PIERCE — Susan Norris, executive director with Pierce County Nebraska Economic Development (PCED), recently shared some positive news regarding rural job growth/employment and Pierce County.
She typed Pierce County into the link https://www.datawrapper.de/_/ NB64k/ and found that Pierce County has experienced 1.9% job growth since 2019.
Norris said, “Impressive when you consider for 2+ years we were impacted by COVID-19 and continued to grow with small businesses, business transitions, and business expansions.”
She also compared Pierce County to the five main counties PCED com petes with and Pierce County is the highest in job growth: York County, 1.5%; Seward County, .07%; Wayne County, -3.2%; Madison County, -0.2%; Phelps County, 1.6%.
This is how the counties closest to this one stack up: Cedar County, 0.9%; Knox County, 0.4%;Antelope County, -0.4%; Holt County, -2.2%.
Norris commented, “Considering the following statistics from a Linkedin article entitled ‘Economic Developers, You Must Dig Into Your Workforce To Win,’ Pierce County’s growth has been very healthy during the last five years, while also increas ing in population and businesses.”
Rural Employment - September 2023 Rural employment grew to over 20.4 million people, an increase of 1% over the previous year.
But rural America still has 64,000 fewer jobs this year than it did in 2019.
Only 43% of rural counties have returned to pre-pandemic job levels.
Rural counties comprise 95 of the top 100 counties with the most employment loss since 2019.
Meanwhile, metropolitan counties have gained back more jobs than they lost during the pandemic. Urban area jobs are up 2% from pre-pandemic levels.
In response to some questions about the information, Norris explained: “Our main approach to economic development at PCED is to create entrepreneurial ecosystems across the county and focus on placemaking and community building activities. Successful entrepreneurial ecosystems become talent magnets and incubators. Ecosystem building requires attracting, retaining, and cultivating talented people, including entrepreneurs, but also potential employers and other supporting partners. Placemaking activities help with people retention and attraction and make each community desirable to its residents.
“The 1.9% job growth across the country is a strong indicator that the ecosystems are working. Over the last seven years, Pierce County has welcomed 55 new business owners, transitioned seven businesses to new owners, and experienced six business expansions. Some 210 new jobs have been created in the county and 15 jobs have been retained.
"This is significant considering the challenges that rural communities already face coupled with the economic effects of the Covid pandemic. Ninetyeight percent of our growth has been brick and mortar businesses so there is an added advantage of real estate sales, building improvements, and leases.
“Over the last 10 years, Pierce County has also grown in population. Of the 91 counties in Nebraska, only 21 grew in the last decade. The ability to retain our existing population, attract alumni and new residents is also a strong indicator of our communities health. By creating entrepreneurial ecosystems, fostering placemaking and community development activities, and partnering with organizations focused on rural development our Pierce County communities have been able to reverse population and business decline trends seen in most rural communities.”
Norris said that workforce development activities in the region include the Northeast Nebraska Career Academy Partnership (NENCAP). NENCAP is made up of several school districts and educational service units (including Osmond) in partnership with Northeast Community College.
School districts realized they did not have the space or technology to offer courses like welding, animal science or nursing. This partnership provides area students the opportunity to explore career paths and earn college credit through a program titled Friday’s at Northeast.
For those who don’t know, this program allows area seniors to spend Fridays at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, O’Neill, or Sioux City from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classes offered include animal science, automotive technology, machine fundamentals and diversified manu facturing, early childhood education, CNA, health and wellness programs, welding, and more.
Norris continued, “This is an incredible opportunity for high school students in Pierce County. We are very fortunate to have a community PIERCE COUNTY HIGHEST IN JOB GROWTH college facilitating a workforce development program of this caliber and local school districts that believe in preparing students that are not just college ready, but career ready as well. NECC, Wayne State College, the University of Nebraska, and Intern Nebraska connect college students with Nebraska based employers and internship opportunities. These activities help strengthen our rural talent pool and build robust, interconnected communities.”
Speaking about the childcare issues facing Osmond and other Nebraska communities, she explained that PCED, INC, the 501c3 non-profit arm of PCED is the sponsor of Pierce County Communities for Kids (C4K) Initiative. “We have partnered with the Nebraska Children and Families organization and C4K to increase the quality and availability of childcare across the county. A core team has been assembled for the project and each community has a local committee working to increase child care capacity and quality.
“We conducted a county wide childcare survey in November to collect data and input from area residents,” she continued. “We will be hosting an event for existing childcare providers in early 2024 to learn more about their needs and how we can assist them. A stakeholders event is also planned for early 2024.”
Separately PCED has been working with a local childcare provider and investor group to transition the existing child care building to new ownership. The new business will offer quality childcare for up to 33 children, aged 6 weeks to 12 years, and should be operational in January 2024.
