truck Power…

Sticking with the ”engaging youth” theme, there was a strong desire to increase Shelby’s social infrastructure, especially for youth and families. A fun (and possibly unexpected) opportunity for this kind of development lives on the corner of Highway 81 and Walnut street—The Shelby Food Truck. Featuring tacos, burgers, quesadillas, and a rotation of specials, this unassuming bright green food truck, with an awning and two small outdoor tables, boasts a solid five stars with almost 50 reviews on Google supported by loyal customers from all over the region as well as travelers passing by. Max, the Shelby Food Truck owner, credits his success with its location and visibility on Highway 81. On an average day, there are an estimated 4,545 vehicles per day driving through Shelby on Highway 81.

The trucks could serve as a way to PowerUP local students with opportunities to learn about the restaurant service industry or even host a chef-in-residence program.

There are countless examples of food truck courts across the country. Whether outdoors or in, highly polished or on a dime, they are meant to be attractive, comfortable, flexible, and most important—highly social spaces. There are a number of ways this could work well in Shelby, including PoweringUP Max’s existing business by adding more trucks with a variety of specialty offerings. Perhaps even inviting out-of-town trucks with complementary menus, like ice cream, to visit periodically.

The existing lot could be updated and landscaped with greenery and flowers, tables and chairs, lounge chairs, and lawn games, creating an inviting and relaxing environment encouraging people to stay. If a liquor license was added, there could be a limited bar featuring local beers.

silver creek

The Silver Creek Trading Post

Many big ideas are brewing in Silver Creek, and, based on a conversation we had with a local leader, there’s plenty of passion and commitment in the village to turn big ideas into big business. And that can happen in small towns when you meet local demand with a scalable product or service.

After losing the local grocery store a few years back, it’s evident from the community feedback that a farmers-market style grocery with a small general store would appeal to tourists and meet the current demand of residents. Do you need to compete with Grain’s Family Market or the IGA in Osceola? Nope. Lots of people in very small communities expect to drive a reasonable distance for their weekly shopping. Is there an opportunity to make the basics available without having to leave town at all? Very likely. A “Trading Post” model could include:

A small grocery section (start very small and grow, as needed)
A small section of household items (this section could be subleased to the Bargains for You organization as a year-round opportunity to sell items on a small scale via consignment, in addition to the large-scale annual event)
An “Oops, I forgot” section that offers essentials for RV Park goers, event attendees, and residents, alike
A small fresh brewed coffee and baked goods station featuring one or more local home bakers
A shop like this could be community-owned and operated, individually owned by a new local entrepreneur, or introduced as an expansion to an existing business. Different business models and ownership structures (along with connections to funding sources) could be explored through participation in the Small Business Boot Camp.

Trails About Town

Increased visitation is an excellent motivator for increased local investment, and outdoor recreation is something travelers are seeking out more than ever in 2021. This could be the time for Silver Creek to tackle the walking trail system prioritized in the village’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan. A pedestrian and bicycle-focused system could connect the neighborhoods and amenities and potentially tap into the system promoted by Fisher’s Cove RV Park.

About the RV Park…

With the folks at Fisher’s Cove having land ownership of the most accessible parts of Silver Creek, consider a cooperative agreement that would designate a public access point for fishing, “beaching,” or a small launch for canoes or kayaks. The Nebraska Open Fields and Water Program can provide financial reimbursement to private landowners in exchange for this public service.

stromsburg

Small Business Hub

Stromsburg is widely recognized for its thriving downtown. A healthy business community has managed to root and flourish here despite a gap in business development services—something business owners would like to correct so they can grow or, in some cases, retire knowing their business might continue.

Home to the Power District headquarters, business leaders in Stromsburg can work closely with the Power District to develop a Small Business Boot Camp. This exercise will help establish the foundation for Stromsburg’s Small Business Hub—a feeder program for the proposed Regional Entrepreneurship Network. The Hub could be an association of local business owners, state service providers, and local leadership, working together to promote, foster, and encourage downtown businesses and advocate for issues that affect downtown business. Additionally, the Hub could provide a virtual guide with resources for starting and sustaining a business, including information on how to work with the City, access startup capital, available commercial properties, etc. This service could be developed as an extension of an existing entity, such as the Chamber of Commerce, or a new stand-alone organization.

Viking Youth Center

Kids of all ages were a big topic of conversation in Stromsburg—too few daycare options, too few employment opportunities, not enough for them to do or ways to engage in the community. What about a building that provides daycare, an after-school program, and a gaming cafe for teens? Identify an underutilized building that could accommodate this combination of services (i.e., the Viking Center), and then recruit businesses or organizations to occupy the space. This project could align with the Small Business Boot Camp.

Side note—daycare is a recognized (critical) need in each community, so a functional shared-service or intergenerational model piloted in Stromsburg could be replicated across the District.