The Nebraska Diplomats hosted its annual awards banquet Aug. 7 at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney.
During the banquet, Gov. Jim Pillen, Nebraska Diplomats President Desiree Wineland and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton helped present the awards, including the Community of the Year award to the City of Seward.
In April 2024, Pillen honored Seward as Nebraska’s Showcase Community for its ongoing efforts to foster economic growth. Over the past five years, Seward’s leaders have undertaken significant projects to fulfill the vision for growth outlined in their comprehensive plan, including:
• Memorial Health Care Systems started construction on a building expansion to create a third level to its facility.
• The city won a Community Development Block Grant of $435,000 grant to revitalize the historic downtown district. The funds have supported commercial façade improvements and repairs related to code, infrastructure and ADA accessibility.
• Seward has successfully invested Rural Workforce Housing Funds to develop new housing.
• The community is constructing a brand-new wellness center. Among other features, the center will have a competition-size swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, a three-lane track, studio space for aerobics classes, and room for after-school care.
• The city’s ongoing focus on industrial growth has resulted in the successful recruitment of several businesses to the Seward/Lincoln Regional Rail Campus.
These accomplishments, and many others, have qualified the City of Seward to be honored as a 2024 Community of the Year.
A nonprofit corporation, Nebraska Diplomats, Inc,. has a membership of nearly 300 business executives and community leaders. The Diplomats form alliances with other Nebraska economic development organizations to promote the state’s productive business climate and unparalleled quality of life.
