Twin Cities Development Association Celebrates Economic Development Week, May 6th - May 10th

Twin Cities Development Association is excited to celebrate Economic Development Week (EDW) from May 6th - May 10th. EDW, established by the International Economic Development Council, highlights the importance of economic development in our region and across the globe.

Economic development is crucial to Western Nebraska’s growth and prosperity. It encompasses various initiatives, from attracting new businesses to supporting existing ones, creating new job opportunities, and enhancing our community's overall quality of life.

Understanding the Role of the Twin Cities Development Association

At its core, economic development involves a range of activities to attract, create, and retain jobs to foster a resilient and growing economy. This collaborative effort requires close coordination between businesses, government entities, and various community stakeholders to achieve sustainable success.

The Twin Cities Development Association dedicates itself to supporting businesses in Western Nebraska. Our services include:

• Business Retention & Expansion (BRE): Support existing businesses to thrive and expand, creating jobs through infrastructure improvements and resource access.
• Marketing & Attraction: Develop and execute campaigns to attract businesses and talent, showcasing community strengths to internal and external audiences.
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development: Support small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to capital, space, and technical assistance.
• Real Estate Development: Engage in projects like industrial parks and incubators to stimulate economic growth.
• Incentives: Help businesses access financial services and incentive programs for growth and expansion.
• Workforce Development: Collaborate with agencies to ensure a skilled talent pool, understanding and addressing company workforce needs.

Driving Economic Development: How TCD’s Executive Director Is Contributing to Business and Workforce Success

For nearly two and a half years, Jordan Diedrich has served as the Executive Director of TCD. As the City of Scottsbluff’s former Deputy Director of Public Works, Diedrich recognized his passion for community engagement early on. Falling for the charm of Western Nebraska, he seized the opportunity to extend his impact from Scottsbluff to the entire panhandle by assuming the Executive Director position at TCD. Now, he’s preparing for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam.

Diedrich and his wife have spent the last eight years calling Western Nebraska home. Their six-year-old daughter attends St. Agnes Catholic School and their two-year-old goes to The Learning Tree Childcare and Preschool in Gering. “Despite having lived in various places, Gering holds a special place in our hearts as it's where we've truly found belonging,” he said about raising a family in Western Nebraska. “The warmth and hospitality of the community embraced us wholeheartedly, offering numerous avenues for involvement, which we gratefully accepted.”

Reflecting on his career serving both the City of Scottsbluff and TCD, Diedrich says he’s seen the mark he’s left on the local community. Through successful grant writing endeavors, he’s secured over a million dollars in funding, enriching local businesses and bolstering community development. Additionally, his commitment to service extends to various local boards, including NEXT Young Professionals, Riverside Discovery Center, Snow Redfern Foundation, United Way of Western Nebraska, and Rotary. At the moment, his energy is focused on facilitating the growth of new and existing businesses, attracting investments to the region, and enhancing local housing availability, with achievements such as 11 new constructions and 16 rehabilitations in the past two years alone. “I'm dedicated to showcasing the abundant opportunities Western Nebraska offers to our youth, aiming to retain local talent,” he said. Notably, Career Connections of Western Nebraska, facilitated by TCD, organized immersive tours for over 650 10th-grade students across 50 businesses and organizations last November, fostering career exploration and community engagement.

Twin Cities Development Association: Your Partner in Business Growth and Development

During EDW, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our economic developers and local leaders, who are committed to driving economic growth and improving our community's quality of life. We invite you to join us in recognizing their efforts and learning more about economic development's impact on our region.

To learn more about how the Twin Cities Development Association can support your business or to get involved in our economic development initiatives, https://www.tcdne.org.