PRESS RELEASE
Date: February 3, 2010
Contact: Dennis Houston
PH: 402.598.6200
E-mail: dhouston@norfolkareachamber.com
Building-Project on NorfolkAreaChamber.com
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New Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center To Be Built in Historic Downtown Norfolk
Norfolk: The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce along with its economic development partners Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Norfolk Area Recruiters and the Norfolk S.C.O.R.E. Chapter would like to announce the planned construction of a new shared facility – the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. The facility is to be located in historic downtown Norfolk, Nebraska at the southeast corner of 7th and Norfolk Avenue.
What is this facility about?
This facility is about collaboration. . .
“This exciting community project is a good sign of a strong economy and testament to the fact that the people of Norfolk are working together as one unified team to move the community forward” says Dennis Houston, President & CEO of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. The people involved in making this facility a reality represent the many business leaders, community leaders, City of Norfolk and Madison County who want to show the outside world that yes, this is the place to live, work and play in northeast Nebraska. All of the partners located in one central location will continue to improve our teamwork and create a “one-stop-shop” for economic development.
This facility is about pride. . .
This is a very proud day for the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, our 600 business members and their 15,000 employees. This is a very proud day for Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, its three counties and their communities they represent in economic development. This is a very proud day for the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the hotels, restaurants and attractions that they represent in bringing guests to the communities of Madison County. This is a very proud day for Norfolk Area Recruiters and the individuals, families and workers they help to bring back home to our communities in the region. This is a very proud day for the Norfolk Chapter of S.C.O.R.E. and the many entrepreneurs they help get started so people in our community can truly live the American dream in Norfolk and Madison County.
This facility is about economic development. . .
This facility is about taking care of, and retaining the many businesses we already have in the Norfolk area so they can expand when they are ready. This facility is about attracting new business and industry to the area. This facility is about creating new local jobs, retaining existing jobs and bringing new jobs to the area. The facility will include a business incubator to help launch new business in the community. The building itself will create our own local economic stimulus package to keep local workers and contractors busy for 10-12 months. Any construction work that can be done by local contractors will be done by local contractors.
This facility is about great first impressions. . .
You only have one chance to make a great first impression and this facility is about creating the very best impression we can for our local resident, visiting guests and prospective new business and industry.
This facility will establish a true visitor center for everyone coming to Norfolk for a day, for a new job or for a lifetime. This facility will be a community gathering place where everyone gathers for that next big announcement. It will be warm and inviting with a fireplace, cozy couches and chairs in the lobby, several indoor community meeting rooms. It will even include outdoor meeting space on both the ground level as well as a rooftop deck for social functions.
The location will create a new gateway to the River Point Historic Downtown Business District. The downtown area of a community is the backbone and lifeblood of a community and the area that many visitors will first look at when coming to town. If Main Street is alive and vibrant, the entire community is strong.
This facility is about doing the right thing…
The new state-of-the-art facility will be a LEED certified green building making it only the 3rd LEED certified Chamber facility in the United States. It will become one of less than 10 LEED certified buildings in the state of Nebraska. We will work to insure we use recycled building materials, energy efficient heating and cooling sources, low energy glass and many others.
Our economic development team has concluded a 3-month targeted industry research process and determined that renewable energy companies and green collar, eco-friendly jobs are two of the priorities as we move forward to attract new industry. This green facility will serve as a magnet for those companies bringing new jobs to town and show them that we are serious about going green in Norfolk.
We have partnered with BVH Architects and Hespe Company, Inc., both Chamber members, to join our team to design and build this new state of the art facility.
Houston says, “Just a few months ago in the fall of 2009 CNN and Money Magazine designated Norfolk as the 2nd Best Place for Jobs in America and one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America. This project is our next step on the road to success that has already been paved by the citizens of Norfolk.”
This facility is more than just a building . . . it’s about building for the future of Norfolk, our neighboring communities around us and all of northeast Nebraska.
For more details, please contact the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce at 402-598-6200.
The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary business organization dedicated to improving business and building a better community in Norfolk and northeast Nebraska. The Chamber is a place for everyone who shares the desire to improve the community and the region. The mission of the Chamber is to promote, protect and serve the interests of our 600 members, their 15,000 employees and the community we serve. The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 405 W. Madison Ave; Norfolk, Nebraska, 68701.
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