Located at the gateway to the Sandhills of the Nebraska
Panhandle, Box Butte County offers a unique blend of history, progressive
industry, agriculture and people devoted to the betterment of their community.
With belief in the time-tested qualities of hard work, honesty, courage
and neighborliness, our county is blessed with a variety of community and
economic development opportunities.
By Mark Dykes
Alliance Times Herald
Asst. Managing Editor
ALLIANCE- On Friday afternoon, a
day marking Box Butte Development Corporation
Executive Director John Olafson's 68th birthday,
Olafson announced his retirement.
Though the announcement was made yesterday,
Olafson explained that his retirement would not
be effective until May 31. However, he said,
after his retirement he plans to stay on with
BBDC - no later than the end of 2010 and create
a smooth transition for whoever is chosen.
Olafson said the summer months are a time when
families are moving, and it's a good time to
look for BBDC's next director.
Regarding his past nearly five years with BBDC,
Olafson said he is proud of what the staff and
the board have done. He pointed out that their
hard work will come to fruition during the
Nebraska Diplomats 2010 Business and Industry
Recognition Day on Friday, May 14. The day
begins with an optional tour of the BNSF
Alliance terminal at 11:15a.m., but the majority
of events will be at the Knight Museum and
Sandhills Center beginning with registration at
11:45 a.m.
As part of the museum events, there will be a
proclamation reading from Governor Dave
Heineman, and the Alliance City Council's
acceptance of Alliance's recognition as a
Certified Economic Development Community.
Brenda McDonald, president of the BBDC Board of
Directors, explained that becoming a Certified
Community was a three-year process, involving
things such as housing and labor studies, and
identifying sites and buildings available for
development.
Being certified, she said, allows the community
to be more marketable. For example, she said,
Alliance would be presented, at meetings such as
an upcoming one in Chicago, to industries that
are looking ot relocate.
Olafson added that the Department of Economic
Development has done a mock presentation for
industries looking to relocate and Alliance is
ready "to put its best foot forward".
Becoming a Certified community was a big goal
for Olafson when he first came to BBDC, and he
was pleased to see that goal accomplished. He
added that work is being done to help Hemingford
become a Certified community as well.
Looking ahead, Olafson plans to stay in the area
and has "no plans to leave the good life of Box
Butte County."
