Economic Development a
Community-Wide Responsibility

Deb Markley spent time in Norfolk in late August, surveying a number of residents who have been involved in job growth and retention efforts in the community. She sought to get their opinions on the community’s successes, challenges and how best to move into the future and said she believes economic development is a community-wide responsibility.

She’ll return next Monday, October 10, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Lifelong Learning Center to inform Norfolkans on her findings as well as share information she’s observed in communities elsewhere in regard to economic development efforts. The public is not only invited, but strongly encouraged to attend, she said.

Markley’s work with Norfolk is being funded through interest revenue from a donor-advised fund set up through the Nebraska Community Foundation that is designed to benefit the Norfolk and O’Neill areas. Brandon Day and Bob Dudley, the Norfolk members of the fund’s advisory committee, said they believe Markley’s survey results and information will help spur greater understanding of economic development and help steer the direction of local efforts in the future.