212: Manufacturing's Transformative Impact on Rural Economies and Population Growth with Angie Stenger, Executive Director of Northeast Nebraska Growing Together

Manufacturing Happy Hour

Manufacturing is a key industry that can revitalize communities, but what about in more rural locations? How do smaller communities compete with the big cities for talent, innovation, investment and growth? We head to Northeast Nebraska for this episode to speak with Angie Stenger, the Executive Director of Northeast Nebraska Growing Together – an initiative to transform the regional economy and population growth.

From scholarship programs to a new innovation hub and the creation of a vibrant downtown scene, Norfolk is redefining what it means to live and work in a rural community. Angie shares insights on their unique "Growing Together Scholarship," which partners with Wayne State College to offer students not just education, but also housing and a full year of internship experience with local businesses. This not only provides valuable skills to students but also allows companies to "test drive" potential employees.

But it's not all work and no play in Norfolk. The city has invested in quality-of-life improvements that rival big city amenities, including a Whitewater Park for river surfing, an amphitheater for festivals, and a thriving arts scene. The goal? To make Northeast Nebraska a magnet for young professionals and families.

In this episode, find out:

• Angie shares some backstory on the resurgence of downtown Norfolk
• The purpose of Northeast Nebraska Growing Together and how it’s helping to “repopulate Northeast Nebraska”
• How the local community is investing in facilities including attractions, art, and local facilities to attract families
• Angie explains how their partnership with Wayne State College enabled them to build a great scholarship program
• Why Northeast Nebraska is leading the way with its Growing Together initiative
• What to expect from Northeast Nebraska’s upcoming innovation hub
• How Angie’s organization works closely with local businesses and manufacturers to find out what they need from talent
• Angie explains what manufacturing and bedrock companies mean to the region and shares examples of innovative tech and companies leading the way
• Raising awareness and interest in manufacturing as a career path through the Growing Together initiative
• How Growing Together is measuring success in both the short and long-term
• Angie’s advice to other regions that might want to adopt a similar model of collaboration

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Tweetable Quotes:

• “We're in the middle of the country. This is Nebraska. And we know that if one town succeeds, all the towns around succeed. And so we want to make sure that we're raising all the tides for everyone in the state, but we're starting here in Northeast Nebraska.”
• “I think in Nebraska, we figure out how to make the things we need and then when the rest of the world sees it, we just figure out how to make it for everybody else.”
• “If we can show that, "hey, this is an okay place to live," hopefully they'll stay.”

Links & mentions:

• Growing Together Northeast Nebraska, an Aksarben workforce initiative; this plan outlines the proactive transformation of Northeast Nebraska’s regional economy and population growth. At its essence, the plan pairs entrepreneurs with investment capital and students to redesign a workforce that can compete in a knowledge-based economy.
• The Aksarben Foundation, proudly recognizing individuals and families with strong Nebraska values since 1895, and helping develop the leaders of tomorrow through education, scholarships, career training, community grants, and increasing access to opportunities in Nebraska
• Angie’s evening bar crawl across downtown Norfolk, NE includes Bar A for appetizers, Fifth Street Tavern for cocktails, and the Green Light Great Night for live music
• District Table and Tap, once the historic Elkhorn Hotel, this 100-year-old building has been restored to house a restaurant with a great beer selection in Norfolk, NE
• Divots Brewery Taproom, beer handcrafted in small batches using American-grown, Midwestern barley and northwestern hops with a taproom location in downtown Norfolk, NE

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.