Celebrating 50 Years of Growth: Fremont's Past Achievements and Future Aspirations

A Grand Celebration and Exciting New Beginnings

The Greater Fremont Development Council hosted a VIP reception to commemorate its 50th anniversary and kick off the "Here We Grow 2030" campaign. The event was remarkable, with reflections on the past 50 years, highlights from the last five years' accomplishments, and enthusiastic plans for the next five years.

GFDC Board Chairman Brett Richmond encapsulated the event's spirit with a powerful quote: "If you're not growing, you're dying," by William S. Burroughs. This statement set the tone for the evening, underscoring the importance of continuous growth and development for the Fremont community.

Reflecting on Five Years of Success

The past five years under the "Here We Grow 2025" campaign have been a period of significant achievements for GFDC. The campaign focused on four key pillars: Business Attraction, Business Retention & Expansion, Workforce Development, and Quality of Life Enhancements.

Business Attraction: Our business attraction efforts have yielded significant results over the past five years. We engaged 149 new prospects, landed 22 projects, and hosted 27 site visits from new-to-market prospect companies. These initiatives have led to a capital investment of $215.5 million into Greater Fremont and created over 2,385 new jobs by new and expanded businesses.

A major highlight of these efforts is the establishment of the Fremont Municipal Inland Port Authority. In 2021, Fremont and Dodge County were awarded the designation of a 1,500-acre area to become one of only five inland port authorities in Nebraska, opening our community to funding to spur industrial development across the state. GFDC secured a $30 million grant in 2022 to aid in the development of the site. With these funds, GFDC has hired an engineering firm to plan the park's development and secured land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Business Retention & Expansion: GFDC has achieved significant business retention and expansion milestones. Over this period, GFDC has completed 301 Business Connect visits and administered $950,000 in site and building development funds for four local expansion projects. Additionally, 11 LB840 projects, totaling over $5.5 million, have been completed in collaboration with the City of Fremont. GFDC has managed over $75,000 in funds through the Welstead Small Business Startup Loan Fund and hosted 11 Small Business Education Series sessions in 2022 and 2023, further supporting local entrepreneurs and business growth.

Workforce Development & Preparedness:  GFDC has made impressive strides in talent attraction and educational partnerships. Since launching the Fremont Talent Attraction Campaign in 2022, the website has garnered 9,785 visits. The Mentorship Program, also launched in 2022, successfully matched six Midland University students with local professionals, while the Teacher Externship Program, initiated in 2023, has facilitated partnerships between four teachers and businesses. Additionally, GFDC has secured $700,000 in grants to support Fremont Public Schools' Career & Technical Education efforts, further enhancing educational and career opportunities in the community.

Quality of Life Enhancements: GFDC's commitment to improving living conditions in Fremont was evident through its housing initiatives. GFDC has managed $4.3 million through three revolving housing loan programs, resulting in the construction of 551 new housing units. Additionally, $1.5 million in new funds established the Fremont Home Fund, dedicated to infill development and housing rehabilitation. This initiative has supported five housing rehabilitation projects, focusing on severely dilapidated homes within the community, improving living conditions, and fostering neighborhood revitalization.

Launching the "Here We Grow 2030" Campaign

Building on past successes, the "Here We Grow 2030" campaign aims to continue driving growth and prosperity in the Fremont area. The campaign's financial target is $2.5 million over five years, supporting the GFDC's strategic core objectives.

Business Attraction: Contributions to the $2.5 million target will help in numerous impactful ways. We will be able to assist prospects in Fremont’s target business sectors, serve as a consultant and partner to the Fremont Municipal Inland Port Authority by offering necessary administrative support, identify opportunities for site development, and assist in fund identification. Additionally, we will proactively market Greater Fremont to potential prospects in our target sectors and develop relationships with real estate, engineering, and development professionals to promote Greater Fremont’s opportunities further.

Business Retention & Expansion: GFDC plans to conduct at least 60 annual on-site local business visits to provide assistance and resource opportunities and gain early warnings of potential closures or relocations. Our efforts aim to generate at least 15 new expansion announcements each year, resulting from direct assistance provided by GFDC staff. Additionally, we will expand and manage the Welstead Fund, a micro-loan program for small businesses, and offer support and connections to resources for small businesses and start-ups in the community.

Workforce Development: The campaign will enhance workforce development efforts by partnering with state and regional entities to bring more training opportunities to Fremont. Our efforts include maintaining a Fremont Talent Attraction website that promotes career growth opportunities and quality of life amenities in Greater Fremont. We will partner with area schools to provide early career exposure to K-12 students and identify and create mentorship opportunities for students and young professionals.

Quality of Life Enhancements: GFDC aims to identify new housing opportunities in Greater Fremont, including infill, new development, and housing rehabilitation. By administering $4.2 million in housing funds, we will partner with other organizations to support various quality-of-life initiatives across our community. Additionally, we will conduct a Housing Study to assess current housing availability and forecast future development needs.

A Vision for the Future

The "Here We Grow 2030" campaign is not just about economic growth; it's about creating a community where people want to live, work, and play. The GFDC's vision for the future includes:

• Increasing housing availability.
• Boosting sales tax revenue.
• Expanding technical skills training.
• Developing new business sites.

These initiatives will stimulate growth for businesses and individuals, ensuring that Fremont remains a vibrant and thriving community. As the Greater Fremont Development Council embarks on this new journey, we call on the community and investors to join this ambitious endeavor.

The Greater Fremont Development Council is the primary economic development resource for the Greater Fremont area. Its critical mission is to provide leadership for the area‘s economic growth initiatives and aggressively pursue targeted growth opportunities that will result in quality job creation and retention. We look forward to meeting you. For more information, contact the GFDC at (402) 753-8126.