Business is booming in rural Nebraska town, with $700 million in development projects in the works

Anyone who thinks rural America is generally declining need only look at the town of Sidney, Neb., to see that business is booming in some areas. The town, which has more jobs (8,050) than residents (7,000), is about to go through an enormous growth spurt, with investors planning to put $700 million into housing, medical, commercial and city development projects in an effort to bring more people to the rural area, where jobs are plentiful, David Hendee reports for the Omaha World-Herald.

Development plans include spending $350 million to $500 million in residential neighborhoods to build nearly 800 primarily single-family homes in an area where property value continues to skyrocket, Hendee writes. Valerie Nienhueser, manager of Cheyenne County Title & Escrow "said she has worked late hours nearly every day during the last 15 years to handle paperwork for real estate transactions that were part of a $286 million increase in property valuations during the period." (Omaha World-Leader)

But the town is ready for the expansion, and "is prepared better than most towns its size to handle the development onslaught because it has the infrastructure, services and economic demographics of a community of 15,000," City Manager Gary Person said. "Commuters make up as much as 40 percent of workers. Business and leisure travelers often fill the 550 motel rooms. Interstate 80, U.S. Highways 30 and 385, and the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway cross the city."

The development plan includes a new $52 million hospital, with construction beginning in May and expected to last 16 to 18 months, Hendee writes. There will also be a $34 million expansion of of the headquarters for Cabela's, which employs 1,800 and regularly has 100 open jobs, while the hospital has 25 open, high-paying positions. Other developments include construction of a $25 million Bell Lumber and Pole Manufacturing operation, a nearly $15 million expansion of Adams Industries' rail logistics park northwest of the city and an $8 million Fairfield Marriott. (Read more)