Message from the Chairman

Welcome to Kearney/Buffalo County’s premier business web site for the purpose of economic development.  Within these pages you will find all the information necessary to access the business opportunities in our community, county and state.

This is an exciting time for Buffalo County businesses.  We have experienced a strong renaissance of business and community development the past five years and we are indeed growing in population while many other counties in Nebraska are shrinking. The changes occurring to agriculture in the last several years is significant.  Construction has begun this year on a $25 million 240,000 sq. ft. distribution center for the headquarters of the national clothing retailer, The Buckle.

Being in the county for 30 years, I can attest that Buffalo county and its communities have always presented opportunities to businessmen and women.  We enjoy an impressive level of consumer traffic and an environment decidedly committed to economic development.  We collectively have important business strengths - including a skilled and plentiful work force where the average starting wage (all occupations) is $8.01 per hour and the average wage is $15.21 an hour.   The University of Nebraska-Kearney and Central Community College provide education and training systems that rival any in the nation.  Our transportation system includes the mainlines of the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads, Interstate-80 and air service on Great Lakes Airlines with three flights per day from Kearney to Denver International.

The Buffalo County Economic Development Council (BCED) is here to help at all stages of your business development.  Our staff have already helped Gibbon, Kearney, Ravenna and Buffalo County businesses expand or do things better.  We are also working to bring varied and innovative new businesses in that we’ve targeted for recruitment including food process, advanced manufacturing, distribution/logistics, back office-fulfillment centers and data centers.

The BCED is here to help.  Our board of directors meets every month to discuss current issues and how we can meet our goals.  We hope to make this web site a forum for innovative ideas, information dissemination, and keeping our citizens interested in BCED activities.  We welcome your comments and input.   I am confident in Buffalo County’s future and pleased to offer the services of the Buffalo County Economic Development Council.  I look forward to meeting with you.

Respectfully,
Dale Pohlmann
Chairman, BCED Board of Directors