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Kearney Chamber of Commerce members were filled in on the latest plan to spur more business and growth in the community.

Irv Jensen, of Smart Solutions based in Warsaw, gave the chamber members a brief description of the Kearney Area Development Council’s newest strategic plan.

“This is a plan that just enhances what that group already does,” Jensen said during the Chamber’s monthly luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Jensen worked with development council in the spring to develop the plan and has been presenting it to various groups throughout the community like the school and fire district boards. He said the council’s vision includes two tasks: helping existing businesses and partnering with new businesses.

“It’s not just about bringing a new business into the community,” Jensen said.

Jensen said “access” is the new mantra for the development council and the city. He said among the community’s assets are lifestyle, location and education.

“It’s easy to access anything you want from this community,” Jensen said.

Jensen also shared the development council’s objectives and strategies are based on the plan. The objectives are to be organized and prepared, create a positive business environment, take care of existing businesses, aggressively market Kearney and develop entrepreneurial initiatives. The strategies to achieve those goals are to raise the bar with customer service, collect facts and information, create marketing and sales tools, and update the development council’s Web site.

Jensen said it will take time to achieve that.

“Economic development is a marathon, not a sprint,” Jensen said.

In other business at the chamber luncheon:

• Cole Printing and Signs, 200 N. Jefferson St., was the business of the month. Tim Cole started the business in Kearney in 1993 and talked about how technology, especially in the past 10 years, has changed the services and products he offers. Cole Printing provides banners, lettering on vehicles and specialty items such as pens among other products.

• Kearney Trust Co. was the lunch sponsor.

• Members at the luncheon donated $98 to the Kearney Family Foundation.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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