New projects could add $3 million in payroll to McCook economy

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

By GENE O. MORRIS

Publisher

Remember the start of the new century, when the new Valmont plant and Work Ethic Camp sparked a wave of economic excitement in the McCook community? Well, get ready, because more economic breakthroughs could be on the way.

That was confirmed Tuesday night when speakers unveiled plans for projects which could create close to $3 million in new payroll dollars for the McCook area.

In back-to-back remarks at the annual meeting of the McCook Economic Development Corp., representatives of SW Energy LLC and 21st Century Systems told of plans for major developments by their companies.

Steve Lipetzky described SW Energy's plans to build an ethanol plant at Perry, four miles west of McCook, which would eventually produce 120 million gallons of ethanol per year. When at peak production, that would mean 45 direct jobs and 150 indirect employment positions, with a total annual payroll in excess of $2 million.

Construction of the new plant could start as soon as this spring, Lipetzky said.

Meanwhile, 21st Century Systems and the McCook Economic Development Corp. will be moving ahead with their plans to transform McCook's Keystone Hotel into a retail, condominium and technology center.

21st Century Systems is being pursued as the anchor tenant. The technology company already has a center at McCook Community College, but Matt Stebbins told the economic development crowd Tuesday night that 21CSI is outgrowing its space on the second floor of Walsh-Brady Hall. "We have nine employees and an intern (in McCook) now, and we need to add 20 more positions," he said.

In order to handle the expansion, the executive director of the McCook EDC, Rex Nelson, is pursuing grants and loans to renovate the Keystone. A key meeting to discuss the project is planned April 11, Nelson said. At that session, the McCook EDC and the CEO of 21CSI will meet with U.S. economic agency officials, as well as members of U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson's staff.

At Tuesday's annual meeting, the economic development members also heard reports from Ron Willocks of Pawnee Aviation, Sue Shaner of McCook Community College, Denise Ringenberg of the McCook Housing Agency and Nelson of the McCook EDC.

While off to a slower start than he had hoped, Willocks said Pawnee Aviation has produced one flyable helicopter and is close to completing two more. He also told of plans to develop a kit for a light airplane which could grow into an industry with 50 employees.

More than 50 people attended the EDC annual meeting at the Republican River Valley Event Center. During the session, Don Moore of First Central Bank and Marty Conroy of RDG Geoscience & Engineering were elected to the board of directors. New officers for 2006 are Dale Dueland, president; Van Korell, vice president; Mark Graff, treasurer; and Gary Bieganski, secretary.

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