Economic Development Organizations

Keith County Area Development
Keith County Area Development (KCAD), the local area economic development agency, is interested in helping new and expanding businesses using any possible means, including help with the facilitation of a building and lease options.

The Mission of Keith County Area Development is to work in partnership with local communities and existing area businesses in an effort to expand the economic base of our community and enhance the earnings opportunities of area residents by retaining and expanding existing business and industry as well as attracting desirable new employers consistent with the area’s high quality of life.

Regional Economic Development Investment
The Regional Economic Development Investment (REDI) program is a low-interest participation loan through local Keith County banking institutions.  Businesses eligible for the REDI program include but are not limited to the following: industry, manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, aquaculture processing, telecommunications, transportation, service industry, retail and tourism.

Eligible activities include but are not limited to the following: Acquisition of real estate, land and buildings, fixed assets, machinery and equipment, renovations, remodeling, site preparation, storage and distribution systems.

Assistance is provided by the REDI Program through the participation in a loan originating with a Keith County commercial lender who sponsors the business/project application.  The REDI Program “participates” in the loan by providing the funds to the sponsoring lender who originates and services the loan. 

The REDI committee has assisted 17 businesses in Keith County by loaning over $1,530,000 for job creation, acquisition of equipment, new business start up costs and existing business expansions. 

Ogallala Community Redevelopment Authority
The Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) of the City of Ogallala is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Ogallala by facilitating property improvements in areas designated by a community redevelopment plan and formulating a workable program to encourage needed community rejuvenation.

Tax Increment Financing captures the difference of the “before project” taxes and the “after project” taxes to help finance public improvements, site acquisitions, and site preparations of the project.  Projects must be located within the Ogallala City limits and in a designated “blighted and substandard” area. 

Funds from the incremental tax stream can be used for any of the following purposes:

• Public improvements associated with a redevelopment project, which are located in the redevelopment area.  Such improvements can include streets, lighting, sewers, sidewalks, utilities, parks, playgrounds, public spaces and pedestrian/vehicular overpasses and underpasses.

• Acquisition or redevelopment sites, including all costs associated with that acquisition.

• Site preparation, demolition, grading, surcharging, and other necessary site preparation work.

Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce serves as the central agency for development of business, industry, and civic interests. Our mission statement is "to foster and promote the civic, business, agricultural and tourism interests in the Keith County region."  The Chamber promotes an environment that can maximize your business potential and profitability.

The Ogallala Keith County Chamber of Commerce is a Not-for-Profit 501(c)(6) Nebraska Corporation founded in 1958.  The Chamber is governed by a nine-member board of directors, who are elected from the general membership.  Board member terms are for three years.

The Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization which is supported by member investors.  The Chamber is a voluntary organization of businesses and individuals throughout Keith County.  We work as a vehicle through which the businesses and professional people of Keith County are organized to work together, voluntarily, to define and solve problems for the improvement of the region as a place to live and to work.

The Chamber is available to assist businesses in a variety of ways including application processing, providing meeting room space for the initial interview process, arranging local contacts, etc.