Kimm Klute, co-owner of Klute Inc., was one of three recipients of the York County Development Corporation’s Impact Award. The other two recipients standing next to Klute were Zac Holoch, Cornerstone President and CEO, and Douglas Rood, senior manager at Collins Aerospace.
Reprinted from York New-Times
YORK COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
YORK — The York County Development Corporation held its annual banquet at the York Country Club on Tuesday.
The program included a social hour, dinner, a “fire-side chat” and a presentation of awards for three outstanding members of York’s business community.
The 2024 Impact award recipients were Kimm Klute, a co-owner of Klute Inc., Zac Holoch, President and CEO of Cornerstone Bank, and Douglas Rood, a senior manager at Collins Aerospace.
Lisa Hurley, executive director of the York Economic Development Corporation, praised Klute for her tireless work effort and commitment to both her business and the community of Bradshaw.
Hurley similarly thanked Holoch for his efforts at community development, in particular his commitment to improving rural workforce housing and childcare in York.
Eric Montgomery, YCDC president, presented Rood with his award, noting his impact on the community as well as his wide range of interests and passions: from photography to aerospace to improving STEM education in York.
Throughout her opening remarks, Hurley thanked a number of businesses and organizations involved in developing the York Community, including Preferred Snacks and LivFarms.
During the “fire-side chat,” Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and K.C. Beilitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, discussed how to encourage economic development in Nebraska. Jim Ulrich, CEO of York General, led the conversation.
Beilitz mentioned some priorities for the Department of Economic Development, including workforce development, which would require housing and childcare expansion.
Slone said one of his big concerns is what he calls Nebraska’s “demographic problem.” He said Nebraska needs to leverage its colleges and universities and expand its technology sector to attract more young people.
He also said Nebraska needs to encourage legal immigration to Nebraska and counties like York. “We’ve done this before,” Slone said, “in the late 1800s and early 1900s.”
“Living in York, you’ve hit the jackpot,” Slone said.
“The state of our county is strong,” Hurley said in her remarks. “It’s vibrant, and it’s bursting with potential.”
Editor’s Note: Make sure to look for the NewsTimes Impact Awards publication featuring profiles on all three Impact Award winners in Saturday’s print edition of the York News-Times.
