'It is important that we are unified': Growing Together hosts forum to show community progress

NORFOLK, Neb. -- The Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk hosted a forum by Northeast Nebraska Growing Together.

The organization was founded in 2019 and looks at growing communities in the area.

After conducting studies, the group found that younger generations of Nebraskans leave their hometown areas.

Angie Stenger, the executive director of the organization, said the best way to find a solution is for communities to work together.

“We know that everybody has to be working together for us to be growing together. That was one of the messages that came from Congressman Mike Flood tonight, was the idea that we need to be working together as a community,” she said. “It is important that we are unified and working and figuring out a way that we can keep kids here and make our community grow.”

At Wednesday’s forum, officials gave updates on different services and events being offered in Norfolk.

That included updates on childcare and promoting the Riverfront Development Project and discussing Wayne State College seniors moving to Norfolk this Fall to intern at local businesses.

Stenger said letting businesses be aware of having potential employees or interns was a main topic for the meeting.

 “We also wanted to let businesses know we are going to be looking for places for these interns in the future as we have students coming in the fall,” she said. “They’ll be 30 students living in Norfolk, the next year 45, and every year after that 75 students. They need jobs. So we want to make sure businesses are aware of what’s going on and they can start interacting with students.”

Growing Together has also set a big goal for the year 2030.

“We want to see that there were 1,000 20-29-year-olds living in Norfolk,” she said. “Right now that number is a net negative. We want to make sure that there are more people and we haven’t lost people.”

The organization is planning to have another meeting this August.

If you’re interested in learning more about Growing Together, click here.

Mike Flood is the founder and an owner of Flood Communications and News Channel Nebraska.