SIDNEY -- Volunteers and paid employees of E3 hosted a community meeting Monday on a proposed Economic Development Corporation.

The mission of the proposed Economic Development Corporation (EDC) the "Economic Development Corporation is dedicated to strengthening economic vitality by expanding access to quality jobs, supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, and driving innovative strategies that enhance our region's appeal. We work to build a resilient economy, attract new opportunities and foster long-term prosperity for all who call our community home."

Sarah Sinnett, president of E3 (Energizing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems), said she and vice-president Cory Keen are volunteers. The only paid positions are Grant and Technical Writer Melissa Norgard and Navigator Alisha Juelfs.

"We're not like some large organization coming out of Lincoln or Omaha or anything else to try to take this over. We were a pilot program started by the Nebraska Community Foundation about three or four years ago. With all the change going on in the community they approached us and asked us if we wanted to be involved in that program. So it was anyone in the community, not just city, not just county could get involved to learn more about best practices in economic development across the state," Sinnett said.

She said several volunteers toured communities across the state, and in Kansas. The Kansas trip resulted in E3 being gifted curriculum that resulted in the Youth Entrepreneurship program.

She said the purpose of Monday's meeting is to explain E3.

"Really the goal of today is just to explain a little bit about who we are and why we propose something new with economic development," she said.

If approved, the EDC would have three paid positions: the current Navigator position, Grant and Technical Writer position and an executive director. The director was described as someone who would aggressively seek new business.

Discussion also noted the turnover in the City's Economic Development Director position, and the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce.  She added that if the Economic Development Corporation proposal is accepted, E3 as it is will dissolve and be part of the EDC. 

Matt Monheiser said the proposal is worth the investment.

"There's been no succession. Ever. So that's why, in my opinion, why E3, how you govern it, whatever, but it needs to be independent, from Josh (Hanson, interim city manager) because Josh might change. And you're always going to have a continual rotation and the previous guy. He had a bunch of contacts, supposedly called a bunch of people and then, I don't know where it went. Like, everybody wants to have one person under the city ... not everybody, I do not," he said.

He said the investment, with the correct oversight, is worth it.