By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
North Platte, Neb. - North Platte has seen significant economic growth over the past five years, thanks to the North Platte Area Chamber & Development’s (NPACD) strategic planning and ambitious initiatives.
Gary Person, President and CEO of NPACD, reflected on the accomplishments. “We accomplished 26 of the 29 goals… and a lot of those projects… are in place or have already been constructed or emerging… There’s over $2 billion of new projects in the greater North Platte area,” Person said.
Business Development
Small businesses and retail development were a key focus. NPACD opened 20–25 new small businesses annually and continued the Big Idea NP program, which encourages entrepreneurial innovation.
Person emphasized the importance of these efforts for long-term economic vitality.
Revitalization Projects
The city also prioritized revitalizing existing structures and corridors. Shot in the Arm Phase 3, standards for curb appeal in high-visibility areas, and revitalization of the Platte River Mall were all completed.
While some goals, such as the Pawnee Hotel and the Opportunity Zone project, are still in progress, Person stressed that the momentum is in place for future success.
Internal Goals and Organization Strength
NPACD also focused on strengthening its internal operations. Maintaining economic development certification, expanding membership to 600, remodeling the chamber offices, and enhancing ambassador, hostess, and agriculture committees were all achieved. These efforts reinforced the organization’s ability to guide North Platte’s growth effectively.
Economic Growth Strategies
Industrial and economic growth remained a cornerstone. NPACD renewed the Quality Growth Fund/LB840 initiative, expanded Twin Rivers Business Park and the rail park, promoted housing and workforce development, supported vocational training and manufacturing, and diversified the local economy through trade shows and talent attraction.
Person highlighted housing as a critical factor for sustaining growth: “Housing has always been a focus… If you don’t address housing, you can’t grow your workforce, you can’t grow your population… We’ve worked with a number of developers… and now it’s a matter of getting the inventory constructed.”
Quality of Life and Placemaking
Alongside economic projects, the city worked to improve quality of life. Downtown resurgence, marketing North Platte as an outdoor recreation destination, highlighting professional medical services, and creating a recreation/wellness/event center were all key accomplishments.
While some goals around e-commerce expansion and population growth remain in progress, Person emphasized the strong community support for these projects: “You work, sometimes years and years and years to get good things to happen… Usually you only see a crowd when people are mad about something… but people have rallied around everything that’s going on right now.”
North Platte’s past five years illustrate the city’s commitment to growth, revitalization, and improving quality of life. With a strong foundation and an ambitious vision, the community is poised for even greater success in the coming years.
Looking ahead, NPACD has set 37 new goals for the next five years, focusing on industrial development, retail recruitment, workforce and childcare, housing, and a potential conference center. Person concluded with an eye toward the future: “We’ve built momentum… but there’s still work to do.”