'Vision McCook' responds to Sen. Nelson's gift

Additional gifts are being finalized, with McCook Mayor Dennis Berry predicting the Vision McCook fund will top $15,000 before the end of April. When the goal is reached, the Red Willow County Visitors Committee will award Vision McCook an additional $5,000 for marketing and promotion of the McCook area.

The money will be used to pursue four goals:

1. Identify McCook's assets, including such attractions as excellent hunting and fishing, great golf, nearby lakes, the college, schools, the YMCA, Heritage Square, the Kiplinger Arena, the Fox Theater, Bieroc concerts, Hot Summer Nights' programs, the political heritage of having four governors and two U.S. senators, Heritage Days, the Red Willow County Fair, and food, beverage and shopping opportunities.

2. Identify and coordinate the various groups that are working on promoting McCook, such as the the Chamber, Economic Development, Main Street and the Red Willow County Visitors Committee.

3. Put a structure in place to effectively promote McCook with a united message.

4. Develop potential marketing materials and resources designed to promote the brand that is McCook.

"McCook is an outstanding community," said Sen. Nelson, who was born and raised in McCook. "We need to tell the world about this special place we call home. I am issuing the challenge to develop a 'global marketing and promotional plan' for McCook that would identify all the city's assets and coordinate the various groups and projects that encompass these assets."

Mark Graff, the treasurer of Vision McCook, said,"McCook is a vibrant and active community," and added: "We want to proactively promote McCook's wonderful assets in an effective manner. We want to thank Senator Nelson for the continuing support he gives, and the faith he shows in us here in McCook and Southwest Nebraska."

The starting point for the Vision McCook effort will be a plan to be developed by Don Macke of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Macke's analysis is designed to show the town's best promotional assets; come up with a community brand to focus upon, and offer ideas for marketing and promoting the community.

To launch the Vision McCook program, Graff said cash and commitments have been received from these individuals, businesses and organizations that believe in the future of McCook and Southwest Nebraska:

$5,000 -- Sen. Ben Nelson.

$1,000 -- Community Hospital, Graff Charitable Foundation, Inc., McCook Economic Development Corp. and MNB Financial Group Inc.

$500 -- AmFirst Bank, Heritage Square Committee, McCook Community Foundation, McCook Daily Gazette, McCook Public Schools, Nebraska Public Power District and Wagner Ford-Mercury-Toyota.

$250 -- Wells Fargo Bank and McCook Area Chamber of Commerce.

$200 -- Mark and Linda Graff and Heritage Hills Golf Course.

$100 -- Dennis and Cora Berry, Cloyd and Linda Clark, Gene and Barbara Morris and two anonymous donors.

Others who would like to contribute to this effort, may do so by making their checks payable to the McCook Community Foundation, designating Vision McCook in the memo line and sending them to Vision McCook, c/o Mark Graff, P.O. Box 1208, McCook, NE 69001.