What a day! As a proud participant in Leadership Lincoln County, I can honestly say our November session on Economic Development and Tourism was nothing short of amazing. This program, brought to life by the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation, is all about connecting professionals from across Lincoln County to the heart and soul of our community. And let me tell you, this session hit all the right notes.

We kicked off the day with none other than Gary Person, the President/CEO of the North Platte Chamber & Development Corporation. Gary took us on a journey through North Platte’s history, from its years of stagnancy to the incredible growth we’ve seen over the last 5 to 7 years. And what’s behind this boom? Visionary leadership, a community that’s embraced growth, and a little thing called TIF (Tax Increment Financing). Gary explained how TIF has been a game-changer for economic development, helping us attract new projects and breathe new life into our town.

One of the most inspiring moments of the morning was hearing about the community’s collective power. Remember when we rallied together to get the Rec Center on the ballot? That was us saying, “Hey, we’re here, and we’re ready to grow!” And when Sustainable Beef had its ribbon-cutting ceremony, over 1,500 people showed up to celebrate. “It was a tremendously heartwarming experience,” Gary said, and honestly, I couldn’t agree more.

Cassie Condon our Chamber’s Vice President of Operations & Marketing presented on NPYP’s Big Idea North Platte which has had an amazing impact on start up businesses in our area.  

After all that economic development wisdom, we shifted gears to tourism—and wow, what a ride. Literally, we got to ride on a horse led wagon! (Thank you, Dusty Trails!). But before that,  we heard from a panel of local tourism rockstars, including Jim Griffin from the Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lisa Burke from Visit North Platte, Bob Lantis from NEBRASKAland DAYS, Holly Carlini, and Dusty Barner from Dusty Trails. Each of them shared how their organizations are making North Platte a place people want to visit—and stay.

Holly Carlini from the Prairie Arts Center shared how art can transform a community. She told us about the mural she painted of the gorilla at Ape Ship Brewing (if you haven’t seen it, go now!). That mural caught the eye of a couple passing through town, and instead of just driving by, they decided to explore downtown, grab dinner, and even stay the night.

Dusty Barner from Dusty Trails nailed it when he said, “We need to change our mindset. We ARE the destination.”
We toured the Lincoln County Historical Museum’s village via Wagon ride, then we entered the museum building where we learned about Nebraska’s Japanese heritage and the incredible Canteen story. We did a quick loop of Buffalo Bill’s Property.
From there we headed to the Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center, where we got to take in the views, shop, and take in even more of what makes our community special.

The biggest takeaway from the day? Economic development and tourism aren’t just two separate things—they’re two sides of the same coin. When we invest in our community, celebrate our history, and showcase what makes us unique, we create a place where people want to live, work, and visit.

Oh, and a huge shoutout to Sierra Gardner for winning the community points award—way to go, Sierra!

As I reflect on this session, I’m filled with pride for North Platte and the people who make it such an incredible place. Leadership Lincoln County is more than just a program; it’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. Here’s to continuing the momentum and making North Platte the destination it’s meant to be!