Economic Development Director

Description

About the Opportunity

Gothenburg is a community of about 3,500 on the I-80 corridor in central Nebraska, with a strong industrial base, an award-winning school system, a growing Critical Access Hospital, and a deep heritage tourism identity. The Gothenburg Improvement Company (GIC) has driven decades of growth here — largely through volunteer leadership — and is now investing in its first dedicated professional staff position.

This is a rare chance to shape an economic development program from the ground up in a community that is stable, well-resourced, and ready to grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Economic Development Strategy and Leadership — Work with the Board to develop and execute a community economic development strategy, translated into an annual work plan with clear priorities, timelines, and accountability.
• Business Recruitment, Expansion, and Retention — Serve as Gothenburg's front door for prospects — fielding site selection inquiries and assembling site, incentive, and financing packages — and run a structured retention and expansion program that keeps you in regular contact with existing employers.
• Housing Development and Housing Grants — Lead housing efforts from site identification through developer recruitment, and pursue and administer housing and workforce housing grants.
• Grant Writing and Funding Development — Identify, write, and administer grants across state, federal, USDA Rural Development, foundation, and utility programs, carrying projects from application through compliance and closeout.
• Business Development and Entrepreneurship — Support startups and small business owners with technical assistance, capital connections, and startup resources, and help established owners navigate growth, transition, and succession.
• Utility Coordination and Economic Development Programs — Coordinate with utility partners on their site readiness, and infrastructure planning. Promote Gothenburg’s utility assets in recruitment and marketing.
• Community, Workforce, and Partner Engagement — Work with state, regional, and local partners on workforce attraction, and quality-of-life investment — while strengthening, not replacing, GIC's volunteer network. Represent Gothenburg and GIC at meetings, conferences, and site visits.
• Marketing, Data, and Communications — Lead community marketing and communications, and maintain the site, demographic, and workforce data that prospects and funders expect. Prepare proposals and prospect materials.
• Performance Metrics — Report regularly to the Board and stakeholders against clear measures — jobs created and retained, capital investment, housing units delivered, grant dollars secured, retention visits completed, and progress against the strategic plan.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in economic development, business, public administration, planning, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in economic development, community development, grant writing, banking, business development, or a closely related area.
• Strong writing skills, including demonstrated grant or proposal writing.
• Comfort working independently, managing multiple projects, and building relationships with business owners, elected officials, and state agencies.
• Rural Nebraska experience and familiarity with LB840 and state incentive programs are a plus.
• Willingness to pursue professional credentials (e.g., Nebraska Economic Developers Association or IEDC coursework) — GIC will support this.

Flexible Hours

This position offers a flexible schedule built around results rather than hours logged, with the ability to shift your workday to accommodate family, education, or other commitments. Some evening and occasional weekend work is part of the job — board meetings, community events, and prospect visits — and we offset that with genuine flexibility the rest of the week. We are open to discussing a modified or reduced full-time arrangement for an exceptional candidate.

The Gothenburg Improvement Company is an equal opportunity employer.