New PCED Projects:
Ford Dealership Recruitment: A continued effort by PCED has been made over this last 2008 year to encourage the development of a Ford dealership within Phillips County. At the present time, Janssen Ford has been considering an expansion from the Holdrege location into Phillipsburg.
Wind Cooperative Development: Although wind development has always been on the radar for PCED, forward momentum is again being made in this area due to the ITC powerline plans to be built through Phillips County on its way to Axtell, Nebraska. A general information meeting held on February 22 for all Phillips County landowners provided an excellent time for those attending to ask questions of Mark & Ted Bannister from Bannister Capital, LLC. Bannister Capital LLC has worked with several landowner groups to set up the legal entity for wind farm development; then, solicate and evaluate wind developers interested in primary sites of interest. A recent meeting was held with those landowners with ownership in parts of Glenwood & Walnut townships, which has been determined by the Bannister Capital LLC group to be a primary location (due to many attributes) to a start unifying group effort in Philllips County.
Call Center Recruitment: Over the last year, PCED and Nex-tech, along with other rural areas under the Nex-tech technology umbrella area, have collaborated on the recruitment of call centers interested in establishing themselves in rural locations. Nex-tech hired a call center consultant in 2007, to assist with this endeavor. Through local input from our communities and economic development, we are continuing to show the benefits of Philllips County. Call centers need two critical items for their development, which are 1) available & trained(able) workforce and 2) ready-to-go buildings. Currently, we have both of those commodities. We are in contact with site consultants and clients, which are at the present time searching a location to expand or develop. We are also receiving assistance through Kansas Commerce on this project.